It's got some great stuff - I'm putting my order together now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brent and Becky's Bulb (& some perennials) sale

Enabler

Argh - I wasn't quite fast enough and they sold out of the Lycoris squamigera before I finished my order. I planted some of it at a previous house and wanted to replace it, but I guess I'll have to wait until next summer's catalog. It's amazing how it just shoots up a flowering stem apparently overnight in August.

Babs, I made an order as soon as I got the email notification and they were already out of a couple of things. I would have bought a few dahlias, including a large white dahlia that they were out of. I did order Caladium 'Raspberry Moon' for containers and a Lily that I've been eyeing for about 3 years.

pm et al,
I am about 55 dollars poorer now, and 100 times richer in joy!
Just love the sound of that discharging charge card. Did you know they lose their magnetism (pun intended) if not used regularly?

happy,
Marie

It's easy to spend $55. Marie. Your order has to be enough to justify the shipping costs. I was glad we made it to the Three Sisters Sale last weekend. No shipping. Bluestone is having some of their stock on sale 50% off right now too and they're asking $10 minimum for shipping. Not surprising I guess, with the cost of gas. I saved myself a lot by winter sowing again this year and we managed to divide some of what we have for the increase. Perfect weather for it.

So what treasure did you find Marie?

lilium henryi, a martignon, the gold persicaria, white dicentra, three canna...the gold persicaria is the only unusual thing. Dalias just don't do well in my garden. I probably don't have true full sun anywhere.

I have to get my email address updated. I'm not getting email catalogues from anyone anymore.

marie

I tend to use these sales at least partially to try out borderline hardy plants (or other ones that have issues) so that if I lose them, I won't be out so much money, but I will have one season to enjoy them.

With that in mind, I got a couple types of crocosmias (Lucifer survived last winter with mulch and leaving the old foliage for insulation) two kinds of cyclamen (I think I'll need wire baskets to protect from the voles,) and Agastache 'Apricot Sprite.' I added a few Hellebores which seem to struggle under our heavy snow cover, 2 kinds of oriental-trumpet hybrid lilies which in my garden seem less susceptible to the dreaded red lily beetle, an Iris ensata which I have not done well with previously, and another Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' (can't have too many Baptisia!)

Most of these are plants that if we have a harsh winter with little snow cover, I will expect to lose them, and some are ones that I would be shocked if they survived at all, but I will try them in various places to see where they are happy, including in pots that will go into the cold cellar.

I have a few small areas with about 6 hrs of sun and one bed in the front with full sun and the rest is part sun/shade. Not sure I want to grow Dahlias out front, but I would have to use them as annuals because I don't have the right place to overwinter them. I do love the look of them.

Yes, the sales are great for items that are just too expensive as an experiment, or in my case, using them as annuals. I love western agastaches and bought two from High Country Gardens last year, and one managed to winter over which I'm very happy about.

I managed to really stay on top of the RLLBeetle last year and this year, I haven't seen one yet, so I ordered more lilies. I hope I can keep them manageable.

I love Baptisia and wish I had room for more. I did try to move one this spring and it was worse than any shrub I've tried digging out and we've dug out lots. It is really in there like cement. (g) It's a good thing I enjoy it.

Have you tried growing Dahlias in pots? I did that last summer for the first time and will again this summer I think. It might make it easier to overwinter in the pot in the garage and see if they survive.

High Country Gardens is one I will order from next year, but my dry sunny bed isn't quite done yet so I didn't want to order a bunch of plants that might end up sitting in pots for a while. This year is for clematis.

Yes, I tried dahlias in pots one year and it worked out very well. Unfortunately, I have a detached garage that i discovered just gets too cold for plants to survive.

Where do you get your clematis? I have been buying some from Bluestone, but they are so small, it seems to take forever for them to get to a decent size.

I have gotten clematis locally occasionally (4 plants) but there usually is quite limited selection at nurseries here. In the past, before I was aware of alternatives, I got some from Bluestone, but as you say they are tiny, and recently they haven't had any I wanted and their prices have gone up considerably. In the last several years I have gotten a goodly number from Brushwood, Hummingbird Farm, and Silver Star Vinery. Joy Creek has a great reputation and selection as well, though I used some self control and didn't order from them this year (but I did make a list for next year.) ;>)

http://www.gardenvines.com/ (AKA Brushwood)
http://hummingbirdfarm.net/clematis.htm
http://www.silverstarvinery.com/default.asp
http://www.joycreek.com/

All of them send at least quart size plants which are robust and have bloomed for me the second year, with a few blooming the first year, though I don't expect that. I also appreciate the packing. I don't like foam pellets as removing them sometimes damages the plants. All of these nurseries prune the clematis back and although the tops may not look superb when they arrive, the root balls are great, so they recover and grow very well.

This year I found a discount coupon for Brushwood and also got a quantity discount. When combined with their shipping ($10 regardless of how many you order, which is really enabling) this turned out to be the most price effective for me and quite comparable with Bluestone cost-wise, but I would recommend any of these nurseries. They don't all carry the same plants, so if you have a particular variety in mind, check them all. By this point they will be sold out of some of their varieties for the year but still have many others. I've found it best to start looking in January if there is a particular variety I want.

Have you ever tried Completely Clematis in Ipswich MA? I've heard they have a good reputation, but I haven't tried them yet. As you said, by now, anyone who specializes will be out of the most popular varieties, I'm sure. I may have to think about a list for next year too. I was ordering from Bluestone anyway this year and they had a couple of clematis that were on sale, so I added one in. My best performing clematis was actually one I bought in a box at BJs the first year I was gardening, when I didn't know any better. (g) Thanks for the links, I'll give them a look.

the one time i went there, 8?yrs ago, comp. clematis surprised me at its mediocrity of set up and small plants. V.strange place.
mindy

I haven't heard any truly positive comments about Completely Clematis - more along the lines of small plants and relatively high prices for what you get. When I visited the website to browse, I also found less of what I look for in Clematis. (I tend to prefer the type 3 pruning varieties like the viticellas and Jackmanii group along with the type 1 earliest flowering Attregenes. I find I have mixed success with the large-flowered type 2 pruning varieties.) So I haven't bought anything from them.

babs, i just sent you a GW message. if you don't receive it, would you email me? email address on bottom of page:
www.cottonarboretum.com/

thanks,
mindy

Thank you both for saving me a disappointing experience. I'll try some of the links you've had success with Babs. I like the type 3 varieties too.

I already received my order from Brent and Becky's. That was really fast.

I re'd my order this morning (sat) after putting it in late Thursday evening.
astonished!
Marie

I put mine in Monday afternoon and received it on Wednesday. They really get their orders out quickly! Planted some of it today between the showers along with a few of the clematis I ordered. Still have veggies, pots of annuals and the rest of the clematis plus one hydrangea that just jumped into my car the other day . . .

PM2 -

Just a heads up. The clematis at Bluestone are on sale and there are several nice type 3 pruners if you are interested. I've heard good things about Huldine, Avante Garde and Blue Angel, though AG is apparently slow to establish.

Rubromarginata, Rouge Cardinal, Rosemoor, Princess Diana, and Pink Fantasy are all type 3's as well. (Paniculata as well, but I think that may have invasive tendencies in some areas.)

Thanks Babs, I did just purchase the 'Pink Fantasy' and last year, the Huldine and 'Blue Angel', which came back this spring and so far are looking good. I need to get out there and fertilize last year's clematis soon.

I actually don't think Rosemoor is type 3; Clematis on the Web says type 2.

Man, these people ship FAST!! I ordered on May 17 and today, 6 days later, they shipped my bulbs etc. !!wow!
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/