Monday, July 9, 2012

Just buy the darn plant already!

If I had a dime for every time I’ve thought about buying Hebe pimeleoides 'Quicksilver' this one (and three or four more just like it), would have been free!

Seriously. What’s been the problem? I’m hardly a person who purchases only what’s “on the list.” In fact I’d say 98% of the plants in my garden were impulse/opportunistic purchases. And this plant isn't expensive, small ones go for under $10. So why have I picked up and put down this particular plant over and over and over again?

And why did I finally buy it? Dunno. But I’m glad I did. In fact I LOVE…L O V E it. The tiny silver/blue leaves on dark, almost black, stems are the perfect foil for the big spiky/strappy foliage in my garden. Maybe I need a couple more…

My advice to you about that plant you keep thinking about buying…just buy the darn plant already!

30 comments:

  1. What good advice! That mannequin in the bamboo grove was placed there 3 years ago for scale while I was thinking about buying a buddha statue of roughly the same size for that space. I'll just buy the darned buddha already! (Rather, I'll tell Tom that that's what I want for my birthday so I won't have to pay for it.)Thanks!

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    1. Is the buddha even still available? Three years is a long time!

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  2. That's a great little hebe, and quite different from the ones I see around. Glad you finally bought the darn plant! And thanks for the sage advice: in future, I'll try not to talk myself out of plants so easily!

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    1. I should have added "especially the cheap ones"...talking yourself out of a $60 plant is understandable but something under $10...well that's a different story!

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  3. Wonderful! I love those hebes and have done the same thing myself. I gave into plant buying temptations this weekend and am oh so very excited. I love your new little hebe!!!!!

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    1. And I love your new plants! Have you grown 'bright star' before? (I should know this)...I've had two and neither one is particularly happy. I wish you better luck than I've had!

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  4. I did that with my Texas Sage. Now I want ten more of them!!! ;)

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  5. Glad you bought it, as your garden was really in need of some variety. ;-)

    I too have learned the "just buy it" rule, at least after a little initial research to find out if it will survive our winters and summers. Sometimes it's only the "don't go to nurseries during the summer" rule that saves me from the "just buy it" rule. :-)

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    1. Oh yes, this (the summer shopping one) is a good rule to keep in mind. I've learned the hard way that I should only buy container plants in July and August. No matter how good I am to the ones I put in the ground they rarely flourish (that's code talk that means "they die").

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  6. I need to have that piece of advice tattooed across my forehead. I'm often much too selective/conservative about what I buy and then invariably regret not getting that d**n plant.

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    1. Glad I could help, go forth and purchase!

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  7. Nice! and yes, just buy the darned plant!

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    1. I should get that printed on a t-shirt!

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  8. That's a lovely Hebe Loree.

    A few years ago I was obsessing about buying a Schefflera of some sort for my 40th birthday, but I managed to talk myself out of it. I am so glad that I did because that was just before we had those two Arctic winters and if I had bought the Scheffie then it would have been toast, which would have been quite sad.

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    1. Yikes, that would have been heartbreaking! So have you still not bought one (a Schefflera)? I bet you have access to some cool ones over there...maybe you could keep it in a container?

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    2. I am still Schefflera free Loree. I do not have anywhere to over-winter plants, they have to be tough to grow in my garden!

      Crug Farm are best known in the UK for their Schefflera selection. Their website is www.crug-farm.co.uk, you must have visited there before?

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    3. I have, and I'm pretty sure it was you that sent me there. Are they the ones with the huge Mahonia gracilipes?

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  9. So true...I've falled into the habit of buying a plant if I can tell that I'll regret not buying it later...probably why I'm always moving plants around to make room for more ;-)

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    1. Perhaps it's time you took over a neighbors garden?

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  10. Congratulations on your new plant, Loree! I would love to take your advice but I don't think that will go over well with my wife. :-)

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    1. Uhm, well I suppose it's good to keep that in mind. I would hate to cause a break-up!

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  11. Pretty, I love silvery foliage. I'd definitely do that for a 10 dollar plant.

    The Y. Rostrata the size of a small palm will have to wait for the 30 percent off sale which usually happens in August.

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    1. Oh wow...really? 30% off? I hope it's still there for you!

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  12. I've had that hebe for 8 years, one of the only ones I've been able to keep alive, and it rambles all over its bed in a very pleasing, haphazard manner. I predict you will love it.

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  13. You are too funny Loree..I love Hebes of all kinds and I bought one of these a couple of years ago..my problem was trying to figure out where to put it. The poor thing languished in it's 4 inch pot for at least a year and finally croaked when I was gone on a trip during summer and not there to water it. Haven't replaced because I still don't know where to put it !

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    1. Sounds like you need a "plant maintenance facility" in which to store your purchases. You know an area where the help will water and care for them until you have a chance to plant them in the ground (haha).

      I stupidly bought a handful of 4" plants one summer right before we left town. I buried them under a mound of compost thinking maybe they would do okay. Nope. Crispy. I feel your pain.

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  14. Sometimes the clue is in the hesitation :) at times, the more you hesitate and think about it, the more likely its meant to be yours. Well done!

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