Plant Delights Nursery

I actually had one growing pretty well when I lived in Culowhee too, not exactly GH...lol, I think with bougies they like neglect

fuschias are too easy to kill, no challenge ...lol I'm killing one of the firecracker ones at present

I had to show you guys...here's the bouganvillea with leafless philodendron micans and some trailing acalypha

and the sticks are my firecracker fuschia...lol..if you look really carefully you might see a xanth violaceum stump

I love that white Boug.

Me, too. :)

Me too! Never saw one before (shows you what I know)! But I've had a scary experience with Bougies here, and don't fool with them anymore. They're a way more hardier (and way more nastier) plant than they're given (dis)credit for. Still wish I could grow Rhodies and Kalmias here, though. Truly the ONLY things I miss about the northern US...

you are not calling us the northern US, Stono. lol

LOL, Tropicana! If you can grow Rhodies and kalmias successfully up there, I just may move back. I really like those things! And Bougies, while very attractive, are NOT benign plants. One (Barbara Karst) "took over" my GH to the point where I had to whack it back severely just to get it outside the GH. Needed a reciprocatining saw to cut the root, which had grown through the pot into the GH floor. In ONE year. When I finally got it outside, I whacked the bejeezes out of the remains and left them in a pile to remove when I had time. You know how that goes...you never have time... So those suckers rooted! Now I've got a mess of those evil thorny things rooted and growing wildly outside my GH. They don't ever flower(not long enough growing season), but they have come up for the past 3 years, and get 8-10' tall. Want some cuttings? (JK!)

Odd thing, I went to prune mine yesterday and figured it was dead to the ground. Well doesn't look like it. I'm training it into a tree form and I think it's still healthy above ground. Clipped a few lower branches off and they were green. Whole plant is flexible but all the leaves fell off when we got into the 20's. It was an experiment for last year to see if it would just die back to the ground when cold temps hit. That's what I figured would happen but now I'm not so sure. I might be able to make a tree out of it. I would really like it to grow it into a small tree with support. Not sure if that's what you would call it but I saw many bouganvilleas down in Fla that looked like trees when they grow up posts etc.

BOP experiment didn't go so well. The last real cold night turned the leaves brown and it may be a goner. Have to see if it comes back in the spring.

I wish we had that problem here. It's nice to have blooms at all this time of year.

Core, I had a white BOP I accidentally left out too long and all the leaves died back. I hacked mine and put in in the GH awhile back. So far, maybe one leaf wants to come back...lol. At the time I got one I really had to have one, but it was before I knew it was really unlikely that they'd ever bloom here

Here's my bet, Core, based on my experience with this plant: You will see NOTHING early on, when you're expecting to see something happening, and figure you're safe(or disappointed...) You're not! It comes up late. Suspect ALL of the energy early-on goes into root development. And root they will! Once those roots have established, my experience tells me you've got a problem. Rampant top growth, with no flowers(bracts). A caveat here: my runaway Barbara Karst(s) do not get full sun. It might flower in full sun in our shorter growing season if they had full sun... Good luck....

our white bop is burned badly, but the normal one has had no damage.

Stono where I put the bouganvillea is full sun and not much else grows there. The way it drains it's a dry area and sun from sun up, till sun down. Hope your wrong about the flowering put because it would be useless to have a huge rooted thorn vine sitting there. The idea was to have a megenate boug surround by black and blue salvia. Salvia is the only thing I've had grow there. The spot I have these growing in is in the back corner of my lot and people really have no reason to be doing anything near it so I'm not worried about the thorns or deep roots as long as it flowers. If it doesn't flower this could be a problem.

It could flower, CoreHHI. When I got fed up with B. Karst, I moved her out of the greenhouse to the northeast outside corner. Only got about 2-3 hrs. of sunlight in that spot, and much of that sunlight was diffused/deflected by the the GH. That may be the cause of the non-flowering. And the ones that volunteered in the ground are in the same spot. Little sunlight. The result was what you said---a huge rooted thorn vine(s) sitting there, waiting to hurt you! But I had to cut down some trees this fall to get more light to the GH, which means the BK's will get more sun too this year. So Barbara bought a reprieve via my curiosity. But if she doesn't bloom this year, she's outta here!
The BK Bougie coupled with the B&B Salvia produces incredible images in my brain! Post pictures! What a neat combo!

I grew up in Los Angeles were bouganvilleas are a dime a dozen and so gorgeous that it makes your eyes hurt. Since they thrive on neglect, arid weather and no water I don't bother here. I planted a Barbara Karst for my Mom a couple decades ago. It's monster, threatens to engulf her apricot tree in a season each year and is beautiful fuchsia pink at the end of the bracts with amber at the base.

Jenny

Plants Delight Nursery - is it true that if you go to one of the open houses, you can buy larger plants than are available through their catalog?

I've never ordered from the catalog, but you'd definitely save on shipping if you were already in the area (you can pick up orders by requesting when there aren't open houses also). When I've visited the open houses (only 2 times), there is a range of sizes for each plant to choose from, and it is nice to pick out which one you want.

I visit when I mandate myself to one plant only. And it doesn't matter, the place is beautiful and it is worth a visit

Usually, but not ALWAYS true, lalushc. It depends on their growing season/ germination success rate/ growing out conditions, and a host of unpredictables. But my experience is that USUALLY this is true. If Tony Avent happens to be there when you visit, make it a point to contact him if you have a specific quest. He's a pure plant guy; if he doesn't have it , he'll tell you who does, and how to get it. Neat Operation. Doing business the right way...honestly. Kinda like the good old days...Dang I miss them good old days!

And...there are always a few goodies that Tony brings out that aren't in the catalog. A little 'thanks for coming' so to speak. Besides, Stono...I find that Tony loves to come out and meet all the plant (nuts) people during the op's. He's a major source of info about any plant...and will talk at length and answer any questions you have...A man who enjoys seeing folks enjoy his passion.
Come on down! We'll be there, lol!

Hi,
My friend and I, Terri are planing to go here on the 22nd and hope to meet a few of you there... Are any of you going to be to the PDN on that day?
Hugs,
Susan

I am hoping to be there but DH will be with me and he has little patience for poking around in all the nooks and crannies of the GH's. We are tying this visit on to the tail end of a business trip. So, I won't have much time there but there is a new, sun loving, fern that has my name on it and I won't leave until I find it.

Hi Susan, I'm hoping to be there on the 22nd. At least that's the plan, you never know what may happen between now and then. Hopefully we can all meet up and drool over the plants.
melanie

That will be very cool if we can all meet.... My friend Terri who is coming and doing all the driven I might add has already been there at another time and she said it is a nice place... I am putting money aside so when the time comes I have some to spend. :-)
Susan

I would love to meet y'all...especially since I live so close to the nursery...but it's a Friday and I need to be at work. How late are you all going to be around? Sounds like a spendy good time:-))
Bev

Terri and I are going to try very hard to make it to Plants Delight tomorrow... We are leaving around 8am so long as weather permits.. We may be getting ice storms.... It is now after 12 and we had a few drops of rain around 9pm but nothing else so far so I am hoping it is a go.... Hope to see a few of you there..
Hugs,
Susan

Hope that you all have an uneventful trip down. We have nothing but rain here...other counties seem to have had a bit of ice.
Bev

Okay so I visited Plants Delight over the weekend. Wow what a treat! I did practice self control and only bought one plant. Everyone is right in that the prices are very steep, whew! The prices help pay for the beautiful gardens to tour through. Thus the high prices. I met Tony, the owner and he was very friendly and informative. Didn't seem to mind explaining banana trees to me. Even walking me over to where they were planted. The one thing I learned from the whole experience was when you plant something new, make sure you mix good dirt in with the native soil. I'm sure thats a no brainer for most of you. I also figured out what to put on the floor of my greenhouse once its erected. I've bought it but it's still in the box. I will go back for the May open house so I can see things in bloom.

Great melsalz! Where can I get some of this "self-control" stuff?? Can you buy it over-the-counter, or does it require a prescription? Glad you got to meet Tony. He's a good dude...likes people who like plants, and is more than willing to share his extensive knowledge and experience. I find that kind of refreshing, in this day and age!
Find it curious that that you found out "...when you plant something new, make sure you mix good dirt in with the native soil." That's what I've always done, but runs contrary to most recommendations I've read. I haven't been disappointed so far, so I plan to continue to amend the soil 3' beyond the pot width I'm planting...

These are plants that I bought in the fall at Plant Delights Nursery with the time frame that aligned with the Raleigh Roundup. (can't remember what the date was!!)

These plants do not show any growth ...

3 Baptisia sphaerocarpa 'Screamin Yellow'
3 Lantana camara 'Ham & Eggs'
3 Echinacea 'Pixie Meadowbrite'

These plants look fine so far ...

3 Heuchera 'Caramel'
1 Buddleia 'White Ball'
3 Ophiopogon planiscus 'Nigrescens'
3 Stokesia 'Honeysong Purple'

This is my first growing season here in NC and I do not know what I should be seeing with these new flowers at the end of Feb. Can someone give me some info about these? Thanks!!

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not sure about the Baptisia but it is too early to see any growth on the Lantana and the Echinacea.

Hey Karin, I have the Lantana, too, planted about the same time. No growth showing on mine either, and I wouldn't expect any until fairly late, as Lantana is a warm weather plant. Trying to remember when my Pixie Meadowbrite broke dormancy last year.....darn it, I should really keep a log.....seems like I saw nothing out of it until at least April, so keep the faith, they'll sprout again someday!

Karin, it's too early for all three of the above. If you closely look at the baptisia you might see the crowns starting to come up, but might not unless the plant is pretty well established. I've had marginal luck with them but I also bake them in the sun

the others that are doing well stay pretty evergreen all year :)

i have a volunteer lantana that is growing from some of the wood that didn't get killed last year

Karin,
I bought a baptisia from Tony several years ago-Carolina Moonlight. The first year that I had it, it just kind of stood there. The next year I swore that it had died. Year three, it came popping out of the ground like gangbusters and has grown wonderfully-and flowered wonderfully-ever since. Don't give up on those perennials that didn't really grow. The sleep, creep, leap thing really is true most of the time.
I agree with ardesia on the echinacea. Too early.
Bev

Hey all I miss living in Raleigh just a little and just calling the PDN officeand running by to pick up what ever I want,So far I have only found Walmart which is about 20-30miles away no Nurserys close by.
Are we having a RR here at my place in the fall? Late Aug. early Sept.?

anyone interested?

Lavina.

are you? lol--

I'm always up for a gathering! I can't remember if Mr. Lavina said y'all lived in Harlow or North River, but I'm sure I can find it :)

I'm sure if you don't mind someone you never met before coming I can make it and maybe even another DG person... As she only lives a short way from me... That is if you'll have us.. :-)
Susan

I'd love to come, Lavina. By the way, have you seen the post about touring Elizabeth Lawrence's garden? Think you could make it?

I gotta say I signed up for a class at Plant Delights in November, drove 4 hours to attend, and was treated to a world of practical, tried and true info from the owner- the amazing Tony Avent. I was impressed by the way he opened the class to questions about specified problems, and afterwards walked and talked with us around the grounds to describe their mulching methods. The class was "World of Soils" and so good that some were there for the 2nd time around! Plant Delights rocks.

Susan we are one big family here and all love plants I love meeting people and talking about plants and eating. Anyone is welcome,and I can probably get a few from here in Grantsboro (Kennels Beach area on the Neuse) just around the corner from Araphoe and the Minnosott Ferry.
Mr Lavina says hey OJ. LOL
I will grill tho instead of boil hotdogs this time as my grill I know is cleaner than the grill that was at the park in Sept.

Lavina