Tags
A Shropshire Lad rose, david austin rose Gertrude Jekyll, David Austin Roses, EBay, Fragrant English Rose The Lark Ascending, Gunnera manicata, The Beth Chatto Gardens
I have never been terribly interested in on-line shopping. I could never imagine how you could choose anything without first seeing or feeling it; how would I know if it will fit, how would I know if it’s the real thing. I do of course make use of that website which shall remain nameless here, for books and music and I do feel almost ashamed of that as I know too well that it is putting bookshops and record shops out of business. Oh and I find that family retailer/ department store, you know the one where all staff are partners, provides a great service in that I can order and they will deliver free of charge almost next day. Well reader I have changed my mind, I can now see the merits of on-line shopping, for PLANTS!
I took delivery of three David Austin Roses, The Lark Ascending which were sent as a gift from my now Canadian resident chum. They were packaged really well and looked good strong specimens. They were planted a few weeks ago and they are going so well that I have ordered some more: 6 x Gertrude Jekyll and 3 A Shropshire Lad as bare root plants direct from David Austin. This was so much better than trawling round garden centres to see if they are in stock and then paying a full price for the fact that they are in shop which has a cafe and ornaments for sale.
Then I decided I wanted to have a Gunnera manicata for planting by the ditch. Having never seen one for sale, although that is probably because I was not looking, however, none the less, I decided to look on-line.
This little beauty was from EBay!
It arrived this morning in a self made cardboard box and wrapped in newspaper. It is fresh and healthy and I hope it will like its new home enough to grow and grow and grow into one of those enormous prehistoric beauties I once saw at the wonderful and inspiring damp garden of The Beth Chatto gardens, http://www.bethchatto.co.uk If you have never been to visit the garden at Elmstead Market near Colchester, I recommend it as a ‘must-see’.
I will keep you posted on progress of the Gunn. Any tips, do let me know. I would also really like to hear if you have had any great on-line garden/ plant purchases.
Dorris
digwithdorris.com 
Yummy, I am jealous. One Gunn would fill my entire garden. I have received excellent quality plants from the RHS. I think if you are looking for a specific cultivar then on line shopping is fab. My only proviso is watch the postage, it can be expensive.
Of course I remember your RHS order, those were a great purchase. Interesting about postage, I found the roses on-line where they appeared to be considerably cheaper than direct from David Austin however when I came to pay the postage was outrageous making the difference negligible. I decided to go to the grower as I expect the product will be top quality.
Lovely plant. I had a beauty which got drowned when the level of water in the pond rose very high a couple of winters ago. Who would have thought that a moisture loving plant can’ t bear to sit in water all winter? Well, I know now and I have planted one where it can’ t drown.
hi Chloris, that’s interesting. Do they not like the crown in water? How close to the waters edge do you suggest?
They like very damp soil but they rot if the crown is sitting in water. This makes it difficult to site them at the edge of a pond as the level rises in winter.
Oh bother this is going to make siting the Gunn tricky. More difficult than I anticipated. Oh well, two chances!
Looks fantastic. I was really impressed by service and trees that arrived from http://www.realenglishfruit.co.uk/ I asked for information on apple and plum trees to plant and was given great advice by Dan, both via e-mail and on the phone. I was concerned that the trees were coming by courier and might get damaged, but they were well packed and arrived safely with comprehensive instructions on care and planting. The specialist advice and service was great and I know that if I encounter a problem I can ring Dan for advice. I would absolutely buy via internet again. I agree Doris, I love the never knowingly undersold shop – my only issue is they only sell fabric by the full metre on line, I have to go to the shop for my 2.5m!
Hi and welcome. I shall take a look at your tree link, so nice to hear about a new source.
There is nothing better than David Austin roses, and I am totally in love with them. I wish you all many years of happiness!
Your Gunnera looks very healthy, and has clearly whetted your appetite for online shopping. I found a nursery selling bare root David Austin roses very cheaply and have bought lots from them, and been delighted.
hi and sorry to take quite so long to reply to your lovely comment. Do share,, who has good prices for D A roses.?