Seems that people are not changing much as a result of the economy. I am a bit surprised at this. I am more conscious of what I'm buying. I am also buying less overall since I don't have room for many more large plants.
What about you? Starting more from seeds? Spending less? Same? More?
Are you spending less on gardening?
Yes, YES, my buying habits have changed this year. I purchased about $50 worth of seeds even though I am terrible at growing from seed. I am determined to MAKE them grow. I also put in an order from Lazy ss and have one waiting to be ordered from Klehms. The order from Klehms is stuff that seems to be only available from them. But overall, I am only spening about 1/10 from previous years. That, to me is a BIG change.
I probably ordered more - more caladiums, many more lilies, about the same amount of coleus and dahlias, and soon I'll be back at Mischel's Greenhouses to order annuals since they've returned to $3.75 a plant.
Probably come spring I'll be buying less but it's due to the space limitations.
I'd rather skip a few dinners out than miss out on any plant I love.
$3.75?! They were $3.50 last year. Man - they're the only people still raising prices. I love their stuff and have ordered for 10 years but they need to hold the line on pricing.
I thought they were $4.75 last year - that's why I didn't order (and was still sorry).
Just double checked my catalog - it was $3.50. Was $2.50 when I started with them.
Well, you guys, there is no way I would pay 4.75 for 1 annual. I take that back, I would pay that price if the annual was willing to mow, edge, fertilize, mulch, prune, ETC.
You'd have to see them to believe them, Louise.
http://www.mischelsgreenhouse.com/
Victor, I never kept records to be able to check the escalating cost of them.
Great plants, Weeze - all four inch pots. The packing/shipping has gotten better each year. Last year not a single one died (they replace or refund them when they do.)
So you both are urging me to buy from them for annuals rather than go to my local guy for the impatiens and such? I'm trying to do the math in my head and it's not adding up. I have a stretch along a part of the back of my house where I plant impatiens. I usually buy 4 or 6 flats to plant. How many would that take from Mischels?
No - for mass planting I would not buy from them. I buy stuff from HD too. I buy the unique stuff from Michel's.
For some unknown reason I'm having Picasa problems so I'll send you photos of their packaging and their plants by Email.
Not for impatiens, Louise. We grow our own because we have to grow flats of them to do the required plants just as you do. But for hanging geraniums (pelargoniums), torenia, coleus (cheaper than Rosy Dawn), and so many more.
Geez, Louise! Just a peek won't hurt. Ha ha ha.
I do get double impatiens from them.
I'm considering the impatiens that droop.
Don't water.
Victor!!!
Ha, now that's what I'm talking about!!
I ordered lots of seeds, getting a little braver each year. I had great luck with dahlia's from seed(thanks pirl!) so i'll try them again this year. I think I will set a goal to try to grow at least 1/2 of my annuals from seeds and a few perennial too!!
Try winter sowing, Celeste, it's not too late (I haven't even started) and it ought to work great with perennials up by you. Way cheaper than buying plants and easier than starting them inside.
I grow alot of my herbaceous perennials from seed and I'm not much for annuals so I don't think I'm cutting back. We still have alot of hardscaping to do and the new patio is going ahead as planned this summer. This is my passion. I think I would cut back on other things first. Of course I say this now. Things might change.
Added hops this year. Need a new hobby so decided to take up drinking.
See you are,.or did, grow hops, Victor:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1153/
Do you know if Golden Hops Humulus lupulus 'Aureus' is the same as 'Sunbeam Golden' ?
Still growing it? I read that....um......er....it tends to have certain 4 legged fans....
I saw the economy going south 2 years ago and got the GH. I will continue to sweat my butt off, get my hands and feet dirty, and go home looking like a filthy stinky rat, and grow from seeds. Much cheaper! OK a plant bought here and there but thats it.
I like Burpee seeds and the price has gone up as I saved the packages from last year. I might try a few different bulk seeds from www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com/ Yeah 500 seeds as if I need 500 seeds. I will start dividing plants (permitting they need it), start new beds and collect seeds and more seeds.
I will spend less this year as last year went overboard with the rocks, bunny fountain, gazing balls etc etc. . I dont see the economy turning around right away and I would rather be prepared then overspent.
I'm spending about the same, but in balance I am spending more on containers and less on plants.
The garden is my entertainment, Its a sweet place to entertain on the deck .The garden is within view of everywhere on the deck and the planters against the house bring the garden up on the deck.
Who need to travel and eat out.
Next year I plan to buy fewer coleus,I'll take cuttings.
I may have to spend less as I am considering a new job with a substantial pay cut. The only planned additions I have this year are some blueberry bushes, and a pheasant berry shrub.
I usually spend a nice chunk on annuals for containers, so will do some of that. I want to try some container veggies this year, I had good luck with potatoes last year.
So, not yet, but I probably will start spending less.
Hi Deb! Hope your new job is less stressful.
Thanks JoAnn. I think it would be less stress, have a second interview this week. Only 2 days/week and a big pay cut, so haven't decided yet. Have to decide what/if I am willing to give up.
Those issues are always a lot of thinking.
Good Luck
Good luck, Deb! David - I had to pull them out as they just went crazy. Not sure if it's the same. Give them ROOM!
Good luck, Deb.
Good luck Deb. I quit corporate about 6 yrs ago to become self employed. It's tough to make the sacrifices a smaller paycheck sometimes entails, but I've been able to spend more time with my kids, my garden and my puppy. I think it's been worth it in the long run. Hopefully the family thinks so too.
I've definitely cut down on ornamental containers in the last few years. My nod to the economy is to plant more fruit trees (another apple and a pear coming in April), strawberries and edibles (grapes, blueberries). Hopefully I'll get a small crop from last year's trees. This year I'll try harder with summer squash, pumpkins, tomatoes and lettuce. My kids aren't great veggie eaters, so I get the few I grow for myself. I wish all my trash and recyclables were tradeinable for CASH!
i am trying to watch the spending - my comp. supplies to the auto industry and we are being required to take 2 weeks off the first qtr after 4 weeks in Q4 2008 - most people do not have the vaca time built up and will go unpaid - my div. is an emerging market and the company's pays for us with the r&d budget so who knows what will happen.
have ordered less seeds mostly due to having left over veggy seeds from last year. already have about a dozen or more milk cartoons outside with mostly perennials. have spent some on plants and trees using gift certificates and not to go above the value (hard and still will have the freight charges) - have a very short list for local nurseries in the spring. other than another 20 yards of dirt and 20 of mulch that will hopefully be it.
Will not be spending as i did last year.
Thank you Victor. I shall resist my natural inclination to underestimate (grossly) how a small hop rhizome or other plant can grow into a monster . I was determined last year not to do it but...they looked so tiny in May....
Been reading on how mildew wiped out the New York hops industry in the 1920s and was worried I might not have any at all.
Guess that won't be the case.
5,000 Digitalis seeds = $4.95 ...... 5,000 digitalis plants, nursery grown, I won't even contemplate! Mostly seeds this year.
I will save other pennies to spend thriftily at local nurseries this spring/summer for the bulk of the purchases to hopefully help keep them around for another year.
Last resort ... a couple mail orders, just to help spread the wealth, and get those hard to find plants whose purchase is a moral imperative!
We do alot of informal trading and sharing of seeds, seedlings and divisions here in Cowtown. I think this will become more organized and predominant as times get tougher which they definitely are here. Layoffs are now at 10% minimum in the first quarter for most companys and I think its going to get worse before it gets better. We shall all have to hang together through this and share as much joy and laughter as we can.
Willie, you've got very very many nice seeds there! Are you winter sowing?
We had some expensive garden projects last year and this year there are no big plans that require that kind of cold, hard cash. Just ones that result in lots of sore muscles, but our own, not ones that we have to pay for. We have no fences to be built or the expenses of the water feature that we built. Rock and rubber lining are expensive. We also will not have a house that needs repainting this year, which came out of that same budget. But that said, we will be spending less, but not a huge amount less, on plant material.
I still have some shrubs and trees that I want and I will need annuals and some perennials as always. I use the singular, as my DH see no reason to add more of anything at the moment. We are growing more from seed and I did noticed that he added more packages of seeds to the shopping cart at Agway the other day then me. We could start a pumpkin farm with the number of seeds he "had" to have. We will be planting far fewer bulbs than the 7000 that we planted the last two years. He wishes that would be the case and I swear that it will be so. But I sometimes lie!
So if we look at the money that we plan on spending on the house and garden in 2009, it will be less, hopefully significantly less than the big picture and bottom line than 2008. The largest expense is for the mulch and the 2 or 3 days of help we need to hire to help get it spread. It is just too much for me to do. But for the sake of our country, I hope everyone remembers to spend what you can to help out the economy. I will promise to do my best as well. I like beans and rice too. Patti
Well said Patti.
I just wish everyone had the choice to spend.
Sweet Mercy!! I saved no containers!! Dumb! Dumb!
I will do some WSing, as I have a couple containers, but no where near enough.
I am making "window boxes" 8-foot by 2-foot by 1-foot deep. These will mount in the upstairs openings to the greenhouse so I can start seedlings early inside the greenhouse.
That, and I am most happy to share any of the extra seeds. ^_^
I wish we had a community who worked so together for the "common good," Dahlia. Hats off to all y'all!! My neighbors don't even wave to one another when they drive down our less than a quarter mile of road.
Here in WNY we have the weakest economy, and top the list of highest taxes and gas prices in the US, according to today's newscast, but do you think there is any noticeable movement of that kind of communal support? If there is, I am not seeing it.
Don't get me wrongly, Buffalo IS truly the "City Of Good Neighbors." The Niagara Frontier is simply beautiful.
One bright note in all this gloom and doom is that WNY has been deemed the best place to weather a recession. Our housing prices have been pretty stable for the most part (even if the highest taxed). Not many had the monies to get taken in those lousy hedge fund rip-offs. My business has doubled in the past year.
I also didn't have a 401-K that was stolen from me. Thank Allah for small favors? Now, I am afraid to start one.
All and all, I truly love WNY, where a hardworking, determined community has instilled in me a strong sense of ethics and family values. A great place to grow up and live, despite its politicians' shortcomings. You should see how awesome our Cultural Scene is! And the food ..... OMGosh!
Oops! I didn't mean to go on a tirade ..... Let Freedom Ring! Wave to your neighbors! Please.
You might be surprised WNYwillie. I do believe that people do rally and rise to the cause when adversity hits. So glad to hear that things are on a positive note for you. I think we will all experience and share some wonderful examples of human kindness and generosity during this tough time. It will make us better for it. That's my attitude today and I hope I carry it with me through the year. Of course I have my dahlias too to keep me hopeful
This message was edited Jan 20, 2009 7:46 PM
