Lucy,
I had to check your location to see if you were my neighbor down at the corner of the road. She has a small but BEAUTIFUL garden, folowing your philosophy. She will give a bought plant just two chnaces: it can thrive right away where she plants it, or in the first place she moves itt to, then OUT it goes.
I call her Attila the Gardener. But she sure has a beaituiful garden!