SALE? WHAT SALE?

What a cheek Spritz, did you complain?

No - too c-c-c-old!

Not sure I should have put a like on this Spritz. What a swizzz! They all do it don't they. I've been looking for a nice strong (sensible) pair of shoes but I go into shoe shops with sale posters everywhere but there never seem to be any size 11's in the sale . Well only sandals!! Not a lot of use at the moment.
If you're still looking for leather gardening gloves, I would recomend Wilkinsons. althougn chewap, they have always been very good, and as you know mine get a lot of wear as I garden for my living. I've paid £15 for leather gardening gloves before and they've lastedno longer than Wilko's £3.99 ones!!

We felt quite cheated, didn't we Spritz, a bit of a let down really.

Hey ho .... we had a lovely cup of tea :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Along with a good chinwag, so we had a nice time anyway :-))

Bloomin' cold though, yes, my feet were frozen by the time i got in the car.

What a swizz lol. Never mind you did buy something :o))

I like my tea just the same as Louise :o) I put a few grains of loose tea in the pot and fill it with water. lol. - Strong enough for me !

Wasn`t there any snow there Spritz? Our little centre was almost buried by the white stuff today. Sorry you couldn`t find a bargain. :o(

Sandra x

Oh! You two! That's not proper tea!

We were a bit cross that they hadn't bothered to put grit down on the frosty paving - it was very slippery. However, we did have a very nice afternoon. :-)))

No, Sandra - our helping of s**w arrived last night.Brrrr.....

Glad you still managed to enjoy it, but that was more down to enjoying each other's company than the shopping. Did the sign have 50% in big numbers and in tiny letters 'up to'. If so that is one of the dishonest ploys so widely used. In fact it could mean anything from 1% upwards to 50%.
There is too much of trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.
I picked up a jar of jam which read 'PURE FRUIT'. I thought 'great', But when I really read the rest of the label, there was no difference between that and usual jam. When I really thought about it, 'PURE FRUIT' is meaningless. All jam is made with pure fruit, unless it has been contaminated with fish or something!!

Wouldn't fancy that Mad..... Kipper Jam!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're right though, it means nothing does it??

think i would have complained barbara, what a rip off, just to get people there i bet, love the birdbath louise got, oh well at least you had a chat and a cuppa :o))

i detest ad's like that saying half price, what a rip off. was the cupa half price Barbara lol

If you have a problem getting size 11's Paul I guess you wouldn't want my size 12.5's?

Even if the tea was half price Irish it would still be expensive in a garden centre, wouldn't it??? They are very costly places these days, Garden Centres!

Spritz I have a friend that has earl grey tea and she just shows the tea bag to the water talk about knats wee !! it looks disgusting, we like our tea so the teaspoon stands up ( stronge).
As for your things what a cheat saying half price. :=)))

Um Mr MB are of the Earl Grey gnats wee persuasion... Other than that I think I would have had words with the GC owner or manager about misleading info and trades descriptions act...

I'd like to know if anyone else who gets vouchers from this well-known chain of GCs found the same at their local branch - or maybe you haven't tried yet due to your weather?

I shall NOT be returning for my primrose basket! Too far, too cold, and I can't get out of the village anyway!. Brrrrrr...

No Irish - no chance of that! LOL.

Oooh, that's just how i like my Earl Grey too, MG :-)))
Lovely, my fave !

true enough Paul , bring back the old nurseries i say , great places with great staff

Isn't it just Louise :-) Wonderful way to relax...

Tea? It should be made illegal in all parts of the country and even abroad. Anyone found in possession of the ingredients should be locked up for thirty years minimum! Yak ..... 'orrid stuff ..... Coffee for me please! Lol

OK old bean!

No thanks Ian can manage the occasional cup of decaf Americano but otherwise my gentle tea...

Oh dear - tea is a great commfort - I do like coffee as well, though.

As for Earl Grey - it smells as though someone has dropped their perfume bottle into it! :-(((

Or strained it through an old sock Spritz!

dont like fancy teas just tetleys and love a milky coffee its my favourite

Black with one sweetener for me and so strong it melts the spoon!

Haven't managed to get to our 'primrose' garden centre yet, Spritz, but maybe tomorrow. I've recently been caught out by a 15% off everything sale at Homebase (didn't see the small print underneath saying you had to spend a large amount first!), also found the same at many stores. Very irritating. Glad you enjoyed your day out anyway. Hope your weather improves soon for you too.

Trouble is Irish, the small private nurseries don't stand a chance these days against these huge greta garden centres which are full of Xmas stuff from September!!!!

Thank goodness all the Christmas stuff had been removed! No sign of it was left. That was a blessing. :-)

Thanks, Gee.

a nice chat but pity about the plants. I hate it when they do that.

Hi Barbara,
I recognise where you visited from the photos. We will be avoiding that G.C. for a while!!!!!

I think your blog clearly demonstrates that 'genuine discounts' are really hard to find these days in the winter new year sales and at other times of the year.

Often the stock has been specially bought in by the retailers (including garden centres) so that they can appear to be selling 'bargains' and giving big 'discounts'.

We receive lots of emails and offers of vouchers from garden centres and garden suppliers. They contact us via our website, and when we look at what is really on offer the bargains are not as they seem.....What's the old saying ''Buyer beware''?

We now tend to use local, small, family run businesses for our plants and garden sundries. This gives us the opportunity to build up a good relationship with them, and often they offer us excellent discounts.The big places have large staff salaries and business overheads which all adds to the retail prices.

I agree with your views about what makes a nice cuppa..... the cup of tea in your photo looks dreadful. If I had paid for that it would have gone straight back for a much stronger top up. There's nothing like a good strong brew of Assam or Russian caravan tea!

Haven't been to our "primrose" GC since just before Christmas.....but my "spy" there says not many plants in the sale........roads to bad to venture near there anyway just now......

at least you and Louise managed to have a good old moan Spritz ! Better than a sale anyday ! Lol

Well - it takes your mind off the weather, doesn't it! LOL.

Agree !! x

Oh, Spritzhenry, never mind! Here we always have such a "SALE"...ha-ha...I do not visit such a GC again...They loose but not YOU!
By the way, I love THAT TEA as Louise and Hywel do...:) And too much coffee..

Oh dear....what a disappointment.....just when you are all geared up to see some bargins. That's rotten!!
As for the tea....just a bit stronger for me please.....and coffee???? Yuck...horrid stuff....not for me thank you very much. LOL

Kensington, i actually 'made' the tea like that !
I had hot water in my cup and then dipped one corner of a tea bag into the cup and removed it again ...... the perfect tea !!!
Lovely :-)))

Oh dear Louise, that's almost like drinking dishwater....did you make Barbara drink it like that as well ? .. :0)))) xx

Such a shame not getting any bargains what a let down.Louise1 Ihave my tea just about the same as yours.

Sounds as though I'm outnumbered here! No - you buy a pot each and fill it with boiling water. Mine had the tea bag in but Louise took hers out first! So I had 'normal' tea. ;-)) and teased Louise about hers, naturally. I just HAD to take its photo! Shudder......

What neither of us has let you in on is what L. ate with her 'tea'.........let that remain a secret! LOL.

Oooooooooh Louise 1 -
I could never drink it like that.....it's far too pale and insipid!
As Bluespruce states it's like dishwater.
A nice rich brown malty brew for me with true aroma and flavour. The tea must be infused for at least a few minutes and added to a warmed teapot...Proper tea as well - NOT from teabags.

I call tea from teabags 'floorsweepings tea' !

At least there are some slight redeeming features here to this very sad saga....
The ''liquid'' was served in a cup not a mug.Sorry, I cant call it tea. It can't possibly be granted that status.
But I notice it wasnt a bone china or Porcelain cup, and theres no evidence of proper silver spoons.I bet the spoons were cheap stainless steel.Where are the Damask napkins? It's totally disgraceful, and the management should be informed.

Oh dear, oh dear what is this country coming to!!!

At least you had the opportunity to make the brew yourself to your own taste.

Now that is ONE compensation for Spritz's sad and depressing tale of woe!

You do realise you and Spritz have started me off on a pet subject here...
Lol xx

Report 'em to the Advertising Standards Authority who say their role is to ensure ads are legal, decent, HONEST and TRUTHFUL. You can submit your complaints online. It's about time we started hitting back!

Oh go on, Spritz - snitch! Tell us what she ate - was it a huge slice of chocolate cake? A rum baba? A cheese and strawberry jam sandwich?

I totally agree with Wagger AND something needs to be done about the fact that theyre not serving tea correctly as well ( Not proper loose leaf tea, Stainless steel spoons not silver , paper napkins not damask, Hotel ware china.Tut, tut...)
You've opened up a Hornets nest with this blog Barbara!
He, he.. This will go on and on I can see!

I hate it when they say things like that just to get people in, but at least you had some time out insted of being in doors, but on saying that think i would have enjoyed being at home where it was warm the best.

On the tea subject, I've just remembered something I saw in the Morrisons cafe a few months ago. I couldn't believe the lengths some people would go to to save money(well steal really). An old lady in front of me took the tea bag out of her pot, then filled it with cofee from the machine(2 lots in one pot|) So she got 2 cups of coffe for the cheaper price of one pot of tea. I couldn't beleive myu eyes. I hope I haven't given any of you ideas, I don't want you getting arrested and carted off in handcuffs!!!!!!!!!

I agree with you Clarice. Nothing better than sitting in the warm and having a proper cup of tea and cream scones as well. The tea served in china cups, silver spoons, damask napkins -of course- We are loosing those lovely English traditions, but Alan and myself still observe this custom.
So guess what we will be doing at 3pm each afternoon?

Paul your story about the old lady and her adventures at Morrisons cafe sounds incredible.To do all that just to get a drink!
That reminds me, I have to put the kettle on now and lay the tea tray--- we are a bit late today it's nearly 3.30pm!

Wagger, it was the biggest, fattest, chewiest flapjack you've ever seen :-))))))))
Yum !

Shame on you Louise. Don't you know January is a time to cut down.. In fact I'm on two diets....You don't get enough food on one do you!

;-))

There we are.... I knew there would be another redeeming feature to this sad tale of deception, misleading information, disaster and woe.

The day WAS saved after all by a big, fat chewy flapjack!
Lol xx

No doubt, with a big fat juicy price tag. But Louise enjoyed it , that's the important thing! Just like I'm enjoying my dark chocolate Kit Kat and cup of strong coffee at the moment. Yes.... I know but I'll go for a long walk tomorrow and walk it off!!!!!

BUT - she didn't finish it, and even worse - she didn't put it in her new half-price bird feeder to take home for her feathered friends! Now what do you think of that? Tsk, tsk. Mind you - she might well have had to pay extra at the till for the bird feeder being full. mightn't she?

No, Grenville - the spoons were black PLASTIC! :-(((((

That Louise has obviously got plenty of money Spritz. Not like this poor gardener!!!

LOL..oh I feel as if I have been off to the GC with you both and had a good time with all the teasing and fuming, sorry about the sale by the way..not nice......lol..what fun tho...sitting here with a miserable flu bug and coughing as you make me laugh is a bit tough, however...I have been told to drink green tea by my sister to help and I always drink coffee in the morning..stong and black...my tea needs to be sweetened and milk added...even the green... :) Chewy flapjack has me thrown off as that is what we call pancakes here and they are usually fluffy and melt right in your mouth with butter and maple syrup...now if I could have the tea and sconesw/cream, I had at the little tea house in Llanwrst, Wales..the one with the vines growing over the whole of it by the river on the other side of the bridge....that would be heaven.

You poor thing, Cat! I know all about coughing and spluttering, I'm afraid - I got mine from my grandson as an extra Christmas present! Not flu this time - that was last year's present. Get well soon - we'll try to cheer you up! xxx

The flapjack would probably have been made of golden syrup, oats, some flour, butter, what else errrr -possibly a few raisins, then baked to chewiness. So it isn't crunchy or fluffy - it was about 3" long by 2" and an inch thick.

They do sell scones there - but they're not very nice - I had one once, and it stuck to the roof of my mouth!. Not to be recommended. Definitely NOT heaven! :-(((

lolo..oh Barbara....imagining you with a scone stuck to the roof of your mouth...oh how not fun...the flapjack sounds almost like an ANZAC cookie....

It wasn't until i was at the checkout that i remembered i was going to put the rest of the flapjack in the serviette and in my handbag ..... not for the birds either ;-)))
Hey ho.
Paul, you poor gardener, lol ;-)
I'll treat you to a flapjack when you're passing through here !!!!

Black plastic spoons served with the tea Spritz.
What is this country coming to!
I would have used the 50% discount sign at the garden centre for target practice Spritz. You could hurl one of the garden centres rock hard scones that sticks to the roof of your mouth!

I will need to lie in a darkened room to recover lol! xx

I should, Grenville - Get Alan to dab your forehead with Eau-de-Cologne, and avoid those scones at all cost next time you visit that particular Garden Centre!

It takes a while to recover from the experience, Cat. Definitely NOT home-made! LOL.

I will spritz. All my crowns will drop off my teeth if I try one of their scones. That will be sight for sore eyes lol xx

Tsk ;-)

lol

Cracked mug and A "Betties Fat Rascal " for me please !Lol

Oh no..I am afraid to ask...BB..

Oh ,Cat...actually its a very posh tea rooms in York,and a Fat Rascal is a giant plate sized biscuit with a cherry on top !Lol

LOL. Bb - now you can't tell me that they have cracked mugs there! LOL. They'll be suing you for defamation if they read this! We'll all have to club up to pay them off! LOL.

I buy them as take outs Spritz...they wouldnt let me over the doorstep ! LOL

Well I think Louise was very wise - you NEED those extra calories in this weather - I would call that healthy eating! :<)))

You wouldn't if you'd seen it, Wagger! LOL.

I think you're very mean, Spritz. I bet you were really craving a slice. ;-)))

Definitely and utterly NOT! A decent cup of tea was lovely and enough. I'd have fed it to the birds - mind you - they'd probably have got their beaks stuck in it! LOL.

Oh and I do like Earl Grey tea...sweetener and milk...at first I did not care for the flavor of bergamont, thought I was drinking tincture of pine needles...but it has grown on me and you know? gin and tonic with lime is quite good too... :) That biscuit...BB...the one with the cherry on top?...you must share it with Jane of course..hmmmmmmmmm?

LOL Cat...Of course I share it with Jane....Im not keen on cherries LOL !!

Oh Bb. Not even a small piece? Poor Jane! ;-(

Cat - I happen to know that Louise likes Earl Grey as well, but I don't. :-(((

lol...generous of you BB...!

Bombay sapphire gin is lovely Catfinch. Nice as a winter warmer. Have you tried it- very nice for happy hour.
Those cakes sound nice Bonkers.

Bombay... Sapphire..... Gin.......lolling it around on my tongue mmmm...the name itself sound warm and cozy...

Oh yes its lovely if you havent tried it do get a bottle.
I'm a bit worried about Bonkers cake- 'Betties fat rascal' Do you think it really is a cake or is it a place of ill repute?
I think Bonkers needs to provide some photographic evidence of this confectionary wonder don't you Catfinch?

I do think we need more evidence from Bonkers...especially if he is not sharing any more with Jane than he says....!

I will keep a look out for the Gin..thank you...

This conversation started out with weak tea - how did it get to 'Happy Hour' drinks that I've never heard of? LOL.

I hate when places do that to you (grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!) they get you there, knowing full well you'll end up buying something

That depends on whether there's anything to buy! LOL.

I certainly wasn't going to pay full price for those leather gloves. Shame - I would have pounced on them with a discount. ;-)

Never heard of Bombay Sapphire Gin Spritz????? Its the best London Gin you can buy infused with lovely herbs and delicate spices(Almonds,lemon peel,Liquorice,Juniper berries, and Orris root).It makes a lovely drink on a cold winters evening or on a hot summer night.If you dont drink Gin then you wouldnt have heard of it.

Well, there you are, Grenville. Ignorance is bliss in my case. Not in yours, obviously - the other way round! Enjoy. :-)))

?????? Well.....you did say it was a happy hour drink you had never heard of....so you know all about it now Barbara!!!
We all learn something new every day .

How long is your Happy Hour, Grenville? ;-)))

can I mention mint tea? it smells nice (not like that nasty orange brew) and it tastes nice!--I've never been able to get past the smell of 'real' tea!
no caffiene and good for you what more could you want?.....

???? How long is our happy hour??????? Well..... as you you are well aware an a hour consists of 60 minutes.

Whether or not its 'happy' entirely depends on ones personal interpretation.

What an unusual question to expect us to answer Spritz. Were not going to give you any clues anyway LOL!!!!!!!!!

Well, Grenville - you were waxing so lyrical in your description of that gin that I wondered if your 'Happy Hour' got loooonnnnggerrr than the norm! LOL.

Pam - I tried mint tea in North Africa and it was quite refreshing, I agree - but not a drink for this cold weather for me - however, if you enjoy it, why not? :-)

Oh no Spritz You definitely got the wrong measure of us there..... No waxing lyrical from us on this site and certainly no extension to simply having one pre- dinner drink... What a cheek to assume that the happy hour had an extension ....Lol!

It doesn't sound very happy, then, if it gets curtailed just when you're enjoying yourselves! Do you have a timer? LOL. One hour is a fleeting thing. Why not draw it out? :-)))))

Timer why would we need a timer when we have clocks and watches?

will try to provide the aforementioned photographic evidence but only available at the exclusive "Bettys ! in either York or Harrogate. Snowed in at moment here.....so when have dug our way out we will endeavour to make the trip !
Ill repute !!! Grenville..really !

Thanks Bonkers.
It will be nice to see what the cakes look like as I hadnt heard of them before you mentioned them.

Will keep you posted Grenville...and if you are very very good...next time we are in York will get you some and send them down.You can then partake with your 3 pm traditional English tea !!

Ooooh Bonkers I'm always good..... he...he!!!
Wow... thanks.... those posh cakes from York with our traditional afternoon tea- yum yum!

Will try Grenville but the cherry might be missing .. Jane such a gannet x

But Bb - won't Grenville need the cherry to decorate his glass of 'that' gin?

OK, OK, I am a heathen and NOT a conoisseur of these 'Happy Hour' drinks. Maybe it's cocktails that require a cherry, is it?

I have a slice of lemon in the Gin, No Ice, No cocktail cherries-far too sweet for a Gin and tonic.... Cherries just for some specific cocktails Spritz.

I definitely need lessons, Grenville - although as I won't be drinking them myself, I'm no sure how I can put my new-found knowledge into practice! Maybe a part-time job in the local pub, do you think? ;-)

LOL...the way I learned to drink Gin and tonic with lime..is not at all posh..actually a bit Heathen like I suppose...was watching a parade and fellow in the group was mixing them up with ice in clear plastic cups on a hot spring day and my word!..was that an enjoyable way to watch a parade in lawn chairs beside the street....or what?! lol ...actually it is the only time I drink them...done it twice in my life...sorry Grenville...you are truly the Conoisseur if you can enjoy all the bountiful flavors in your lovely Bombay Sapphire Gin....your description is wonderful....it would be a shame to mix anything with it really.

Gin and tonic with lime cordial Catfinch..... yes, VERY, VERY, YUMMY too in a tall glass with the edge dipped in lime juice and the top edge of the glass frosted with sugar and a slice of fresh lime.. A perfect summer drink to enjoy in the garden. Oooooooooh roll on the summer!!!!! xx

ooooh...Grenville!...now I am going to have to purchase Gin just for the lime &sugar around the rim this summer... :) Have not had it that way!

I'm going to have to make a list of all these combinations for when I land my 'new job', aren't I? ;-)

What's a 'gin sling' please?

Enjoy ... but why wait till the summer catfinch !

Isn't that what Anna Ford threw over Jonathen Aitken? Oh no, that was a Chablis!

Spritz--- a 'Gin sling' cocktail is made from a dash of gin, a dash of Angostura bitters,a dash of freshly squeezed lemon, fine sugar added to taste, all topped up with Soda or Mineral water and served in a cocktail glass with the edge of the glass frosted with fine sugar. (The mixture is made up in a cocktail shaker and ice added. The strainer on the cocktail shakers filters out any unwanted bits.) The edge of the glass is moistened by dipping it in lemon juice , then dipping it into fine caster sugar to give the frosted effect..

LOL Wagger - and thanks, Grenville! Now I know. :-)))

oh my that sounds mighty tasty Grenville. :) My girls and I have a "girls night slumber party" once in a blue moon..would be fun to have these...have copied and put in my recipe files...!!! lol

If you try out all the concoctions suggested so far, Cat, you will all be slumbering for quite a while! LOL. (That's after you've fallen over!)

LOL...we are all very good at not over doing...love to nibble some goodies..watch some movies and have a drinkie.... :) we do not fall over...! lol..although I can do that with out a drinkie....I am extra cautious if I have had one...

GF..just put on his 5 blog for Bodnant..

Thanks - I'll go and take a look!

I wonder if Grenville will tempt you with any other drink ideas? :-)))

lol...probably!

On another thread I just read, he says they've been eating vegetable soup with walnut bread! Now that's MUCH more tempting to me, Cat! :-)))

I would be thinking the same! Sounds lovely ...lol...I am not an everyday embiber...lol...low sodium V8 or pomegrante juice is what you will find me drinking most often after coffee or tea...

What a great blog
made me laugh all the way through
Firstly I love blue bottled bombay saphire (THE only Gin for me)
Served over ice and with bitter lemon and a slice and a sugared rim, funny though I anly have it in the summer, when I come in from a long day at the show or I am sitting in my lovely summer house admiring the garden with my cat on my knee thats heaven for me:)
In the winter its a hot toddy of whisky half a teaspoon of sugar and topped with water or water and ginger wine ummmm
Tea always has to be a china cup or mug not too big.
Sorry I love earl grey, lady grey and green tea (not with jasmine though!)
My tea has to be Davenport tea which i am afraid is weak and black (davenport hall farm is where richard used to live and my mum in law and I called it davenport tea and no one but you knows what we are talking about lol)
Anyway
We went to the primrose GC to buy Christmas lights in the 50% sale too and there was nothing 50% cheaper onboxing day!!!! or later that week worth having!
I think it is dreadful its not a bargain just a cheap lure to get us all in!!!
I dont like their tea either and if thats the only earl gey you have tried I suggest you try another as it tastes nothing like earl grey .
They definatley use dust lol!!! for their nomal tea:( and cracked cups)
We went to the Trafford centre to find other sale goods (for my new bathroom)and hardly anything to buy in fact we didnt buy anything!!!(all rubbish or broken)
No sales to be had much, unless you want a tv:(
never mind save you money and shop for plants when the winter is over and you know then they made it through the winter.:)
Sorry if you come to visit me please ask for strong tea and I will make it for you
I usually ask:)

You might yet see us turn up on your doorstep, Vicky - our daughter's in-laws live in Manchester, so not too far from you. We spent last Christmas up there with them. So get the kettle on! :-)))

Interesting that your 'primrose' GC was the same as ours. What a nasty trick to play though - I'd have liked a free basket of primroses to take home!

I'm glad the blog amused you - it was meant to be 'tongue in cheek'!

Oh please do call I would love to meet you
Make sure you ring first otherwise we may be at a show or not in

OK. :-))))

Much enjoyed this blog Spritz, I think we've all been caught out this way at some time or another, one needs a sense of humour and good company:-) but what a lot of subjects raised along the way:-) Tea.....two bags per cup for me thanks and salve conscience by using Clipper tea. Then the men folk bragging about feet size, Ian wins I think...then gin! I've learned a lot here...cakes...yes please so long as not too high in sat fat (Ihave high cholesterol) I can eat as many as I like...honest:-) then to finish, recipes for cocktails and Vickys hot toddy. I only came on here to look at your blog for making paper pots for sweet peas! ;-))))

I'm glad you got to the end, then!

I wrote it with 'tongue in cheek', but as you say, it took off in all directions! Well, great, we all enjoyed a 'chat'. :-))))

At least you found a bargain in the end..........

I haven't been able to plant it, though! Poor Bergenia. :-(((

dont think i want to do any planting till the weather gets much much warmer...lol

I'd love to get some of the plants that are in the coldframe into the garden, but the soil is frozen under the snow - so NO chance yet. :-(((

my snow is all gone now......garden very soggy from the melting snow and rain is forcast 4 tomorrow....roll on summer...... : O ))

I can see some green at last! The white is going fast - Thank goodness! Yes - same here, everything is very soggy. Some drizzle already, and heavy rain forecast for tomorrow.

The problem is in this weather I start looking at buying new plants. I've just found a lagerstroemia indica (crepe myrtle) on ebay then some fantastic plants in the same ebay shop. Perfect for my makeover lol :-)

I love Lagerstroemia! I saw them in Italy in September. Are they hardy enough for the UK? If so - I shall be after one as well! What colour is it?

Yes they are hardy to I think -20 the one I've seen on ebay is a standard. grafted on roughly one metre high, 3 metre spread. I would prefer a the 'normal' one, I think but maybe I'll have 2 hee hee. It's a pink one I think not the reddier one. The site I found on ebay also has the most amazing acers that I've not only not seen, but haven't heard of. You must look:-) Or minus 9 whichever you read:-)

Come on! PLEASE tell me where to look! I'd like a nice PM pleeeeeeeaaassseeeeeee.......:-))))))))))))

If anyone reads my comment that lagerstroemia indica is ok at minus 20, I got it off a website ditto -9, but RHS A-Z says in frost prone areas grow against a warm sunny wall. So unless there are new hardier varieties.......:-)

Hmmm...that sounds ominous! Not good in the kind of winter we're having. :-(((

did you get my pm? Maybe the compact bushy ones are hardier??

Yes, thanks - sorry - I was writing a new blog! I'm about to reply. :-)

that particular garden centre has sent me an email to say they have more free primroses in
Ummm dont think I will bother.
If you havent had yours thats what they say : >

It's too far to go just to get those! I think they shot themselves in the foot by not letting people have them at the start of their 'sale', don't you?

Yes I do Sprtiz
Its too far for me I am in USA lol

I know! When are you planning to come home?

Soon I hope :)

;-))