Kitty
I just completed putting
together a new PowerPoint presentation on No / Low Maintenance Gardening. Will
be giving for first time 25th of this month up in Michigan City, IN
(Joanie???) Fairy Gardening is one mention for low maintenance or disabled
gardeners. (I am currently doing a weekly blog “Gardeners Grabbed by
Life-Altering Events”) A gardening world in a washtub…..
Gene
Gene
E. Bush
Shade Garden Correspondent
Speaker-Consultant-Author-Photographer-Gardener
www.shadegardenexpert.com
New eBook: Shade Garden
Solutions
From:
owner-perennials@hort.net [mailto:owner-perennials@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Kitty Morrissy
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2017 10:27
AM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: RE: MIB >
supporting > MINIS
Miniatures!
Gene,
I’ve
been thinking about this for several years. There are fairy gardens, but I’ve
been thinking about a miniature dinosaur forest. Rubber dinos from craft
center and then mini ferns and other growth for them. Sort of a dream for
later.
I
got a lovely mini Maidenhair fern from a great Minnesota nursery just b4 they
(sigh) closed last year.
And,
when I visited Ireland last summer, I saw that everyone had at least a small
front courtyard planted beautifully. Some did containers, others did lavish
plantings, some were barely postage-stamp size, others circled much of the
perimeter of the home. The point is that they made the most of a small area
and it was always manageable.
Kitty
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Gene- NetSurfUsa
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2017
9:50 AM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
RE: MIB > supporting nurseries
Kitty
One of the interests I as
getting into toward the end of gardening here.. if it is here… has been
miniature ferns and bog orchids and relatives. Think I would like to keep a
water feature wherever I go…just try to keep it all small enough not be a
burden .. a place to sit and play in the dirt on occasion, admire my
handiwork.
Of course there remains my
writing and photographing, lecturing.
Gene
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Kitty Morrissy
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2017
9:09 AM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
RE: MIB > supporting nurseries
Good
to hear from you, Gene! Your place would be a great opportunity -
for someone younger than us. As I may have mentioned in years past, I
just have a couple of sales a year at my home for plants I’ve divided and a
few purchases. I’ve begun reducing those to a more manageable size as I am
getting older and these things take me longer. I understand your wanting to
retire and move on to a more relaxed life though I know you’ll never be a
couch potato.
Kitty
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Gene- NetSurfUsa
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2017
8:44 AM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
RE: MIB > supporting nurseries
And..
Munchkin Nursery went out of
business about 2 years ago now. Mostly just shut it down after letting it all
wind down in inventory. Garden is still here. Looking into selling property
and moving at this point. So… two greenhouses, garden and home remains. Health
issues I won’t go into will probably restrict most gardening, certainly not
keep up with 5 acres. So, big changes remain in the wind for me … and us.
Thought you would like to know
since the name came up in conversation.
Gene
Gene
E. Bush
Shade Garden Correspondent
Speaker-Consultant-Author-Photographer-Gardener
www.shadegardenexpert.com
New eBook: Shade Garden
Solutions
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Kitty Morrissy
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2017 7:42
PM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
RE: MIB > supporting nurseries
I’d
like to sort of go off on a tangent of my other post to this thread if that’s
ok.
I
mentioned preferring to support better nurseries. A lot of good, independent
and privately owned nurseries are struggling. We lost Munchkin a few years
back. And I know there are others on the edge. I have to watch my
pennies but I like to put the little I have toward the good guys. One
super company I’ve enjoyed for many years is Garden Vision. If you need shade
plants I heartily endorse them. This is their 20th anniversary and
they’re offering some special Epimediums in collections. I ordered what they
call the Throwback Collection of 6 Epis they offered their first year at a 21%
savings over the individual prices. And the price for all 6 was what he had
had to charge for just one 20 years ago. I also ordered a special variety of
Jeffersonia dubia called ‘Dark Centers’.
In
our area the newspaper puts on a contest for the best of everything. People
nominate and then vote for their favorite Beauty Salon, Dog Groomer, Print
Shop, you name it. For many, many years a local family nursery was always
voted the best but they had to close. Now, sad to say, Menards is voted the
best nursery in a city of 253,00 people.
Kitty
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Nancy Robinson
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2017 4:48
PM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
RE: Michigan Bulb Redux
There were a bunch
of mail order nurseries that were bought…I do know those cheap red tulips
bulbs are still alive at church and in my yard. I was given money to
plant something and had to be from Michigan Bulbs. Well I wanted flowers
and did buy the bulbs. Still here after 25 years. Somehow I doubt
the quality is very good but other gardeners here like them. I
think I am past them though. Ha Ordered my seeds from NARGS
surplus seed exchange last night. Not going to see many of those
in local stores. Probably will not see them in my garden but somehow
some grow, flower and amaze me. Heavy freeze tonight. Had a
Arisaema up from that seed exchange(another year) and really tried to warm it
up since in the ground. Remay and 3 sizes of pots…heat supposed to be
trapped overnight. That was my thinking anyway. Nancy
Tennessee
From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of Don Martinson
Sent: Friday, March 3, 2017 2:10
PM
To: p*@hort.net
Subject:
Michigan Bulb Redux
I realize this list is
not primarily a rating system for nurseries, but I have a
question.
Many years ago (at least), Michigan Bulb Co. had a less than
stellar reputation. Then, imagine our surprise when Consumer Reports
gave them a good rating, apparently based on the purchase of a single clematis
plant.
As I recall, they underwent a change in management/ownership,
but their catalog still lists plants without proper names, overly optimistic
zone ratings (IMO), and very cheap prices (an Itoh Bartzella peony for
$14.99). I am willing to accept smaller plants, as long as they will
survive, and will not hesitate to request an adjustment for any unsatisfactory
items. Their shipping charges are nominal, although they apparently offer an
merchandise credit, as opposed to an outright refund.
Am I getting
senile in my old age to even consider this? Do I dare try for a few
items (<$50). Has ANYONE placed an order from them in the past few
years? Results?
Thanks,
-- Don Martinson🌿
Milwaukee,
WI
"If you are not killing plants, you
are not really stretching yourself as a
gardener."
~J. C.
Raulston
