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Is there a good online source for bulbs? Our Costco (we actually have one on this island!) doesn't carry bulbs and I don't get over to that side more often than once every three months or so anyway.
Gladiolus does real well here and it would be nice to put in a few if there was an online source for bulbs?
One of the big plant sales is coming up soon since we have the Merrie Monarch in another week or two. (Merrie Monarch is a huge hula festival and competition) Usually the week before the MM the stadium that it is held in has the plant sale. It is always sort of a shock to go in the door at the MM and see all the hula dancers when just the week before it was full of plants. Perhaps there will be some gladiolus bulbs at the plant sale, but perhaps not, too. The daylily folks are usually there, though, so a daylily or two might be good.
I'm running about 50/50 on the Costco bulbs. I've had good tulips, peonies, and some varieties of lilies.
But my "stargazers" from 2 years ago are not stargazers and only 3 out of 10 sprouted. This year, I bought some day lilies. 4 bulbs for $12.95, so a bit spendy. I just planted them and there are only 3 rather small bulbs in the package. I sure hope they are at least the variety they are labeled as.
I am saying "no more". I just hope I remember that next year when the pretty packages hit the shelf.
(Bare root fruit trees from there have been excellent, and a very good price)
For daylilies, peonies, iris, roses, I always liked to buy via growers' catalogs. I just ordered dayliles from Gilbert Wild, out of Sarcoxie MO. This is a company that has been in business for a long, long time. I looked hard for a daylily grower I could order from in the PNW, but I couldn't seem to find one, so I went with a company that had always been a reliable grower. You could also try Oakes daylilies. For perennials do a search at Bluestone perennials. And an Oregon grower that used to sell smaller plants, but had amazing variety is Forestfarm.
Support your local nursery. We live where there were several. Before Home Depot, and Lowes' came in, the parking lots were always full in the spring. Slowly they are closing. I use to be able in the middle of winter be able to walk in their greenhouses and see beautiful houseplants. Enjoy the rain forest feeling of warmth, moisture and the smell of earth. Now they close once the Christmas trees are gone. Before you know it we are all going to be dressing the same, our houses are going to be looking the same because the only place to shop are the big box stores where if you been in one Home Depot you been in every Home Depot, they are all the same.
I haven't decided where to order the roses I want to plant yet. You should be able to request catalogs from these growers. Have fun!
Thanks for the website suggestions.
If you want named roses, I can't help. If you just want good rose bushes, BiMart bagged bare roots are excellent. Some of my best fruit trees are from BiMart, and the out-of-patent roses are inexpensive and grow like gangbusters.
Green mantle in California sells good bench graft apple trees and they have a large selection of roses. Roses seem to be their specialty and the apples are a side line, so for roses, at least take a quick look. I've only bought custom grafted heritage apples from them, but they were very pleasant to work with.
Some of the out-of-patent roses are still hard to beat. I got a Chrysler Imperial from BiMart and not many of the modern roses can hold a candle to that one.
I collect tall bearded iris and rare fruit trees, not roses. Any healthy pretty rose bush does just fine for me, but I understand how that is not enough for anyone who wants a rose collection.
If you want named roses, I can't help. If you just want good rose bushes, BiMart bagged bare roots are excellent. Some of my best fruit trees are from BiMart, and the out-of-patent roses are inexpensive and grow like gangbusters.
Green mantle in California sells good bench graft apple trees and they have a large selection of roses. Roses seem to be their specialty and the apples are a side line, so for roses, at least take a quick look. I've only bought custom grafted heritage apples from them, but they were very pleasant to work with.
I was recommending growers to you! I've used all those nurseries. I wouldn't ever buy any sort of rose at Bi Mart, although I might buy garden supplies there. If you order from the right place you get something grown at a family owned grower that takes pride in their plants.
Support your local nursery. We live where there were several. Before Home Depot, and Lowes' came in, the parking lots were always full in the spring. Slowly they are closing. I use to be able in the middle of winter be able to walk in their greenhouses and see beautiful houseplants. Enjoy the rain forest feeling of warmth, moisture and the smell of earth. Now they close once the Christmas trees are gone. Before you know it we are all going to be dressing the same, our houses are going to be looking the same because the only place to shop are the big box stores where if you been in one Home Depot you been in every Home Depot, they are all the same.
I do like to shop in local nurseries. But I prefer to buy some things via a grower who specializes. Unlike you I began gardening in an area with uninteresting perennial selections. I learned so much from reading plant catalogs. Where I used to live, better nurseries have begun carrying much more diverse and interesting perennials, shrubs and trees.
There is a great nursery in my new town, but I would order daylilies and roses and other plants from a specialist grower. For one thing, I can take my time deciding what I want and where it would go. But I bet I spend plenty at the local place. And at Home Depot too!
We have had nothing but good luck with the Costco bulbs. One year we bought the red tulip bulb collection and the first year all the tulips come up. One blossom each bulb. The next year (this year) the bulbs came in with about 5 blossoms where each bulb was planted. The collection was of different reds….solid reds and white with red variegated ones. Couldn't ask for more beautiful bulbs. The peonies I planted about 3 years ago have been spectacular.
On a side note….I planted 2 more of Costco Peonies this year but neglected to write down their names. Does anyone know the names of the Peonies sold in the 2 pack at Costco. One was pink and white and the other was a brighter pink. Thanks.
I really don't know which peonies Costco sold this year but if they do the same ones each year here is a list from last year. Maybe you'll recognize the names? Also, how do you know if they have a scent or not? I hesitate to buy a peony that is not in bloom as it would be sad to have the unscented ones.
Local Costco in 2014 has the following peony combos for sale at $11.99/pack:
Duchess de Nemours/ Red Supreme(4 2-3 eyesroots)
Buckeye Belle/Festiva Maxima(4)
Sword Dance/Moon of Nippon(4)
Sorbet/Lady Alexander Duff(4)
Purple Spider(2)
Dinnerplate(2)
Celebrity/Peony name I forget(4)
Queen Wilhemina/Adolph Rousseau(4)
Mutabilis/Rosea Plena(4)
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Bulbs from Costco
