Too soon. Other than fruit trees that are on the list.

Other than fruit trees that are on the list

Well that for sure counts!

(Which trees @porkchop_z5b_MI?)

Not too soon at all.......but then I have a new garden to buy for. 😉 My list is actually getting rather lengthy, as I've blown my budget for this season. Since I am gardening in containers only, the addition of new plants also involves new pots for them to live in, as well as potting soil and other accoutrements. This season took a hit as I needed unfun boring stuff like a new hose and a weed whacker and some other non-plant equipment as well.

There are mostly broadleaved evergreens on my list, duplicates of some I already have and a few new ones like Goshiki osmanthus, Sky Pencil Japanese holly and Kosteri Hinoki cypress. Also "needing" a couple of hydrangeas and a few perennials as well. I am not very inclined towards mail order so it will be mostly hunt and peck at area nurseries and plant sales.

Already mentioned but I have a buddleja crispa and a hydrangea arborescens Hayes Starburst on order. So far. Also dithering about matthiasela bupleuroides 'Green Dream'.

I want to get another peach, probably Avalon Pride since it is supposed to be peach leaf curl resistant (supposed to be). Also another cherry tree, a Black Tartarian, but I might just buy that one locally rather than mail-order.

I know the references say starting with a small tree (whip or feathered) is better in the long-run, but IDK about that for *ME*-- IME starting with larger trees means not as much hassle with the deer since after about two-three years they start reaching above-browsing height, and they're just not so....fragile. My small fruit trees are a PITA, what with being destroyed by IDK what - rabbits, groundhogs, who knows, everything can reach them when they're that short, and they're easily wind-rocked. And larger trees don't need as much attention to watering after the first year or so, and they can withstand insect damage better.

I have one that is *still* a whip, hasn't grown a single side branch and every time it grows more leaves something eats them, even though it's protected with fencing and sprayed with repellant. I wouldn't be surprised it if doesn't make it through winter, it just can't put out many leaves before something gets too it. Another small pear tree keeps getting eaten but is managing to stay a little ahead of that curve so maybe it will have enough strength to pull through winter. At least they've stayed off the Forelle pear so far...so far... I did have tulle over these little things during Japanese beetle season (ask me how I learned that is important...) but had to take it off because it was causing the tender new branches to grow awkwardly -- staved off the beetle damage but once uncovered the animals got them, even though I sprayed the cr*p out of them with repellant.

The problem is some of the cultivars I wanted aren't available locally, so I had to go mail-order route. I wish I could find a regional nursery that carries some of these hard-to-find cultivars. It is not easy to grow tree fruit well...it just isn't. The reward is worth the effort, though -- if you can manage to nurse the darn teeny-tiny things to adolescence.

Thanks for the detail @porkchop_z5b_MI. (Maybe you remember that I love eating the variety of pear called "Flemish"...maybe you could fit in one or two of these? ;))

My favorite is Forelle. I have one as of this year, but it will be a long time before she bears. Is the Flemish similar to Forelle?

Is the Flemish similar to Forelle?

I dont think I can say for sure but I suspect not. But next time I see Forelle for sale I will give it a try. What is interesting about "Flemish" is that it comes available quite late in the season. Depending on the weather, sometimes not till into October. And I have only ever seen "Flemish" that are Ontario grown, unlike most other pears that come from the States or even further afield.

Proven Winners has at least two plants I hope will be on offer in Canada next year, namely 'Funyella' clematis, and 'Totally Stoked Whitecaps' stokesia. I'm sure my list will grow and grow over the winter months though.

Interesting clematis @chouchou_gw. At first glamce it reminds me of Tangutica.

I'm sure my list will grow and grow over the winter months though.

Keep this thread in mind so as to update it.

I think for me it's just some veggie seed really. I'm working on removing a garden from a friend, and don't know what to do with all of that yet, lol.

It may well be the influence that British gardening shows have on me (re: the thread on Gardener's World) - I have become somewhat obsessed by them - that I am strongly considering another need-to-buy/must-have plant to add to my growing list for 2025. A Tasmanian tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica. I am taken by that not too high ferny canopy with the bare bottom that I think will fill in nicely with my collection of containers and provide more of a sense of enclosure to my exposed little patch.

I know they can grow here. There are several at Heronswood Gardens nearby and an allée of them at the former (still?) Gates estate on the other side of the Sound. But I am up on a bit of a ridge and exposed to wind and cold air off the Sound so still a bit skeptical about how well they might do....although they can be rather easily protected against winter weather.

But they are not easy to find with any size. Since they grow so slowly, need something of reasonable size to start with. And at least 2; 3 is better. These are not going to be inexpensive additions. 🙄

I may have to start a dedicated Tasmanian tree fern fund to finance these babies!!

Excellent post 'gg'. I see it available on a Canadian mailorder website. It is listed as a zone 8 to 10. And so you are confident that you can protect it. (I see it can grow way huge!)

Update: You talked me into it, Rouge -- I ordered the "Flemish Beauty" pear.

I also ordered "Akane" and "Northern Spy" apple trees, and "Baby Crawford" and "Frost" peaches from Trees of Antiquity. The pear was from a different nursery.

You made my week @porkchop_z5b_MI :).

We are visiting our daughter in Seattle and I am very impressed with a crabapple tree loaded with little red apples. I will get one or a couple that suits our area in the spring

My first plant purchase of the new year is going to be a few miniature African violets. I’ve never have African violets before, the mini ones look adorable, and they’re cat friendly. And I’m going through plant withdraw with it being winter as I’m mostly an outdoor gardening. I found a bunch to pick from on Etsy if anyone is interested. Happy New Year!

I’ve ordered clematis from Wildwood: 4 Blue Angel and 4 Emilia Plater.

There’s this really great nursery 3 hours from me, that I’ve wanted to visit for a few years now. I would really like to add more varieties of plants that are great performers in my garden: geraniums, catmints, echinaceas, delphiniums, lupines.

I think Brugmansia-Quebec will be a good source for the Redemption Colocasia! I've ordered from them before, and they've been great - however, shipping prices have gone up greatly. I'm in line for this as well!

I saw Zantedeschia Black Star (aka Edge of Night) in a neighbors garden last summer and was smitten. I was looking to purchase from easytogrowbulbs.com but they didn't have it. What I ordered instead: Oxalis triangularis Purple Shamrocks, Lycoris radiata, Aloysia citrodora, Jasminum nudiflorum, and Lilium x African Queen. The only one of these I've grown before is Winter Jasmine which I had in several gardens and have come to miss its winter color.

I started to put an order of natives from Bloom Box in my cart. Came to over $400, but their plants (online ordering only from nurseries within reasonable distances-say, a PA nursery providing plants for me in Northern Virginia) are the healthiest I have ever bought. Unfortunately, the next day I found out I needed a tooth implant, so the order is on hold for the moment. :-(

I'm stuck at home and all this free time is making me cave. My oak tree canopies are taking over my back yard so I am also having to change the layouts of my beds due to the lack of sunlight. So far; off my wants list I've ordered:

First Frost Hosta
June Hosta
Dancing in the Moonlight
Regal Splendor Hosta
Above the Clouds
Autumn Frost Hosta
Rembrandt Blue Hosta
Peach Brandy Hosta
The Trophy Wife Hosta
Blue Cascade Hosta
Chicago Blues Hosta
Ophir Hosta
Gentle Giant Hosta
Fire & Ice Hosta

And then a few more from another source:

Annabelle hydrangea

Fairytale Bride Cascading hydrangea

PJM Elite Lavender Rhododendron

Hosta Fire and Ice

Kousa Dogwood

I would love a few azaleas, goatsbeard, lamum, and maybe some smaller willow, though.

I just received my first plants order in 2025: 2 Sichuan Pepper Trees, Zanthoxylum simulans🥳