Just a pretty glad Janet, love the color combination.
That book sounds expensive, but I bet is it good to have.
Pottertons! Love that nursery have ordered from there many times (oxalis of course LOL)
Didn`t they win a flower show a few years ago?
Gladiolus
Hey Zest............
Yep the book is VERY expensive.............. but i guess it will be good value for money!! I hope............
You order from Pottertons too..................... I know the chap that runs it quite well................ i was down there the other week and bought some Tritonia!!!............. another gorgeous plant!!!
Well theres a suprise..................... zest bought some Oxalis!!!!! LOL
In the little shed where you go pay for the plants they have framed certificates for flower shows covering all walls.............. golds, silver guilts, silver, bronze ............. loads and loads of them!!!
5 gold medals in 2006!
http://www.pottertons.co.uk/pottin/index.php
I got my bulb order a week ago, first time I have ordered from them but they do have potted plants I would be very tempted to buy as well, a trip is in order although I could do them MO I am only around 40 miles away. My Oxalis palmifrons I got from there.
My heart strings are pulling towards pressing that button, but I am crafty when I can make excuses to myself! I often do this when Xmas time is around the corner, I spy a plant that I really, really want, buy it for a present for my daughter, then decide that it would live better in my company, and buy something else for a present! That becomes dangerous when the second purchase is a plant! I have had to buy a third present!
Now, a short time ago I came across a company in Indonesia selling all sorts of interesting Colocasias etc., minimum order £50, fairly steep carriage but no phyto charges. I told myself I would have to wait until spring, which could be a better time anyway, but my crafty mind is making the excuses already that if I DON'T buy the book, I need only, say, another £40-50 (+?)or so to pay for the goods! What brilliant justification!
Worry not, there will come a time when I throw all caution to the wind and have a mad, pent-up-bursting-out-in-a-spending-rash-spree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh wallaby dear wallaby, what are we going to do with you...................
I you do go to Pottertons, you may be in for a supise.............. its not what you think it will be like.......... all that is there really is a couple of greenhouses and a shed where you pay!! Plus a load of stone bays with hundreds of 3inch pots of plants in them........
The place looks kinda run down........................ but i guess it all adds to the charm.........!!
I KNOW you are gonna press that button at some point.................... so just log on to the website and press it!!!! Then you wont have to worry about it anymore................!!!
That is fatal.................... buying plants for people when you love plants yourself...........!! Oh dear Wallaby....... Does your daughter know that is what you do??????LOL
No Phyto charges???? How come?? Do they pay it??? Or do they send out plants illegally?? Dodgy!!!!!........... so you will be better off buying the book i think!!!!!!!!!.............. you know you want it!!!!
Or............ i could always rent mine out to you when i get it!!!!! LMAO
OMG, watch out world, when wallaby throws caution to the wind!!!
wallaby becomes a whirlwind
Hmm, I think by the time I paid rent plus postage, I would be better off buying the book! You are pushing me!
I did tell my daughter I had done that, but I wouldn't tell her which plants they were! That's not all, I have also bought her a clematis and took cuttings from it! Good job too, I have 2 plants now and she killed hers!
When the time is right, I will either DO it or get OVER it! My juices are oozing, sorry folks for the image!
I think the Phyto charges are low for the country, and the minimum order would cover their costs.
Just take a look!!!!! They look to be a professional outfit, worth a dabble I think!
http://www.malesiana.com/html/home.htm#
Hahahahahaha yes you would be better off buying the book.................... but i wouldnt charge you postage..... only rent!!!! LOL................. meeeeeeee pushing you????? NEVER!!!!!!!
Oh well at least you told her what you had done.............. thats good i guess!!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you took cuttings from her present!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL....
Well wallaby (what is your name by the way?)..................... if you dont buy the book and you ever want to borrow it, just ask ok............... i will let you!!!! I think i can trust you!! LOL
Oh cool............ I will have a look at the link you sent.............. may have something i want too!!!! Thank you for that!
Mark
It's Janet, if I haven't bought the book by the time you have your open day I will ask to take a peek at yours, then I can make a decision!
You will be enthused by the plants they have on there, mark (haha) my words! Take a look at the other plants section too, a Tacca there which beats the ones we see for sale. Of course it's a risk, carriage from other countries can be iffy, the pants may be small, some might die, but they are a good price, and so rare that I am willing to risk it!
Hi Janet..........
Yes you can borrow it anytime you want to............ i will let you know when it arrives!!! Also if you want to you can borrow croosmia book!!!! that is very interesting!!
Yesssss i will have a look tomorrow when i will have no disturbances....... oh dear mark my words...... made me smile!!
Tacca........... is that what i call the bat plant????? I tried growing one from seed once............... my god it took years to do anything, then died!!!!
Oh i don't mind the risk, if the plants are worth it............. I just wonder how long it will take for them to arrive!!! Like you say, some may die in transit............
Hmmmmmmm i will have a good look and see if its worth it..............!!
Mark
Hey Zest,
Is it strictly Oxalis you collect or any "clover plants"? Just i have a Prarie clover i'm hoping you know how to grow from seed.
Its Dalea jamesii. Any ideas?
Not heard of that pottertons place before. I'll take a look some time soon. When is good to visit?
Mike (aka "the crocosmia killer")
Yes Tacca is the bat plant, I got some seed, I think one germinated, then promptly died so I was spared!
Normal parcel carriage can be around 10 days, or longer if customs hold things up. For a smallish order you wouldn't have to pay much import tax or vat. there is an £18 allowance on most things, then vat at 17.5%, import duty only payable mostly once the duty reaches £7, and there may be a charge (£8ish I think) from Parcel Force, but if the parcel is small enough they can go through without mishap and not be charged anything, it's the bigger ones that attract attention. You have to spread the cost of all this over the number of plants, it often doesn't add much per plant, and when there is no alternative short of jumping on a plane, well live dangerously!
Youu can opt for the Carrier which is quicker, excluding customs hold-ups of course, but much more expensive. It depends on how much you feel you want to risk.
They are in DG feedback system Garden Watchdog, a couple of people have posted problems but reading between the lines the company wasn't at fault, customs don't have anything to do with them once they arrive in another country!
Hey Mr crocosmia killer...........
Pottertons are open every day http://www.pottertons.co.uk/pottin/index.php
You should go have a look..................... its weird..............!!! LOL
Janet
I still have some Tacca seed if you fancy another go at it......................... Cost a fortune for 5 seeds......... cant remember how much i paid for it!!! But i know it was a lot!
Well................ i think i may have to have a go at getting some stuff from that place and see what happens........ you never know, everything may be ok.....!!
Thats the trouble isnt it................ if customs hold things up then everything could be dead by the time it gets to me........!!!!!!! That would be such a waste.........
We shall see............!!
So, are you going to order something from there???? you gonna risk it??? or are you going to wait and see what happens to mine??? LOL
Mark
Hiya Mark, I checked out the website. Looks fancy. I allways assume the worst straight away then. You can't tend plants while you set up a web site.
So ill expect the weird! Lol
Mike
All their plants are in perfect condition................. they have won so many awards........!!!
I meant the place is weird not the plants............... it 2 large greenhouses and a shed where you pay!!
and a load of concrete beds outside with hundreds of 3inch pots of plants in them!!
The first time i went i was expecting a megs big place............. but i was sooooooooooo wrong!!!
But the main thing is the plants are lovely!!
Mark,
I don't think I'll bother with the Tacca seeds, thanks, it was well over £3/close to £4 I think from P.O.D. and not many seeds, I did see some fllowering plants once at Pennells for £20, when I was still only a mild plant nut (that's not true). It was nevertheless difficult to pass them by!
Oh I think I can't wait to order from that site, they might not have what I want later! I haven't gone terribly mad yet this year, it's time I did! (AND I can SAVE £33 if I don't buy the book!) Customs here are not too bad like they are in some countries, if you didn't take the chance you would stand still!
Gee, that site must have really taken your fancy! It did mine, it's almost like finding a hidden stash of goodies! We can compare our experiences!
Potterton's did have a site already set up, but are changing it. Their potted plants will be listed in the next month. It's more what you would call a working nursery, there are a lot of them now that do most or all of their business on the internet, and they are usually run by plant specialist growers. Many of them don't buy much of their stock in and do all the hard work themselves. That's the type of people I like to deal with.
Cheers Mark, thats kind of what i meant.
Just there is really 2 routes plant sellers take
(1) the day out bring Granny for a cup of tea and let the kids try and kill them selves. (whoops that was a pop at Baytree G C). Usually with good retail standards, carpet on the floor canopies for all weather shopping etc.
(2) The plant specialist. Specialising in a particular types of plants. (usually alpines or herbaceous as its the quickest to reproduce on the whole therefore the most profitable)
Internet business is now the fastest way to increase sales with the Biggest garden seller on the internet being Crocus with a turnover in the 3/4 million range and last we spoke to them they where due to make there first profit if this year went well.
Customers cost to much money to service nowadays so internet shopping allows smaller specialist places to look fancy and have a grand scale without all the costs!
I'm a fan of internet shopping as it means i don't have to stand in line with all the nutters out there, waiting for that one person who's had a bad day to walk in and blow every shopper away.... Yes it might be me next who loses it!!
Hey its all good fun
Mike
Mark,
Pottertons are very friendly, the bulbs they have sendt have been very big as well.
I would recommend this nursery to anyone :o)
Janet,
I was thinking that you probably had bought O. palmifrons from Pottertons.
Could not stop smiling when I read about the “lent” clematis cuttings. I would do the same LOL
To bad your daughters ones died.
Costoms don`t seen that bad in the UK?
Besides the phyto, you have to contakt the ministry of agriculture and let them know when the plants/buls will be in the contry. Then you have to pay about 60£, (No matter if it is 1 or 50) because they have to check them as well.
You were right about the weather today :o))
Hi Mike,
Sorry don`t know a bit about clover they are weeds LOL
I do have a bit of other things, but because of little space (garden is 10m long and 4 m wide) I mostly only collect oxalis. I need more space sigh…..
zest, you don't need to contact the Ministry of Agriculture if you are just a retail customer. That's for business purchases, I know it sounds like you need to when you read all the information, bu they don't put things very well!
I bought some Hemerocallis last year from America, the company dealing with it places documents in an envelope on the outside of the parcel for customs to view, but a small parcel can easily just go through without being checked. They don't check all of them, they wouldn't have the time! It may be different in other countries, America can have some serious delays so they could be more particular on checking, more so in view of the recent events.
Mine took about 2 weeks to arrive, I only paid something like £8 for ParcelForce's costs, and had to pay the duties by cheque when it was delivered but I wasn't notified of when it would be delivered, an Express Carrier may notify you. If you're lucky the company sending it will put a lower value to the goods!
I have got the HM Customs and Excise in my Favourites somewhere, the information is very difficult to find from their Home page.
The link to HM C&E is on this page, I challenge anyone to find the part about private individuals importing to this country from the UK site! (something to do on a rainy day!)
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/fas/import_procedures.htm
Clover weeds and Oxalis? Eh now i thought most Oxalis where called clover. I live and learn. Lol To be honest i never paid much attention to them before now.
Not sure where to find info on Dalea as this variety seems hard to find the info for (i only checked my books and here so far)
Cheers
Mike
Mike, do you mean Dahlia????? LOL
Oh god i hate H M Customs & Excise................... They sound too much like the Tax Man!!!!!!!
Just had to pay another fortune to the Ba+**$ds..............
Its easier to find someone in america to send you it and write on the customs label, 'Garden Gnome' !!!!! LOL
Went down to Pottertons today..................... had a look at this Oxalis thing!!! My advice Zest.............. start collecting crocosmia or Gladiolus!!!
I have a nice book coming soon called 'Gladiolus of South Africa', you can borrow it if you want Zest!!! LOL
I know there will be a remark about what i just said about crocosmia, from Mr Crocosmia killer........... take no notice of it zest!
I was going to take my camera down to Pottertons today.................. take some photos for you all!! But i forgot to take it.................. I will go back there tomorrow and take a few!!!.........
Mike, yes i know what you mean about they can make a nursery sound big on the internet etc........ and yes thats what pottertons do very very well........!!! They were parcelling up some stufff to go to Japan while i was there........ how cool is that!!
Janet.............. i dont blame you for not wanting my Tacca seed.......... It would drive me crazy if i grew another one and it died again!!!.................. maybe Zest would like them to try????????? hehehe
I can't make up my mind wether or not to buy from that place Janet............. yes i know its like finding a hidden stash of goodies............. and yes quite a few took my fancy............. especially the Tacca.
Mark
Dalea jamesii
http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/cgi-bin/plantview.cgi?_recordnum=1084
Mark, just wait and see how JEALOUS you will feel when I get my stash of goodies!!!!
Never heard of Dalea Jamesii................... will have a look!!!
About the same as you will be JEALOUS when i get the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
oooooooooooo that James Dalea is a very pretty little thing!!!!!! Never seen one of those.................
I'm biting my lip about the crocosmia... Will not comment aghhhh its killing me Lol
And nope i really did mean Dalea not Dahlia I do have one Dahlia in my garden but there like old ladies plants (along side some bulbous plants hehehe)
Only joking don't send hate mail.
I know what you mean about customs and tax etc. I understand the need for it all but i'm sure they make it hard for everyone so there is rules and regs just to cover everything so they can be allways right!
We once sent a load of Picea to china or was it Japan and last year i sold Gift Tokens to someone in Hong Kong but had to send them to woodhall spa. Not quite as glamourous! I have the space to open an internet shop its all there and ready to go but really can't be spending the time on it. Also not sure which direction to take it yet. I have the option for a new staff member this winter i could put in charge of it, so we'll see!
Tacca is a real sod to grow. Most people buy dutch stuff in Garden centres often from the Clock auctions and to be honest its death warrant has been served before the customer gets it home. No one in Garden Centres will know how to care for them and the dutch guys will have had them on refridgerated transport for over a week.
Have fun
Mike
Cheers for that Wallaby. Just lovin the sound of the line hard to germinate! Lol
Mile.................
Hahahahahaha you don't need to bite your lip.............. i don't mind at all!!
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo old ladies plants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my bishop of llandaff....!! Grrrrr
Ohhhhhhh yes, customs and taxman etc are ALWAYS right.......................!!! Even if they are wrong, they are still right!!!
Hey if you want someone to run it for you......................... i am looking for a chnage in job............!!!! Fed up being self employed............. been after finding something in horticulture!
My G/F works at Brigg Garden Centre................... Trust me, i know what the Dutch plants are like............. forced on crap...!!!!! Most plants on sale in Garden Centres now are Dutch.......... its such a shame that britain cant compete.........!!!!!
Yep, Tacca is a sod............... i grew one, it just appeared and then died............ took 2 years nearly to reach that stage!!!!! LOL
Mark
Janet I gave up on that link! A bit confusing?
Nice to know that they do not have to be contacted before import. Oh my goodness I am going on a shoping extravaganza as well, Janet :o))
There is a nursery in South Africa.
Cape seed an bulbs
http://capeseedandbulb.com/
they have a couple of glads and a nice collection of the “O” plants LOL
Did order from there some years ago, but then got confused on that new law,
but sence it is only for business, then….. yummi
Mike
Most think the same, and is because they somethimes look similar.
The Dalea is very very pretty :o)
Mark.
LOL a little hint there? LOL
Oh yes would like some tacca seeds, they are on my “when I have a bigger place list”
Just as well get some know, thanks very much ;o)))
Monica
Monica
email me your name and address and you can have them.................. along with some other nice seeds!!!!
my email is markfox2001@ntlworld.com
Mark
Be warned though Monica they are a devil to grow and can take years to flower...........!!!!
What sort of other plants would you like to grow.........???? I will see if i have some seed of them!!
Mark
OK Monica, I wonder if anyone else has tried???? I was confused myself at first!
Here's how you do it. First get the C&E Home Page from the link.
Go to the 'site map' at the top right.
Under VAT, Customs & Excise click 'Import/Export'
Click on the green box bottom left 'travel home page'
Click on the link 'shopping on the internet'
There you will find a link 'Common Internet Goods' which has an openable PDF giving a chart on taxes charged and chargeable. (UK)
Also a link to 'Note 143 A guide for international post users' which has many questions and answers, this will be more useful to you. There was a limit of £35 within the EU, £18 worldwide before taxes apply.
There is also a Europa link to self assess a code for a product, but it looks to be a long time loading for me and probably not useful
Now wasn't that so obvious?????????????????
I have come across Cape Seed & Bulb, but so far haven't purchased from them. If they had online ordering it might be more tempting!
Mark, once you have looked around what they have in America as wildflowers it will boggle your mind!
I will be jealous of your book!
Mark, Your G/f works at Brigg and you want a job in horticulture? Surely either she is high up working for the Stubs family or you don't know the wages are poor in horticulture/retail! Lol No one seriously chooses to work in it. It just kind of happens. What do you do self employed?
I'm starting to feel sorry for you now Mark! Lol
Bishop of Llandaf is one worth growing. There are some new ones that are related to it that look quite cool aswell. So i'll let you grow those.
Brigg won't get some of there Dutch plants this week the guy that brings them is getting married... think he was bullied into it when his girlfriend got pregnant. Nice bloke and gets the odd english sense of humour. The dutch guys are starting to struggle now though so the future might change. We are starting to see much more Italian stuff now. It is grown quite hard in soil based compost so has good shelf life.
Time will tell
Yeah but where she works is a total hole!!!!!!!!! Oh i know the wages are rubbish........... from what she brings home........ and i know the Stubbs's treat their staff like crap.......... well, apart from the women they are having affairs with of course!!! hahahahahaha
Well, now you know someone who seriously wants to work in horticulture..............
My own business is a taxi company i set up 10 years ago..................... had enough of it now!!!!!
Phew, so i got away with the Bishop Dahlia and all its offsprings........... thats good!!!!!
Oh really.............. I dont know Mike, she never talks about work to me............. once she leaves at the end of the day, she never speaks about it!!!!
I have seen that guy that brings the plants................. bought some baccy off him once!! LOL
Good i am pleased the dutch are starting to struggle a bit now.................... they have had it too good for too long, and really they sell such crap plants!!
Ohhhhhhhhhhh Italian stuff coming through now.................... that sounds better!!!!
Yes as you say................... time will tell!!!!!!!!
Janet.................... when you think about the amount of wildflowers we have as a small island............... then you think about how big USA is, they must have millions and millions of wildflowers............
Mark
Bought myself a new Hosta yesterday................... yes Mike.......... from Brigg!!!!!!! LOL
Hosta 'Diana Remembered'...................... quite pretty!!
Janet
Got lost once more LOL could not even find the “VAT, Customs & Excise click 'Import/Export' “ place. I wonder who disigned that page.
You can send a email order to cape seed and buld, and give your credit card info.
It is not a secure way, but then again a letter could “get lost” The bulbs I resived were very fine. But received two of the same species oxalis, the label was wrong. Human mistake maybe? Could not get a answer of why that happened.
Mark
Tacca “devil to grow”, just the thing for me :o))
Nice hosta, how big does it get? In metrics please ;o)))
Hi Monica
You like things that are a devil to grow?????????????????? ok!!! LOL
This Hosta grows to 45cm X 90cm........... according to the label.......
Yeps, there is nothing more trilling than a good brain puzzling headache LOL
A nice sized hosta, bought a few ones earlier this year. This photo was taken in early July
Minica................... received your emails!!! Replies sent..........
Thank you
Mark
Minica............LOL
I meant Monica.............. sorry
Monica
Ooooooooooooooo so you like Hosta too.........................!!!
Have you ever heard of one called Elvis Lives ??????? I got it just for the name.............. Gorgeous!!
Mark