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[SG] dividing

Greetings:

I've been reading with interest the threads on dividing hosta and Michigan
Bulb Co.

I'm an almost retired horticulturist who once ran a perennial nursery
specializing in hosta. I'm all sold out now, except for many varieties that
I dug up and took to our new home one and a half years ago. Though the task
of transplanting appeared almost daunting at the start, it turned out to be
an enjoyable expereience. It was a sort of bonding experience, if you will,
to dig up, care for, transport and replant in new gardens.

As for Michigan Bulb, avoid them! I have never ordered from them but I've
made plenty of "plant doctor" house calls to people who have. I try to talk
people out of buying perennials from Wal-Mart, Target, K-mart and other
discount stores and supermarkets. They do have bargain prices but their
perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs are not bargains. They're cared (?) for
by people who don't know what they're doing and couldn't care less. I've
visited these places to check the "competition" and have generally found
wilted, diseased plants. I've visited countless numbers of gardeners who ask
what's wrong with their plants that are either dead or getting there. I tell
them they didn't buy good stock to begin with.

My daughter, who ought to know better, purchased bulbs, perennials and a
couple of shrubs from Michigan Bulb 4 years ago. Those that have survived
remain puny. I explained to her that she'd get more for her buck by buying
fewer plants in a season at a reputable local nursery or garden center. She
has in the past 2 seasons, and the difference in plant condition and growth
is obvious.

Of course, there are nurseries and garden centers that aren't up to par
either. I recall one in particular that didn't follow a regular watering and
feeding program, and allowed the weeds to grow, and lost a lot of money each
season while wondering why customers were going elsewhere. I used to work
for that nursery; it got to the point where I hated to see people come to
the sales yard or enter the greenhouse (and be carried off by bugs) because
so much of the plant material was just plain crap. That's when I decided to
do my own thing.

As when buying a car or anything else, be familiar the varieties of plants
you are interested in before buying them. Read books; ask garden center and
nursery people hard questions. And always remember: Buyer beware.

John G. Adney
Marion, Iowa (zones 4-5, eastcentral Iowa next to Cedar Rapids)
johnadney@msn.com
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