I think what is required is self control.

My records over the past 5 years demonstrate how this is accomplished:

2010 131 plants
2011 109
2012 96
2013 172
2014 150
2015 216

Clearly I have this under control.

Oh Frank! You crack me up. 2016 I will enable you some more!

Excellent self-control! I'm sure you only buy plants that you NEED.



I NEEEEED it!

So funny, I'm in control too then.

This is like the opposite of a 12-Step program.

"Problem? What problem?"

well, you have to admit I keep good records:)

Well -- look at it this way. Could easily have been 1,000 or 2,000 who knows!! I would say only 700 or so show great restraint.

I'm working on getting all the different vegetables, herbs and fruit. I'm up to 5 basil, 8 mint, a lot of tomatoes, I think 8 Kale... I want to try them all and see what tastes better, grows in my zone, stores best, etc. but I'm sticking to basil and mint as a series collection! If I don't like one of them it will be in a very tiny pot lol.

There are a LOT of basil and mint you know?.

Clearly, I must let my husband read this thread; he simply does NOT understand!

Good thing you're not a Hemerocallis collector then

True, Lee-Roy.

When you get hooked on them, the hook is usually set deep. Go visit the group here.
Since they are fairly easy to cross you could NEVER own them all. Heh

What hooks me is the plant of the year designation. I have most of the Stout medal winning daylilies, the Dykes medal iris, hosta of the year, perennial of the year, AARS roses, and then I started collecting by breeder, oh my...too much! I really have to fight the compulsion to complete a series, forcing myself to try the first one and evaluate it for a year before I buy in on more. Marketers know what they are doing with series names, that's for sure.

Cindi - do you go to any monthly meetings?

I happened on this discussion looking for something else and it was interesting to see what I said 5 yrs ago, and the other fun comments.

I've become a bit more of a collector, wanting/getting every color bloom of things that I really like and that grow really well. If 1 Lantana is good, 7 is better. Why have just 1 shade of Pentas when there are other pretty ones?

Like 5 yrs ago, I'm still helpless to resist a new Coleus or Begonia, and I've realized I have a LOT of Sedums & closely related plants, and tiny plants in general.

Since you brought back this oldie i'll add that i buy into a series if the first plant performs well for me. I have many Black Diamond crape myrtles and many Endless Summer hydrangeas. Edit to add i liked the Everlasting hydrangea Amhurst so much i went back and got Everlasting Revolution. The flowers stay so tight when aging, only the colors change.

I no longer have a problem with wanting to buy so much of anything. I love my gardens but I am tired of them consuming all my free time to look well kept. Don't get me wrong. I still purchase plenty of plants (and wintersow seeds). But on a much much smaller scale. I suspect every year will be less.

Many of those fancy named cultivars never lasted past a second season. And I have been culling a great deal in general. I realized I had several things that I just did not care for.