I've Been Shopping

14 comments

My friend Gill and I have been on a plant buying day today. Most years about now, we have a day out and visit a couple of nurseries on the Kent/Sussex borders – Starborough Nursery and Perryhill Nursery.

Starborough is near Edenbrdge in Kent. It is a small establishment run by a husband and wife team and specialises in acers, rhododendrons and azaleas, camellias and other ericaceous plants. As we have both an acid soil, this is a good place to start. I checked the RHS website last week for opening times but when we got there, they have changed their opening days this year and were closed today so we were not able to spend any time or money with them.

On then to Perryhill near Hartfield. This is a much bigger place and sell literally hundreds if not thousands of different plants – trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, perennials, alpines, bog plants and house plants. It’s open seven days a week so never any problem with opening hours for this one. I had gone with a long list, most of which were in stock so came back with a large haul and a lighter wallet. So what did I buy?

SHRUBS
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Red Ace’ (flowers for months and prefers a bit of shade to prevent the flowers fading)
Ribes odoratum (unusual yellow-flowered currant)
Rosa glauca (shrub rose grown mainly for its glaucous foliage)
Sarcococca ruscifolia (highly scented winter-flowering shrub very tolerant of dry shade)

PERENNIALS
Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group ‘Brunette’ (dark brownish-purple foliage and raecemes of almost white flowers)
Anaphalis triplinervis ‘Sommerschnee’ (grey-leaved with everlasting type white daisies)
Aster nova-belgii’ Snow Cushion (dwarf white aster)
Catanche caerulea (white- and blue-flowered forms of Cupid’s Dart)
Chelone glabra (white-flowered Turtlehead, flowering in autmn)
Eremurus stenophyllus (yellow-flowered foxtail lily)
Gillenia trifolia (delicate white flowers all summer in light shade)
Malva sylvestris ‘Primley Blue’ (blue-flowered mallow)
Pulmonaria ‘Opal’ (pale blue flowers) and ‘Sissinghurst White’ (white flowers)
Stokesia laevis ‘Mary Gregory’ and ‘Silver Moon’ (yellow- and white-flowered forms of Stokes’ Aster)
Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’ (white-flowered meadow rue)

And yes, I know where they are all going in the garden

31 Mar, 2009
11 likes

Comments

Ginellie

Great shopping day Andrew. I'm very impressed that you know where they are going I buy lots of thinks on impulse,or because they are reduced, and then haven't a clue where to put them.
Look forward to seeing them all in situ and growing well.

31 Mar, 2009

Terratoonie

A great list.
Are the pulmonarias in flower now ?
Will we see photos please ?

31 Mar, 2009

Wagger

Did you leave any for anybody else? Gosh, you are so organised - I suppose you have to be when planning for open days. I'm like Ginellie - an impulse buyer, always got plants in pots waiting for homes. Hasn't that Gillenia got dainty flowers, beautiful and airy. Haven't seen the white Thalictrum before, lovely plant for shade so I'll be on the lookout.

31 Mar, 2009

Sewingkilla

i've never seen a yellow flowering currant will look forward to seeing it if you post a photo, have had the red one for years (99p from Wilkinson!!!), i like the sound of the yellow though, you're going to be very busy Andrew planting that lot!

31 Mar, 2009

Craftnutter

Wow! You really must have a very light wallet now Andrew!! Shame about the other place being closed! What would you have bought from there?

I don't recognise half the plants you've bought, but some pics when they're in flower would be great! lol!

31 Mar, 2009

Seaburngirl

currant sounds good. have you seen R fuchsoides? I have one and i'll take a picture soon.

31 Mar, 2009

Pottygardener

A satisfying days shopping Andrew, look forward to seeing them planted and flourishing.

31 Mar, 2009

Andrewr

Ginellie - sometimes I'm too organised for my own good but I think if you're going to spend money on a plant you should be able to give it the conditions and space it needs and in my crowded garden, I have to be organised to do just that
Wagger - yes, the gillenia has got dainty flowers. It will be going in a red and white border which is why I got a white thalictrum (and a red potentilla)
Sewingkilla - I like to grow unusual stuff too - that's why I went for the yellow ribes

31 Mar, 2009

Hollyeves

Great shopping trip.........we have a small garden shop 5 mins walk away... and i tend to buy whatever takes my fancy...... then i have to find a spot in the garden for it lol.......

1 Apr, 2009

Andrewr

Went to an RHS Show in Vincent Square this morning and you don't want to know. Oh all right then, another six plants followed me home

1 Apr, 2009

Pottygardener

LOL Andrew....hard to resist,eh?

2 Apr, 2009

Craftnutter

Ooooh, you are a naughty boy!!! lol!! Good job you've got us GOY'ers to confess to!!! (we understand........)

2 Apr, 2009

Wagger

Oh yes? And do these all have planned homes? Were they on your list? Ho ho!