Buying plants on line

Mottisfont Abbey is my very favourite rose garden, whitewave. Get along early one evening, when the scent is strongest, it's wonderful. We used to live not far from it and I really miss it - we drove all the way down last year for a long weekend so that I could see it again!

Today a huge parcel was waiting for me when I got home. Inside were just three small plants I bought on eBay (rare perennial broccoli). They were more lovingly packed than any china I have ever been sent. They were also a third of the price that the only two nurseries I was able to find were charging.

We're spoiled for choice with nurseries and garden centres around here, phoenix - there's a good GC just up the road but the one I love is just plants. Not a scented candle in sight.

I'm planning on doing a few garden visits this year as last summer was a difficult time for getting away. The next one on the list is East Ruston Old Vicarage. It's been on my wish list for years so DH has suggested we stay in a B&B as it's two hours away and it'll be a birthday treat for me.

Bloody hell My word. He's getting soft in his old age.

We often buy from a company called Hayloft and have always been very pleased with the condition they arrive in and the overall quality of the plants.

Thought we would try Montisfort Abbey this year as that has a glorious rose garden according to Carol K.

I do buy on line and get my plants mostly from Crocus but also from Sarah Raven and other specialized nurseries. Always been successful except a couple of plugs this year.

At the David Austin gardens, the fragrance hits you when you get out of the car in the car park.

I have several pots filled with agapanthus, blue ones, they like to be packed in together and do really well.

Oh I do like roses, sigh, and want them all!the only ones that perform well for me though are planted in pots,and they are all David Austin Roses, two are apricot , one pale pink and one yellow.Some years ago we had a drive that was flanked from top to bottom with Iceberg roses, they looked wonderful.

Slightly off piste, but if any of you are near David Austin Roses, their rose gardens are a fantastic spectacle (and free).

I've had very good quality roses from David Austin.
The RHS plant shop has been good too.

As its open gardens season, I look forward to buying from gardeners who have grown the plants.

First village visited on Sunday, wonderful gardens and a 'booty' ( pun! Filled car boot!) of 6 big plants for £12. I was able to divide plants and share them with DSs. x

As I don't drive, EVERY nursery involves at least half-an-hour each way on the bus, the return journey weighed down with my purchases. It does make me think hard about whether I really want that plant.

When we first moved to Tiptree, we moved from Enfield. I used to drive the 47 miles every day for 2 years. When we invited friends to stay for the weekend, they used to say things like, must get the car checked over first .

It does make me smile when GN'ers mention distance etc (there, told you it did)

20 minutes away (as mentioned by merlot ) is considered practically next door here!

I have ordered roses from David Austin Roses and fruit trees from Ken Muir, both companies supplied first rate plants the were very well packed.

I'm hoping the Geums I've ordered will arrive today. My favourite nursery is twenty minutes away so it's worth paying the p&p and browsing online is easier on the feet!

Two healthy looking and securely packaged agapanthus (one white and the other ice-blue) have arrived this morning by Royal Mail. If I plant them today, they may even flower this year. They do very well in my garden (as do the weeds) but these are going in pots in the meantime.

If any of you fancy a trip to Hampshire, to my favourite nursery ever, they also have it in stock but don't do mail order. Longstock Nursery, part of the Leckford Estate, a beautiful walled garden with posh tearooms. Not far from Stockbridge. Be warned, take lots of money if you go there.

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's tracking down plants. Your wish is my command, ladies.

www.hardys-plants.co.uk/product.asp?plant=3025

Only £5, too.

shysal, I too was attracted by the perennial antirrhynum Pretty in Pink and would love to have it. However, I suspect it won't be in the catalogues until the next season. I hope it is available in seed form so that we can grow it for mass planting.

LOts of eBay sellers offer free P&P, but be careful, if you buy several items, it may be cheaper to go for a supplier that charges P&P.

I ordered 4 Ukulele picks today with free P&P they were £1:50 each , 4 would therefore have cost £6.
Another supplier wanted £1.02 each + 99p P&P, so it was cheaper to buy 4 at £1.02 and pay 99p postage at a total of £5.07. (and he had a higher rating)

Didn't know eBay did free p&p, I will be having a look there.
Thanks

I have been trying to find the perennial antirrhinum 'Pretty in Pink', as featured on BBC at Chelsea, but it doesn't seem to be available yet, even on line.

I like ebay because you can get more unusual plants without paying extortionate prices. I've sourced specific and special roses that I couldn't get anywhere else for special occasions and I wouldn't buy bedding and vegetable plants anywhere else.
Even tomato plants, which are very brittle stemmed, arrived safely.

anno your post made me go and look at plants on eBay. I have now purchased a very promising looking buddlia. I didn't even know I needed a buddlia. I'm amazed at how many sellers offer free postage. Crocus charge you 5.99, the price of another plant!

I used to buy bedding plants occasionally from T&M, but had quite a few problems, so went over to Ebay instead. All of the plants I have bought have been lovingly packed and speedily delivered, and I've been able to buy things like welsh onions that simply aren't sold anymore.