RE: White Flower Farms - a brief visit

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE ;-)

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Hatch [s*@gis.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 1:33 PM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Re: White Flower Farms - a brief visit


Let me jump in. Those glossy, full-color catalogs from the expensive nurseries can  be
useful as one plans what to order from the smaller nurseries. My favorite bulb catalog
does not use photos, and I am not familiar with all the little species tulips that I have
begun bejeweling my garden with. So I check out the pricey catalogs, then order from my
guys. Symbiosis.
Steve Hatch
Marshfield, MA
Zone 6b

"Saxton, Susan" wrote:

> I couldn't agree more, but those glossy catalogues are sure fun to look at in winter!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gentian 21 [g*@insightBB.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 12:13 PM
> To: perennials@hort.net
> Subject: Re: White Flower Farms - a brief visit
>
> There is nothing that nurseries such as White Flower Farm, Wayside, or other
> similar nurseries that you cannot get better cheaper plants at smaller
> specialized nurseries.  You may see some new plant that you haven't seen
> elsewhere but usually what they list as a new plant was available the year
> before from a smaller nursery that doesn't need to build up as large of a
> stock.  When they do get something the first year it is because it was
> tissue cultured meaning that the next year it will be available a lot of
> places.  Larger nurseries tend to make shipments under less ideal conditions
> because they can't get all their shipments done in a couple of weeks like a
> smaller nursery can.  I prefer to support the smaller nurseries anyway .  In
> the near future the need for having color catalogs will be diminished as the
> availability of online pictures increases.  I limit myself to about 10 or 15
> smaller companies for ordering and have not ordered from a large company.
> The economy large companies are largely disappearing due to the increase in
> retail outlets and increase shipping costs.  It has to be very special
> plants for people to want to spend 30-35% on shipping.  Of course since you
> have paid more in the first place your shipping will be more.  The small
> nurseries tend to grow their plants in smaller taller containers that save
> them space but require closer attention to watering.  When you use rose pots
> the plants tend to grow umbrellas that shed the water making it impractical
> for automated watering systems-thus rose pot plants tend to be hand watered.
> When large pots are used it is very easy to overpot and overwater which is
> exactly why you get these unhappy small plants in large containers that cost
> a fortune to ship.  If you are a small grower you can be much more diligent
> in watering in the first place and use sprinkling systems as a supplement
> rather than the primary watering system.
> Frank Cooper zone 5b
> central Illinois
>
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