It's all starting down in the south! Nice to read about a bit of spring starting somewhere. Delivery charges - do not get me started on these. But since I have, I'll continue. Because I live halfway between Aberdeen and Inverness (where there ARE roads, believe it or not), my postcode is classed as a "remote area" which is basically open season to charge a packet for delivery. Compare two orders I made at the same time last year: 3x9cm pots ordered from Claire Austin Hardy Plants, where the delivery charge was the standard Royal Mail postage. Total cost of plants £17.40. Postage £7.95. Crocus, also 3x9cm pots. Cost of plants, £15.73. Postage £5.99 standard charge PLUS "delivery surcharge" of £10 because of "remote area". So £15.99 for postage ie more than the cost of the plants. My email of complaint raised no response apart from "it's not us, it's the courier company". If Claire Austin can manage it, surely Crocus can manage delivery with Royal Mail? End result - am never ordering from Crocus again, even if it means not getting the precise plant I want. Am now going for a walk in a gale to calm down...
Verbascums... be still my heart. I've got "southern charm" in the garden. I love this. But I want MORE. I wish the US nursery market were more diversified.
I'm amazed by the number of plants you've fitted into the 'bad bed'! I think it must be larger than I thought. Apologies if you've given the dimensions at some point and I've overlooked them.
Um, I like wild coloured erysimums - I have a vibrant reddish violet one in a blue pot on my patio table (currently getting blown to death, looking at shrivelling). Every time we look at it we are “Yes, nice one!” And yes, verbascums always feature in show garden but trying to buy one?? Let me know if you find a Clementine - I will grow and cherish it for you!
I had a Bowles Mauve in my garden in Edinburgh that was blissfully happy. I've tried several times to grow it in my new garden 170 miles further north and it has died, definitively, every winter. Sob.
It's all starting down in the south! Nice to read about a bit of spring starting somewhere. Delivery charges - do not get me started on these. But since I have, I'll continue. Because I live halfway between Aberdeen and Inverness (where there ARE roads, believe it or not), my postcode is classed as a "remote area" which is basically open season to charge a packet for delivery. Compare two orders I made at the same time last year: 3x9cm pots ordered from Claire Austin Hardy Plants, where the delivery charge was the standard Royal Mail postage. Total cost of plants £17.40. Postage £7.95. Crocus, also 3x9cm pots. Cost of plants, £15.73. Postage £5.99 standard charge PLUS "delivery surcharge" of £10 because of "remote area". So £15.99 for postage ie more than the cost of the plants. My email of complaint raised no response apart from "it's not us, it's the courier company". If Claire Austin can manage it, surely Crocus can manage delivery with Royal Mail? End result - am never ordering from Crocus again, even if it means not getting the precise plant I want. Am now going for a walk in a gale to calm down...
I’m not surprised you won’t use them again! A £10 SURCHARGE?!! And they’re a big company! That’s nuts!! That’s CRAZY! REMOTE SURCHARGE?!
Hey! You lovely seed sower!!! That made my rather lowering chilly grey morning.
All good, then. Your patience is rewarded, mate.
We’ll draw a (very heavy) veil over that erisymum.
Verbascums... be still my heart. I've got "southern charm" in the garden. I love this. But I want MORE. I wish the US nursery market were more diversified.
I'm amazed by the number of plants you've fitted into the 'bad bed'! I think it must be larger than I thought. Apologies if you've given the dimensions at some point and I've overlooked them.
Um, I like wild coloured erysimums - I have a vibrant reddish violet one in a blue pot on my patio table (currently getting blown to death, looking at shrivelling). Every time we look at it we are “Yes, nice one!” And yes, verbascums always feature in show garden but trying to buy one?? Let me know if you find a Clementine - I will grow and cherish it for you!
Sorry, tapped the wrong thing! Erasmus Bowles Mauve is the only one. This is the law 😊
I had a Bowles Mauve in my garden in Edinburgh that was blissfully happy. I've tried several times to grow it in my new garden 170 miles further north and it has died, definitively, every winter. Sob.
I did give erysimums a go last year. Tore them all out st the end of the season. The only one