Re: Perennial plant of the year 2001

> But then this argument goes on all the time in the
>nursery and landscaping industry. And within the PPA. People (customers)
>want what
>their neighbors have... they do not want to be on the cutting edge of
>horticulture.... or so the theory goes.

>You can either have a business which caters to the masses and sell what I
>call "meat and potato "varieties  or  cater to a few with unusual plants.
>Both  in the long run can be profitable.Most of the mainstream garden centers
>in our area sell the 'tried and true varieties" and very seldom stock unusual
>plants. If you want something unusual you have to go off the beaten track.

Gene, Al, Bill, etc.

As a garden writer, people are always asking me to recommend "something
different."  The industry "party line" may be that people want what their
neighbors have or that you do best with "meat and potatoes," but the bottom
line is that people really are intersted in having something attractive and
easy to care for that is interesting.  All kinds of perennials (and other
plants) fall into that category and it strikes me that an organization
whose purpose is to promote perennials should be highlighting a combination
of well-known and not-well-known perennials and educating its audience so
that they can sell the plants effectively.  The problem I see is that so
many garden center employees know absolutely nothing about caring for any
plant that is not the "meat and potatoes" variety.  I even heard one guy
encourage a customer to buy a flat of annuals and explaining that in our
mild climate (San Diego), the annuals will "behave like perennials" and the
customer would never have to replace them!

Maybe this is going too far off topic, but if the people who promote
perennials won't promote new kinds of perennials, then the choices grow
evern more limited and those people who want "something different" will
forever end up with "what their neighbor has."

Okay, I'm done with the soapbox now.  Anyone else need it?

Nan
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Nan Sterman
San Diego County California
Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11

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