Hi There,
Perhaps one of those fancy polls could be made...with different categories such as what does you garden need:
blue
green
gold/yellow
mediovariegated
marginal variegated
minis
monsters
I guess that probably wouldn't do much good if your collecting from pictures alone and hoping they somehow fit in a maze of plants. Enevitably that leads to the circus garden.
I think as gardners develope and mature, there is a better sense of what is needed and what is practical. But then, this wisdom is easily wore off by new and upcoming gardners. Near as I can tell, a grand a year for the first several years
on anything new. It is hard to not want to be a part of that from a business perspective. I see the margins and what little time has went into the plants; it is enough to roll my stomach; seriously
I was there once; no problem.
I found out around 2003-2005 what a hosta should consist of to be worthy of time, garden space and money. I spent a fair price on a plant because of the divisions and roots. I planted it in the garden. The next year immediately, and that is important, I had several more eyes and a good size plant that was worthy of the space, money and time. It also gave instant impact in what I was trying to create. Most of all, the damn thing grew. I would say the plant was a solid three years old. Also, importantly, it had went through at least two dormancy's and again important for growth, it had been overwintered/vernalized/hardened off in the real world, outside of a greenhouse.
I thought I had created heaven and had good plants until I discovered why this plant really grew and impressed me.
I found out what a plant should be. I believe in this, I take it seriously and it is what I like to pass on to my friends and customers. It is worthy of your name being associated; pride
I
once thought I could sacrifice my name on a job just to keep up w/ what else was being installed and priced at the time. I gave a quote (money amount) the owner wanted, not what I felt and knew should be done. In the end, I did the job my way, threatened to leave more than once and drank several beers and shared jokes w/ the owner at the end. Who was I kidding, I can't do anything halfass. I would have to put money in front of integrity, workmanship and sustainability; just not who I am.
That was the one and only time I tried that in near 27 years of self-employment. Besides that, I got a terrible headache and hangover from all the beer.
When you have a true heart, such as youself, a sense of trust and honesty plays a big role. Relationships develope into lifelong friendships. Surround yourself w/ good people and the rest falls into place.
It can be frustrating at times to try and help people from experiences. Some listen and some don't. Some just need to experience things themselves with some "burn".
not much can be done, though I fought it for years w/ frustration and emotion. Now that Paul and you have cured me of my emotion
, I found it easier to travel on country roads, only venturing to the highway once in a while. I avoid the freeway at all cost, there is really nothing there for us anyway.
Anyway, when it comes to plants, I have broken it down into a few, what I consider species that I can associate with and understand, such as Rectofolia, Kikutii, Sieboldii, Sieboldiana, Montana, Rupifraga, Longpipes, Hypoleuca, Yingeri, Tokudama and Fortunei. I understand and know how these plants will grow and perform; for the most part. I can base a reasonable judgement and recomendation from there. I have gotten so good from trial and error, I can damnnear speak Japanese!!!
, ya right.
When these bloodlines get mixed, a firm evaluation is going to have to be done for a considerable amount of time; many years. Various conditions should be evaluated. I have noticed some of the new introductions too...I can firmly say there are plants that are not going to look like that in time; the genes won't allow it. We will lose ripples, waves, structure, form, and a good dense looking plant. I have only two, maybe three hybridizers I give credit to all or most of their plants. I can mostly go off their name (hybridizers name) for something worthy. I am in no race to get my name in a book and I still prefer to grow things for a few years at least, such as yourself. Guess, this is positive in more ways than one, you get hands on evaluation for confident recomendations and
real roots,
the heart of a plants performance.
Break...I went to tuck in my five year old and read him a book. The most rewarding and precious of all.
This is my current list of plants I would like to have or see in the garden.
I never noticed the pumpkin winked so much, hopefully that means someone agrees with what I had to offer.
I have killed them by just looking the other way in a split second. They have to prove themself before I bye a new hosta from them.
