Hard to find plants - Anyone knows where I can buy them?

Hello, I am new to the forum and gardening in general. Please excuse my lack of knowledge. I live in San Jose and have been looking to buy the following plants but can't seem to find them in the local nurseries. Any help will be greatly appreciated:

• Thai lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
• Mosquito Plant (Citrosa Geranium) - Variegated Pelargonium citrosa 'Van Leenii'
• Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
• Santolina (Cotton Lavender)
• Feverfew (Tanacetum)
• PepperMint (Disceranda frutescens), Mountain Mint
• Lemon balm
• Wormwood

bonifacio, Welcome to Dave's!! I hope that we foster your new-found gardening interests here:))
There are many ways to find the plants you want here. A few suggestions to get you started.. Go to the Communities tab at the top of the page, then scroll down and choose discussion forums. You may have already discovered this part...There will be a forum listed among the many for Plant Trading. I know you probably don't have things to trade yet, but sometimes members there will offer things for postage. Also ask where to purchase these items in your post. People may know which online vendors they like for these.
We also have a Marketplace for purchasing plants, seeds, etc. The Marketplace link is at the top of your homepage. Suggestion there...always click the feedback link at the right of the page for any seller that you may feel like purchasing from. That will let you know the history of the seller that you're looking for. If you don't find the specific plants you are looking for, then...
Look for the Products and Sources tab on the top of the page. Can link to the Garden Watchdog there or search for specific plants. Caveat-always check with the Watchdog for ratings of the different vendors before purchasing online. Some are terrific-others we have found to be, well...less than terrific.
Happy Hunting:)
Make sure to ask lots of questions...folks around here are very helpful!
Bev

Welcome! You're going to love it here!

For online purchasing, there's also Plant Scout http://davesgarden.com/products/ps/ where you can search by plant name and get a list of vendors who carry it. All the vendors who list their things in Plant Scout have good ratings in the Garden Watchdog so you can feel good purchasing from any of them.

I've seen Santolina at local nurseries--can't remember which ones but I do know I've seen it from time to time. And on the wormwood, there are some Artemisia varieties that are very easy to fine (like 'Powis Castle' or 'Silver Mound') so depending on what variety you're looking for you should be able to find those locally too. The other ones I don't remember ever seeing but I haven't looked for them either.

You said in your post you were in San Jose but your tagline says Alameda so I'm not sure which one is right--if you're in Alameda it would be worth a trip to some Oakland & Berkeley nurseries if you haven't been to them already (in Oakland, Grand Lake Ace garden center and the Longs Drugs (I think it's CVS now) at the corner of Broadway & Pleasant Valley, and in Berkeley Magic Gardens and Berkeley Horticultural Nursery; Annie's Annuals in Richmond is also worth a trip). If you're in San Jose it's a bit farther drive and there may be other closer nurseries that would be equally good but I don't shop down there much so I can't make any recommendations. There is another good feature here for finding local nurseries: http://davesgarden.com/products/go/ You can't search for specific plants, but you can get to know the nurseries that are near you and see what other people think of them.

Want those puppies! I wish you were close...I'd give you Feverfew, Lemon Balm and Lemongrass.The problem with Feverfew and Lemon Balm being that they're common and therefor you can never seem to find them in the nurseries. Both reseed prolifically. I will have seed of both before long, the feverfew sooner than the balm....if you don't find plants, or would like seed...let me know...
Sherry

Welcome, Bonafacio! We have lots of members in your area, so I'm sure you will get help finding your plants. I want those puppies, too!

Kathleen

I appreciate everyone's kind feedback and useful advices. Thank you

Welcome, bonifacio!
I have lemongrass I'm trying to find a new home for, but you are too far north, sigh. Absolutely great info given above.
Take wcgypsy up on her offer of seed!
You might also want to check out the seed exchange.
Good luck, and please keep us posted.
Nice puppies, are they Australian Shepherds?
WIB,
SW

Hi SinginWolf,

Yes the puppies are Aussies. My dog had a litter of 3 in March; Here is picture of the father with the youngest one.

another pic

Hi ecrane3,

I am moving into a ranch in San Jose where there are lot of mosquitoes because of a nearby creek. I read besides prevention the best natural way to mitigate the mosquito problem consist of using plants that repel them.

I have been trying to educate myself on what plants would be the best for the task at hand, where to purchase these plants and how to grow them.

Thanks for the info you provided.

Hi, those pups are cute, they don't even look real!

I found lemon balm at Lowe's just in the past few weeks. Also, I ordered just a tiny plug of lemon grass on ebay, and it has grown into a nice fat bunch now (in a pot for me, tho). I have heard dogs love to chew on lemon grass.

Welcome to DG---your pups are absolutely adorable!!!

I have tons of lemon balm, and a couple of mints. I found a beautiful golden tanicetum at a couple of my local nurseries (I'd be happy to save seed for you). I also have what I think is the scented geranium you want.

When you move, you'll be fairly close to me, so I'm sure we can make some arrangements.

For mosquito control, you also want to encourage hummingbirds, as they eat a LOT of mosquitos as a protein source. Feeders and plants that attract hummers will help a lot.

I know it may be counterintuitive, but a small pond close to the seating area of your garden is also a good idea, if it's stocked with mosquito fish. It actually functions as a trap. I got my first mosquito fish from one of the rangers at Kelley Park in SJ, who gave me quite a training session on mosquito control 25+ years ago. It's served me well---I get eaten alive in other people's yards, but rarely even get a bite in my own. A pond will also attract California Phoebes, which is another bird that feeds on mosquitos.

I wonder if the local authorities wouldn't help with the mosquitoes? I think it's called vector control?
I think Ima has the right ideas, too. Invite lots of flycatchers and hummers with your plants and put in a small pond of your own with the fish and maybe some frogs. Also, I read that Purple Martins (do we have them in CA?) are very good - put up a house for them.

Good luck. Your dogs are beautiful!

Kathleen

Welcome! What adorable puppies!

The do fog here in San Jose, and you can also contact Vector Control for additional assistance. Here is the info on fogging: http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/vector/agencyarticle?path=%2Fv7%2FVector%20Control%20District%20(DIV)&contentId=53cabfdf4e4e3110VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____

At the bottom of this page there are additional links and info for Santa Clara County: http://www.sccvector.org/portal/site/vector/

BTW, I have plenty of mosquito fish should you ever need any (those guys sure are prolific!)

I've seen Lemon Balm and Citrosa Geranium at local nurseries, such as OSH and Summer Winds. I'm not sure they are available right now, but I nearly bought some lemon balm this spring, so I know they are out there. I gave away my Lemon Grass, but have heard that it is possible to root your own plant using the stuff you find in Asian grocery stores: http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/herb/learn-about-growing-lemon-grass-plant.htm




This message was edited Jul 3, 2009 11:05 AM

bonifacio,
The best thing about DG, is the people. Glad that my friends who live closer to you can help you find those plants.
They are also absolutely right about the pond, mosquito fish and vector control may release them and not tell you. I feel so strongly about them that I even gave them to the neighbor I don't get along with. Got my first squiter bite all year yesterday. Looking for standing water.
I have been growing plants that encourage the h.birds, and we have lots of gnat catchers too. It all helps.

Here's my best friend, Spirit. He follows me everywhere, and gives me unconditional love. Yes, he has one blue eye, and one brown eye. A couple of his litter mates had your pups/parent coloration. I just love them, because they are so intelligent. Photo taken today.

WIB,
SW

SingingWolf,

You forgot to attach Spirit's photo. Looking forward to see him. I love my dogs. Here is pic of the pup's dad with the youngest of the litter.

They look cute and serious at the same time!

Dang! I hate when that happens!
Well he does live up to his name. LOL!
WIB,
SW

Redtootsiepop, good obsevation. Aussies are herding dogs, so they like to stare at things continuously to keep everything under control.

Yup, inbred in their genes. Aussie's are smartest working dogs around. For instance, some of my hens got out. The boys couldn't catch them, but Spirit did. He crept up on them then sat on them until I came and put them back into their pen. He wasn't a whole lot bigger than they were at the time. It cracks me up when he tries to herd the feral cats. He is such a generous Spirit. He made friends with them, and seldom chases them now.
Luckily I have some older farm dogs who are teaching him the ropes. He responds quite well to hand signals, and he learns so fast! He's been a real pleasure to have for a companion.
Sorry, didn't mean to go on so, but Spirit is really a special fellow. It's amazing to see how big he will grow someday.
Thanks for sharing your photos of your four-footed friends. They are fine bunch of furry friends! : )
WIB,
SW

SW, he's grown so quickly...

Can't believe how grown up he looks!

BTW, read on another forum today that lavender is another mosquito-repellant plant.

he looks really cute there !

Hey !! A gardener from IN chiming in - absolutely love the Aussies !!! We are owned by P.D. - a black and white, no bronze.......this is my first, but sure not my last Aussie... however, I fear that the next one/ones may not be as incredible as PD is......he has set the bar soooo high

SingingWolf, your Spirit is handsome! Here my female, Chloe, the puppies mom.

jrwbirds, nice photo of PD. Usually Aussies have a combinations of 3 colors; it is interesting yours is only black and white. My female Aussie is a black-tri and the male is red-tri.

http://www.bigdipperfarm.com/
big dipper carries some of the things you are looking for. be sure to order by phone because sometimes they are out of things they carry on their website.

Welcome to DG neighbor!

Summer Winds in San Jose currently has some Feverfew in stock (it is a lime green cultivar, not sure of of the name), and a bunch of scented geraniums (I didn't see Variegated Pelargonium citrosa 'Van Leenii', but there might be something that could work for you).

Yes, black and white is not real common but is an accepted color by AKC....his mother was a tri and his daddy was black - the picture is so funny because his ears are at full alert....probably a cat ran thru the yard....he has finally accpted the fact that he cannot herd cats. However, when my brother brings his 8 dogs, 6 maltese and 2 shizus or however it's spelled, PD has a ball.
sorry for horning in on this group - Aussie lovers are just googah about them

Oh, well....we horn in anywhere. We're a pretty friendly and adaptable group........

And we love doggies.

Doss, Thank you for the info.

Sunnyg, I was driving in Campbell last week and stopped by the Summer Winds in Campbell; I was disappointed because they didn't have any of the plant I was looking... Next time I am the area I'll check the one in San Jose. Hopefully they'll have some Feverfew left. Thanks for the tip.

you guys are great !! Now, back to hard to find plants.....

Loved all the Aussie's. We do tend to get ga ga over them. A puppy photo dated 2-20-09.
WIB,
SW

OMG - how cute !! do you raise them? I could never part with any pups if I did....

bonifacio - I hope you don't minf - I have your pic of the 3 puppies as the background on my laptop.

SingingWolf - I may use yours next, if it is OK

Hi SW, What a cute puppy! Here is a picture of the two sister taken in April.

jrwbirds, I don't mind at all. It is artwork to me and meant to be shared. Mom's picture enclosed.

Bonifacio,
Your girls are beautiful!
Mama is gorgeous.
Spirit is fine with it. He loves attn, jrwbirds.
I don't breed them. Just love 'em.
WIB,
SW

Thank you !! I know these pics will get a lot of comments - I use my laptop everywhere I go.......