I have ALWAYS had many perennials in my beds. I am just starting here, and some of them didn’t do so well. I think one problem is that the yard is very flat and drainage is very poor. The soil is excellent and full of organic matter. I will continue to add varieties as time goes by and I get the beds built!
I have MANY excellent sources of perennials. Way back when I first started growing LOTS of perennials, I bought plants from several of the better mail-order nurseries… Well, I collect catalogs with a passion… To a point I think I may have some kind of a disorder. Anyway, some of the perennial sources I have are fairly inexpensive and some are REALLY expensive! Now, you have to realize a few things about buying perennials by mail. Some will come bare root and sometimes this is OK. Others ship them in small pots because they aren’t that old, and others ship in larger pots because they are older. The price difference will amaze you! Now, many nurseries, like Plant Delights, Klem’s, Heronswood, Wayside Gardens, etc. (I hate to leave anyone out!), have absolutely wonderful plants and beautiful catalogs! They have allot of rare and unusual varieties that I really want in my garden. I have to really be careful not to go crazy! I have to get beds ready first!!! Keep reminding me!!!
Back in 1981, I got a little Chrysanthemum crazy. I purchased LOTS of varieties from Sunnyslope Gardens and Bluestone Perennials. Both are still in business. Bluestone has a wide selection of MANY perennials and they have EXCELLENT quality and service. They are shipped in pots or packs and I have never had any problems with them at all. Excellent source and good prices. SUNNYSLOPE on the other hand, specializes in MUMS of every description imaginable! I am not exaggerating when I say ‘every’. Some are moderately priced and some are pretty pricey. They ship, or at least then, bare root. Still, there was no problem getting them to grow. The problem was, you should cut mums back every couple of weeks until around mid-July. So, I did that. But, I stuck every cutting in the soil wherever I could find a spot. I just could not throw them away! Not only that, but I had them all labeled. I had SO MANY mums it wasn’t funny! Over 50 varieties and all their cuttings!
Hosta were also getting to be a problem for me. I didn’t have that many yet, but my mouth was watering! The ones I ordered were from Klehm’s (back then it was Klehm and Sons, now it is Klehm’s Song Sparrow Nursery) and Bluestone.
Heck, I was making pretty good money and had lots of room. No wife to commit me and my beds were in my back yard for the most part so no one would think I was insane. No neighbors beside or behind me… The possibilities were limitless! I was 20-21 years old, and most people my age were not playing in the dirt.
Now, here at the mansion, I have a HUGE yard and endless possibilities. I just have to do allot of work and make it happen! No frost till December (at least this year)… NICE!
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