Starting Tuesday, October 1st and running through the end of the month it’s the annual Cistus Nursery Tough Love/Parking Lot sale. This sale brings out the treasure hunter in me. You know that person on Antiques Roadshow who finds a lost Pollock or Van Gough painting at a thrift shop for $2 and then later discovers what they really have? Well that’s how I feel after visiting this sale, you should go! (but not until Wednesday so we don’t fight over anything)
The details: "Returning by popular demand is our annual Parking Lot Sale, or the Cistus Tough Love Sale. Tough Love is our major clearance sale of the year, and it always brings out the serious gardeners along with hunters of crazy bargains. Plants staged in the parking lot will be discounted by as much as 90%! Some plants are in need of some love. Others are just excess stock that we want you to have in your garden. Either way, it's your chance to get rock-bottom prices just in time for fall planting. At the same time, we will be offering a promotion during October to help you get a jump on your holiday shopping. What could be a better stocking stuffer than a gift certificate to Cistus? During the month of October, the first 100 people to spend $100 or more will get a $25 gift certificate for free!" Photo from last year’s Tough Love sale, Oct, 2012...
Going on right now (actually started Thursday the 26th) is the (now) annual Fall Sale and Open House at Xera Plants. The details: "Thursday Sept. 26th - Sunday Sept. 29th, Thursday Oct 3rd - Sunday Oct. 6th, 10:00 - 6:00 all days! 30% OFF ALL PLANTS!! We'll be restocking thru the sale...an excellent selection, not just leftovers!" Xera’s roommate Contained Exuberance is joining in the fun with the same 30% off on their pots and plants (danger!). Photo from my visit to Xera in June, 2013...
Next up Sebright Gardens (Oregon's premier selection of Hostas) is offering 10% off. I visited Sebright for the first time a couple of weeks ago (post coming up next week) and wow...if you think a nursery full of hostas sounds boring you are so wrong! Plus it isn't all hostas, they've got some lovely ferns and a few other things to tempt you, along with a gorgeous display garden. Here's their schedule for the rest of the season: "open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm the rest of September. We are extending our days open for the first two Friday, Saturdays and Sundays of October (4,5,6,11,12 & 13th). Last day open for the season will be October 13th. We will re open the nursery early April next year." Photo from my visit to Sebright in early September 2013, I wonder why I was attracted to this one?...
And finally Thicket on Alberta is getting ready to close down for the season and offering 25% off all plants! Photo from my visit to Thicket in Aug, 2012...
Whew...that's a lot of great plant deals to be had!
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I'm planning to go to Xera for the first time on Sunday after the Plant Exchange. Can't wait. I am so tempted to get down there next week as well to visit Cistus...
ReplyDeleteAlison, you'll love Xera: It's not big, but it is incredibly choice!!
DeleteGlad to hear you're still planning on coming down to PDX Alison, I was afraid maybe the storm would keep you away.
DeleteAs long as the swap is still on, I still think I'll be coming. I haven't taken the trip in rain before, so I don't know if !-5 floods anywhere between here and there. I'll bring an umbrella.
DeleteI think they've finally fixed that part of I-5 in Chehalis/Centralia that typically had flooding issues, now the only sucky part is the semi-trucks that splash your windshield with buckets of water and temporarily blind you. Drive careful!!!
DeleteYes, that's a lot of plants and good deals all right!
ReplyDeleteNow to work up equal enthusiasm for going ANYWHERE in this punishing weather...
There are bound to be a few moments where the wind and rain let up...right? (I hope)
DeleteTough Love Sale - way better than "fall clearance" (butt-ugly)! You always find something, anywhere. About to visit a friend's new nursery...hint...pre-development salvaged ocotillos, astrophytums, etc. Just minutes away...
ReplyDeleteAh you should see some of the crazy stuff they find for the "tough love" sale. I think I could list my regrets (the plants I should have bought) almost as well as the ones I've actually bought. Hope you took your camera to your friends new nursery, sounds wonderful! Last weekend when Andrew spoke with his mom she was heading out the door with a friend to go to El Paso. We both looked at each other and said "I want to go to El Paso..." (maybe next time)
Deleteall i can say is lucky you.
ReplyDeleteI can't argue with that.
DeleteThe last photo looks like the pot Scott has in his back garden, which I covet. Nice to have those end-of-season sales -- alas, not a concept made for SoCal. Buy lots!
ReplyDeleteWow good eye/memory. They are just like Scott's, which I still haven't worked up the courage to steal, yet.
DeleteSadness! I am too far to even brave the weather! I don't think there are even that many nurseries within 100 miles of me, let alone, really COOL ones. Together everyone: " Big box stores suck!"
ReplyDeleteThey do, oh yes they do. But every once and awhile I find a treasure there. Still I wouldn't give up my fabulous nurseries for all the big boxes in the world...
DeleteI am sooo envious. The SoCal nurseries I scour on a regular basis occasionally mark down a few larger plants and, occassionally, pots but there's nothing like you describe. Annie's in NoCal just announced a 25% off sale but the mail order expense takes some of the thrill out of that...
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to remind you that is the price you pay for living in a climate where they garden never has to be put to sleep. But that would be kind of rude so I won't. Regarding Annie's that sale was announced the day after I finally broke down and ordered a couple of things. Grrrrr.....
DeleteMy sister and I braved the storm today to visit Loen Wholesale Nursery - open to the public next weekend, Oct 5/6 too! Thanks for the reminder about Cistus. Will definitely make the trip this week!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I swear I've stopped at Loen before and bought things. Maybe I'm confused about the place. Perhaps I'll see you at Cistus!
DeleteOk, I'm determined to carve out some plant time next weekend and hit Xera. Thanks for posting all this great info!
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps you'll get lucky and have dry skies under which to do so! (unlike this last weekend)
DeletePlant sales, boy do I miss plant shopping!! Haven't bought any new plants for a long time with the house being done and all. And looks like we'll miss some of the plant sales here in the autumn too. There's always next year. Happy plant shopping!
ReplyDeleteJust think of all your pent-up plant buying energy you'll have come next spring!!!
DeleteHah! I actually think I'm fortunate right now to be over 8,000 miles away from you and Gerhard. I don't want to imagine how much I will be spending on the plants, let alone airfare, cargo and permits.
ReplyDeleteGerhards sales list looked very tempting didn't it? Not that I'm complaining about my options...
DeleteLinda & I will be meeting at Cistus Tues at 2pm. Will we have the honor of fighting over plants with you, or are you arriving at the opening bell? You always ferret out plants that slip right under my radar, so I would love to follow you around the sale.
ReplyDeleteMy intention is to be there early, we'll see what mother nature has in store. I'm having a hard time with morning motivation with the weather as it's been. If I'm running later I'll get in touch with you ladies!
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