I spent two hours in a great nursery and came home with ... nothing!
The heucheras at Lockwoods.
Inspired by Kim’s great shopping spree post, I have one of my own. Although I, too, don’t need any more plants this season—indeed, I would be hard-pressed to find room—that would never stop me from buying at least 10-12 perennials and even a few annuals (though at this point in the summer those are only for emergency situations).
Lockwood’s, easily our best vendor, though there are ten other places that come close, looks almost as lush in mid-August as it did in early June. First we went for the shade perennials. They have 5-6 heuchera cultivars, including the chartreuse and golden varieties, as well as a new one I had never seen. The leaves are very stiff and frilly, with a burgundy underside—so frilled that the burgundy colors appear at all the leaf edges. Interesting. No idea what the flowers are like.
Then, the hellebore: they have a white speckled variety, nursery-grown. No comparison with what Plant Delights is offering, but still better than the usual hybrids you see everywhere. Next: Japanese anemone: oh, what the heck, how about one that’s ready to bloom! Finally, for part-shade, a lovely blue lobelia (cardinal flower, not the annual).
On to the sun selections. There must be a tall orange-red helenium and—oh, god, one of the tall grasses, not miscanthus, but I forgot the name (sorry). A couple of Russian sage (the price was right), a pink coreopsis, and a totally goofy and ridiculous fluffy-headed raspberry echinacea. To round it out, we grabbed a magnificent chocolate eupatorium.
One must have height, so we went for the clematis paniculata and a campsis (to grow up a utility pole). And, finally, a teacup colocasia (Plant Delights calls this coffee cups).
Ron consults with the lovely and knowledgeable Sally Cunningham, horticulturalist-in-residence.
By this time, the tab was well north of $150, but not one penny of it was spent by me, because I was on a garden coaching expedition with my pupil Ron. And I must tell you: I was completely satisfied.
But I do apologize for not knowing all the exact names—the buyer, not the enabler, gets the labels.
Addendum: Ron—the rudbeckia hirta Herbstomme came in. You must buy some now or I will be very unhappy!!
Addendum #2: See comments for Ron's notes.
Comments
Seriously, that sounds like a great haul. Ron sounds like a wonderful pupil--or else you're even more extraordinary of a coach than I thought you'd be--since he's already looking past the usual black-eyed susans and shasta daisies.
It sounds like everyone had a great afternoon, EAL.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
You have some great willpower there. I would have had to get something for myself, or circle back later to get myself a few plants.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Any completists out there might want to know that the tall grass Eliz mentioned is a switch grass called "Shenandoah" (Panicum virgatum). The goofy/ridiculous raspberry ecinachea is "Razzmatazz." If anyone wants further info, just say the word and the buyer will consult the labels--though I must point out that my enabler was able to present a shockingly complete list without any written notes of her own. (Note to those seeking a gardening coach: be sure he or she has a photographic memory.)
As for the adventure itself, it was indeed a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The combination of a knowledgeable mentor (who had just toured my yard a few days earlier) and a top-tier nursery meant that I could totally trust any recommendations I received, which is pretty much ideal for a novice.
PS to Coach E: Yes, yes, the rudbeckia. You got it. Or rather, I've got it... soon as I can hike out to Hamburg again.