Personal Service

9 comments

Although I do buy plants at Garden Centres, I also like to purchase from small nurseries. If you can visit them, you will find also sorts of exciting, interesting, and unusual plants, plus the expertise of those selling them. If you’re after something special, and I often am, you may find there is only one nursery in the whole of the country selling it. If it’s not nearby, you have to rely on mail order.

A few years ago, I grew sanguisorba ‘White Tanna’. “It would be nice to have a couple more,” I thought and divided it – it promptly died. There was only one supplier on Plant Finder, a small enterprise near Coventry who do not sell online. I rang them last year but their plant was not large enough for them to propagate from. So imagine my delight when I found Pineview Plants in Kent and saw it in their lists. Again, no mail order but they attend Plant Fairs. Cue Covid-19 – no Plant Fairs for the foreseeable future. Just on the off chance, I e-mailed them a couple of months ago. Jackpot – with no Plant Fairs, they are offering mail order this year. Do you have …. a list of four different difficult-to-obtain plants please? “Sorry, we’ve sold out of all of them”

Then last week, up popped an e-mail from Pineview Plants. “We have your plants ready.” Not only ready, but the owner drove from Kent to Berkshire to deliver them. So a big ‘thank you’ to Colin Moat at Pineview Plants, and I hope to be buying from you again.

9 Jul, 2020
7 likes

Comments

Seaburngirl

Relieved to see it wasn't a visit from Cynthia Payne!

Aren't some nursery people true treasures. The plants look very healthy too. What was it you got?

9 Jul, 2020

Andrewr

Actaea cordifolia 'Blickfang' - an amazingly tall one as publicised by Jimi Blake of Huntingbrook Garden in Ireland. Have you seen his garden? If not, Google it and prepare to be amazed
Eryngium ebracteatum - a sea holly that looks like a sanguisorba
Sanguisorba 'Blackthorn' - a good upright one
Sanguisorba 'White Tanna' - which I had previously, divided it, and it promptly died on me

I didn't know Cynthia Payne was selling plants now!!

9 Jul, 2020

Seaburngirl

They are lovely plants Andrew, I will have a look at the garden you've mentioned tomorrow. I am about to do some baking for a bike ride tomorrow that OH has organised. If its not raining I will go with him, though I could do with some weeding taking place instead.

9 Jul, 2020

Siris

They look good healthy plants. I expect you know exactly where you're going to plant them.

9 Jul, 2020

Siris

Hunting Brook Garden looks spectacular.

9 Jul, 2020

Andrewr

Siris - yes, they all have allotted positions

There are some videos of Hunting Brook Garden on their website, also on Facebook. I recommend making a note to look at them during the winter when you have a long evening to enjoy them

9 Jul, 2020

Seaburngirl

wow that is one amazing garden. just been 'lost' for over an hour at Huntingbrook garden. Thanks for telling me about it Andrew.

10 Jul, 2020