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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Recent Surprises in My Mailbox

Thanksgiving leftovers?   No, I followed Mr. Subjunctive's advice, and found Schlumbergera x buckleyi cuttings online.  I paid for a lot of four but the generous seller included a free fifth.

They came along with directions about how to successfully root them.  Under the plastic bags are potted cuttings.  I can't wait for them to root and grow.
 Euphorbia Flanaganii didn't come in the mail. I found it at Valley Nursery a few weeks ago but it caught my fancy when I was in the greenhouse taking the other pictures.  Isn't it fun?


Agave pups travel very nicely and here are some that showed up between freezes.  Agave isthmensis varigated  is a small agave even when fully grown.

Just out of tissue culture (so they'll probably be more common soon) is Agave parryi truncata "Lime Streak"

I'm hoping that it will someday look like this NFS beauty I saw at Jungle Fever Exotics Nursery last summer.



I also ordered a baby Agave 'Joe Hoak' before I found one at a Sky Nursry.  


A free gift of an Agave sisalana mediopicta came with the pups.  It's so nice of plant sellers to do this!

When I lived in Alaska many years ago, I ordered a lot of plants through the mail but am fairly new to doing so these days.  Do you purchase plants online?   Have you had positive experiences?  


19 comments:

  1. So exciting, FIVE cuttings of the 'real' Christmas Cactus.

    I've never ordered off for plants. Maybe I should start.

    We did have a surprise hanging on the mailbox this morning. Our clever neighbor left a bag with homemade salsa and some Santitas corn chips.

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    1. It was exciting! Mail order plants are usually quite small compared to those at nurseries but sometimes, if a local source can't be found, mail order is just the thing.
      What a nice surprise from your neighbor!

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  2. Very nice goodies there and that Lime Streak looks gorgeous! We buy plants online all the time, at the moment we receive a small parcel at least once a week....

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    1. Wow, a plant parcel once a week sounds delightful! I've seen some of your great posts about unpacking and you've received some wonderful treasures through the mail!

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  3. I order plants every year, and have several long-distance plant trades with gardening friends. Receiving parcels of plants is so exciting! I've never had a problem with plants that I've ordered from anybody. Once a grass died a week or two later, and was quickly replaced. Other than that, the only problem has been choosing plants that won't survive my climate! :)

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    1. Which reminds me that sometime this spring, I'll need your address so that I can send you the plume poppies and tetrapanax! I have ordered from Plant Delights and Annie's Annuals in the past and have always received great plants. Good to know that you've had good luck with mail order plants!

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  4. It's so much fun getting plants in the mail. I hope all your Christmas cactus cuttings take like gangbusters. I do order online quite often. I used to do it more, but since you became my plant shopping companion, now I just follow you around and mostly buy what you buy.

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    1. Oh my friend, you have no problem finding gorgeous plants without any help! We need to get together for a nursery hop again one of these days!

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  5. It's been a long while since I've ordered plants online but never had a bad experience. Something I got from Annie's died pretty quickly but they replaced it even quicker. Love your new plant babies!

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  6. I never ordered plans on line, but since folks reporting good experiences I may give it a try.
    I'm amazed at the vast shapes and sizes of Euphorbia. Your Euphorbia Flanaganii is beautiful. The internet called it Medusa Head Euphorbia, and showed yellow flowers in the center: something to look forward to. It would make nice "hair" in a "head" planter.

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    1. Dave's Garden has a great feature where people write about their experiences with various mail order nurseries.

      Earlier this summer when I began lusting after that plant, it was to go in the head of a planter that I'd just found on sale. Burro's tale was less expensive so I went with that. Now that I have the Euphorbia, perhaps I'll try it in the head since the burro's tale is currently hanging in the greenhouse.

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  7. I obtain plants any which way I can, including online, and the positive experiences far outweigh the negative. That Lime Streak is definitely something I'd seek out, online or off. I can just see you bustling happily in your greenhouse with these beauties.

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    1. Sometimes, when looking for unusual plants that aren't necessarily hardy here, online sources are just the ticket! Perhaps I order plants so I'll have a reason to be puttering in the greenhouse.

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  8. You're going to need a 2nd "danger gardenette" next year the way you're going. I've become increasingly comfortable ordering on-line. Our local nurseries/garden centers don't like to offer plants except when they're in bloom so what I want often isn't available locally at the best times for planting in my area (like now!). Mail order nurseries are much more accommodating. Annie's Annuals & Perennials is my favorite mail order source but I've tried out several others.

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    1. I've had good luck with Annie's and Plant Delights and Logee's. The unknown individual sellers on Ebay from which these plants came were also quite wonderful. I've already decided that some of the heat loving plants may become permanent residents of the greenhouse so the danger gardenette won't take over the whole yard!

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  9. Nice selection of new plants. You have great taste.

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  10. Because we have so many stellar nurseries around here, I've mostly resisted the lure of mail order. Your enthusiasm is a bit contagious, though. Fie on the Outlaw!

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  11. Lovely to get parcels like that in the post. I buy mail order too; plants and books. I love it when the postman comes and my husband calls' Presents!' and there is another treasure waiting to be unwrapped.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.