Every year in mid-May, I start to take an interest in the local garden centres, popping in on my way by to check out the selection and prices of annuals and vegetables. I rarely buy anything until after the Victoria Day long weekend, though. The long weekend here in Canada is the time that is generally considered to be the frost-free date in many areas, which means that the garden centres are traditionally jam-packed with eager gardeners at that time. I prefer not to shop for plants surrounded by the elbows of my peers!
This year was no exception. I stopped in at two local places, the Loblaws garden centre, which usually has some very nice hanging baskets, which I’ve found to be a good price this year (2 for $25). What I find disappointing about their selection is that all of their annual flowers are sold in 3″ or 4″ pots…no cell packs to be found. Instead of getting four smaller plants for about $1.29, you must be one larger plant for $3.29. Not exactly a bargain.
I also went to a family-owned and operated nursery nearby called Price’s Country Market and Greenhouse. Their greenhouse was literally packed to the gills…it was difficult to walk down the aisles in between the flats of plants, and their prices were quite high (the same hanging baskets that Loblaws sold were 2 for $35 here). I left without buying anything.
Yesterday I went to Kingsway Greenhouse in Oshawa, and I’ve found that consistently over the last few years they’ve had the best selection, quality and prices when it comes to buying flats of annuals and vegetable plants. They sell a lot of plants in larger pots, too, as well as trees, shrubs, vines and perennials. Their staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I don’t know why I bother to go anywhere else, and next year I probably won’t bother to.
Annual dianthus.
Shopping for annual plants is one of my favourite gardening rituals. The greenhouse smells wonderful, the air filled with the scent of green promise for the summer to come.
Marigolds to my left, Coleus to my right. My cart in the middle.
I went through a gardening phase when I thought buying annuals was a waste of money, preferring perennials. As you can see, I’ve gotten over that idea.
