Kathleen that is a beautiful picture.I have tried them a couple of times , but like Karen the second year they look lousy and rarely make it to the third.

I'll be curious to see if any of the ones I started from seed last year show up this spring. The landscapers who take care of our local library and city hall always use lupines and they are goodly sized plants; I haven't paid close enough attention, tho, to tell if they're the same ones every year.

Kathleen said:I think the original bunch were probably Russel hybrids, but I've thrown in some seed and they have all crossed and re-crossed.

BEAUTIFUL

Definitely worth a second look.

*sigh*

Don't tempt me, Kathleen!!!

Beautiful.

virginiarose said:I think the wild Lupines self sow.

Morning TADD and BOB's

I was reading this thread and am wondering what is TADD and BOB's?

I accidentally called someone Bob so then she changed her name to Bob so we then had two Bob's. TADD was very popular at the time. It stood for Topic Attention Deficit Disorder, a temporary nickname for JoAnn who was having a hard time staying on topic, bless her heart! We decided if you post TADD you could go off topic with out penalty.

(TADD)

I just ordered Three peonies from Gurneys, hope I don't regret this. They gave me $25.00 off of a $50.00 order so I figured hey, good deal.. I will be ok with it if they are small. Then I read the reviews! I have been ordering for several years with nothing more than communication problems. They have 305 negative reviews! How can this be? #SMH. I looked for my own review and it looks like I forgot to leave one...twice!


Marilyn, I have ordered from them for a long time, mostly at end of season when you can get buddleia and stuff for $2.50. I thought they were pretty good even though the plants were a little small but hey, 2.50! I ordered in 2009,2010 and in 2011, I got 3 blueberry bushes for $10.00, and at that time I did not know what a watch dog was. I only shop the sales, wish me luck!

I will let you know how it goes, watch for pictures.

I haven't bought anything from Gurneys for many years. Their seeds were excellent, but I tried plants a couple of times from them and not one survived. However, people also say bad things about Michigan Bulb, and I've gotten some very nice plants from them. Good luck!

I actually did business with Michigan Bulb also, I loved the Knockout Rose Bush I got for 5.00, because they were 39.95 around here for a trade gallon and I was mad, the shrub I got from them was 4 inches tall and is now 4 feet but I was happy because I got what I wanted at an affordable price.

I stopped when they sent the dehydrated Hosta, with the micro tape.

--These actually lived for a little while after I re-hydrated them. They were Cameo's

Buyer Beware seems to be appropriate here. If the price seems to too good to be true, you're probably in for an unpleasant surprise when you open the box. Rather than being tempted by bargains, it is better to find one or two nurseries with good inventory, who ship healthy, well rooted stock at reasonable prices. Remember, most plants(not all) that you buy online will be small. It is not cost effective to ship 5 lbs. of dirt. Many of the nurseries mentioned here grow their stock in greenhouses, that is why they don't survive when you plant them. You can always call the toll free number and ask if it is a field grown plant or a greenhouse grown one. In response to the lupine question, Sorry but lupines will not 'perennialize' here in VA. Neither will delphiniums. Oh, how I wish that they would! Try other members of the pea family to get a similar look. They will look so fantastic that you will soon forget how much you

continuing......
wanted lupines. Try Thermopsis caroliniana, Thermopsis chinensis, Thermopsis lancolata. Beautiful lemon yellow blooms. Also try any of the Baptisias for a similar look. Beautiful blues and yellows.

Thanks dianemarie, I love those! Especially the Screaming Yellow and the Thermopsis caroliniana. I have been looking at the Baptisia for a while and I did order two blue ones last fall. Baptisia Australis, and they are blue. Hoping to see them bloom in the spring. Is this what they call the 'Redneck Lupine'? I believe I will be happy with these and also they are drought tolerant? I believe I read that somewhere, what do you think of the Baptisia Purple Smoke?
Thanks again for the advice!.