Whoohooo, Chaaa-ching!

I know!!!....Groan.....Should I?.....Have my list.....So many to choose from.....I have so many seeds already....Today?.....Tomorrow?.....When will I give in?

Post here if YOU gave in!

I gave in yesterday! Had my list ready March 31st and ordered first thing in the morning on April 1st!!

I did the same as wlongon5b. I already have a "want list" so it was easy to go through their catalogue and tick'em off!! lol
At those prices it made it even harder to stick to my "want list" so I threw in a few things just to try something new.
I gave into temptation and I'm glad I did .... so go for it sharont!! LOL
What's another gazillion containers to WS! I mean... REALLY!
Spring's a comin'.

I have an evil grin on my face. For once I've enabled others to go where restraint is futile!! :O)

Have you given in yet Sharon??? Don't lie to us! LOL!

I kept to about 10 choices. I'm looking forward to growing the Scotch Thistle. I saw it in a garden in Halifax a couple of summers ago and what an impressive plant it was. No wonder the English didn't win that battle with the Scots because of this plant. I wouldn't want to cross a field of it in the dark either!

Oh Tiffy, I wish I had known you wanted Scotch Thistle. I have a whole bag of seeds here. I got seeds for my Scotch Thistle from Gardens North several years ago. The first year they were so so but the second year they were gorgeous. Wendy

Wendy,

Woops!

I think I`ll keep track of who orders from them. In the future, maybe we could check each other out to see what we all have!

Another I`m looking forward to is Ipomopsis Rubra. I`m taking a chance on this one since our summers are sometimes a bit cooler than plants would like.

I caved and put in an order yesterday. Only found one item off my wish list but managed to buy $70.00 worth of seeds somehow without knowing I even wanted them. This seed addiction is getting out of hand I think :)

Was there any real doubt on my part? NO! Sent my order in April 3rd. I've ordered seeds from Kristl every year since 1996! It's because of Garden's North I have such a wide variety of perennials. I also have learned a great deal about seed germination because of here catalogue.

Thanks Nicole for bringing out the seedaholics in us...I could see that grin from here! And I also have Scotch Thistle seed left over from Gardens North a few years back. I don't put it on my exchange list for obvious reasons. Little plants will surface the year after the monster blooms (lots of pink flower heads), but wear thick gloves and cut of the seed heads into a bag before they disperse. :)

If Patrick Studio were still selling seeds I'd be tickled pink. As if being a member of NARGS and ORGS wasn't enough of a seed source !

Sharon,

The lady growing the Scotch Thistle in Halifax warned me about how invasive it could be via reseeding. She lets one flower go to seed but cuts the others as soon as they start going. When that flower has fully matured, she takes it off and plants the seeds in sheltered places in her gardens then culls them in the spring to five plants. I hear you in regards to not placing it on an exchange list.

One of the seeds I bought a few years back was Veronicastrum Virginicum and Rosea. It's just not sold around here. It took three years for me to finally see it's potential in the gardens. I like it. I may have to split some footings this year - anyone have this one and moved/divided it? I'd also like to see it in other areas of the gardens.

Heather,

:O) Gotcha!! :O) I made my list some time ago but sat on it until I had trimmed it to an amount where no member of the family would say anything obnoxious. Not that their comments would have prevented me from ordering, eh? The 50% just made the pot all that sweeter!

They have this sale every April? I'll have to spend the rest of 2008 choosing for next year because there is too much good stuff there. This year I have more plants started than I have room for.

Sharon and Tiffy,
Thanks for the info on how invasive the Scotch Thistle is.I knew they reseeded but I didn't know to what extent. I too had cut the seed head off into a bag before it reseeded everywhere. I have wintersown some seed for this year's garden. I was offering seed I had collected this summer on my exchange list but have since removed it! Luckily no one has asked for it. It is too bad as it a beautiful plant (like so many other invasive plants).
Tiffy, I have started the Ipomopsis Rubra this year as well. It looks like it will be a winner!!!!
Gladzoe,
Yes they have this sale every April. I have aready started looking and planning next year's want list!
Wendy

Re: Veronicastrum virginicum and rosea. V. virginicum alba (Gardens North seed) was one of the first perennials I ever grew from seed. It has spread ever so slowly and is a healthy patch. V. virginicum albo-roseum I bought (White Rose), but had to pot it up last fall due to renovations and am hoping it made it through the winter. You reminded me that I had wanted to start seed of roseum but forgot. Never too late to try wintersowing!

I've been ordering too from Kristl for years. I still have all the old black and white catalogues in my library ;)

Nicole, I wintersowed Ipomopsis rubra last year, I had no bloom the first year, so I'm hoping they will make my zone and bloom this year for me. They should since the seed came from Bedrock Seeds here in Alberta.

I also sowed Ipomopsis aggregata Scarlet Gilia last year, those did bloom in its first year. The hummers love this plant too.

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Ipomopsis aggregata Scarlet Gilia

The ONOPORDUM acanthium caught my eye too ;)

Sharon

Holy smokes Sharon! That is some nice!!!! I just googled these plants and discovered there's even more out there, some pinks, some speckled, some lavenders. It's nice to discover new plants. :O) The bloom on your's is to die for!!

Sharon, you are an enabler for sure. After seeing your photos posted, I went back to gardens north and asked if they could add to my seed order. They were very accommodating. I have no idea where I'm going to plant these but if I have to dig into my neighbours back yard to make more room, I'm might just do that!!!

Has anyone received their order yet? I've had no information as to whether my seeds have been shipped nor has my order showing billed to my visa.
Considering I live in Canada and quite close to the Ottawa area(where the company is) I'm not impressed with the slow shipping.

Kanuk,

I just received my order today and am quite pleased. Considering the fact that they are probably geting inundated with orders due to the 50% discount, I would definitely give them a few days grace.

Tiffy
Thanks for the reply. Yes I can imagine they must be pretty busy. Kristl was very attentive to emails April 1st but seemingly is extremely busy today to reply.
I suppose I'm chomping at the bit because I want to get planting. I just checked my garlic beds and I have German Extra Hardy & Russian Giant popping out! Now I feel pressed for time to get all things in order.
Time to take some deep breaths ... and relax.
Happy seed planting tiffy & thanks for posting.

Tiffy, I just went to the Gardens North website and found many of the items on my wishlist which I did not get. However, some of them need cold treatment so it's too late for them, and I have really planted too much already. Would it be realistic to buy the seeds now, and keep them until next year? I am still fairly new in the seed department.
Northerner.

Northerner,

With the price being what it is, what you are proposing is something I would do. I take chances with stuff like this and if things don't work out I move on without hitting myself. But that's me. Unless I win the lottery of course. Then I'd wait. :O)

Just make sure that if you do, you keep them in a cool dry dark place since they will not be sown until next year.

Whatever you choose, I wish you the best!

I must say that in the bunch I got this week some require a cold period. I am taking 1/2 of those seeds and sowing them just the same and placing them outside in a shady area. We are still getting some mean frosts here and that might wake things up. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Northerner/tiffy--could the seeds that you want to sow that need a cold period, just be put in the fridge for a while? I really don't know so that is why I am asking. I also probably still have seeds that need cold and have been wondering about whether there is enough cold weather left or could they be planted and put in the fridge for a while. There would be no light though so that is another consideration. hhmmm.
gg

Between sowing annuals, catching a favourite TV show, I'm way past burning the midnight oil.
Had to post that my order of 24 packages arrived from Gardens North also on the 9th!
Most of them need to be stratified with a cold winter period of three to six months. I usually wait until the next year but I'm going to use vermiculite in plastic bags for some now. And use up the rest of the vegetable crisper space which is presently half full of 'baggies' of seeds!
GG the seeds alone in their packages in a fridge will not provide the cold period required to break dormancy and cause the seed to swell and embryo to mature. The seeds needs a moist medium.
Tiffy, I like your idea of direct sowing a half a package now while we still have cold, near zero, night temperatures!
Sharon (CG) I've sown Gilia aggregata this year! I am anxiously waiting for a seedling to appear anyday. Want to see it flower here in Ontario!
Sharon(t)

My GN seeds came in on Friday the 9th and none were sold out. I'll be storing them in ziplock bags in the refridgerator and starting them next year. I;ve always done this with seeds that are on sale since I find myself way too busy right now at this time of the year ;)

Gardens North April 08 Sale
ADENOPHORA triphylla
Anacyclus depressus
ASCLEPIAS purpurascens
Asclepias hirtella
Campanula persicifolia (Finland)
DELOSPERMA aff. congestum
Lathyrus vernus 'alboroseus'
LILIUM concolor strictum
LILIUM michiganense
LILIUM superbum (Orange Flowers)
ONOPORDUM acanthium
PHUOPSIS stylosa
Platycodon grandiflorum sport (Blue-White)
Rudbeckia triloba
Sedum hispanicum
Silene alpestris
SISYMBRIUM luteum
THYMUS serphyllum (Low Form)
TOWNSENDIA parryi

What did you guys order?

Sharon

Let's see...

Arisaema - consanguineum (Poseidon)
Baptisia - sphaerocarpa
Cimicifuga - simplex (Atropurpurea Group)
Dictamnus - albus 'fraxinella'
Eupatorium - coelestinum
Incarvillea - zhongdianensis
Ipomopsis - rubra
Onopordum - acanthium
Pulsatilla - vulgaris colour mix
Verbascum - olympicum
Weigela - middendorffiana

I have all of them sown except for the Ipomopsis which I will do this weeked.

Nice choices Nicole!

Must admit I've been sowing "last" year's Gardens North order this winter and spring.
My order this year:
Acer tartaricum ginnala (also ordered last year)
Acer pseudosiboldianum
Allium karataviense (Ruskans)
Amorpha nana
Aralia elata
Betula albosinensis
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Clematis crispa
Clematis campaniflora
Colchicum autumnale
Elscholzia stautonii
Fagus sylvatica purpurea
Gillenia stipulata
Gladiolus anayolicus
Gloriosa superba "Rothschildiana'
Hudsonia tomentosa
Loiseuria procumbens
Malus floribunda
Sedum ampiplexicaule
Tritonia disticha (Small Form)
Tulipa vvedenskyi
Veratrum formosanum
Monarda punctata
Phedimus spurius (Red Foliage Mix)

All choices arrived! As you see, I've got the bug for germinating trees and alpines. I had also ordered 10 packages from the Alplains catalogue for the first time this winter.
Re: Gardens North, I'm wondering if Kristl is selling her property here in Ontario and moving her business west. Anyone else heard whispers?

Just got my order in today. Probably a little late to start some of them for this year, but storing them for some wintersowing and indoor planting next spring is always a good thing. Here's my order;

Allium Sphaerocephalum
Androsace Carnea Mix
Campanula Cervicaria
Campanula Thyrsoides
Desmodium Canadense
Dodecatheon Pulchellum
echium Russicum
Gentiana Septemfida
Gladiolus Imbricatus
Ipomopsis Rubra
Lathyrus Vernus
Lavatera Cachemeriana
Lewisia Cotyledon
Mimulus Cardinalis
Mimulus Guttatus
Mimulus Lewisii
Nepeta Grandiflora
Perovskia Atriplicifolia
Veratrum Nigrum

Great stuff!! I was actually considering the Veratrums too but thought they might end up being deer food.

If Kristl decides to move, I sure hope she keeps doing what she's doing. Nice person to deal with!!

Couldn't help myself.

Callicarpa - japonica
Codonopsis - grey-wilsonii
HEUCHERA - americana 'Dale's Strain'
Hosta - ex 'Bressingham Blue'
CLEMATIS - alpina
Clematis - ex 'Blue Bird'
CLEMATIS - macropetala cultivar mix
GLADIOLUS - imbricatus
IRIS - sibirica mix
Lilium - martagon colour mix
CYCLAMEN - coum - mix
DATURA - 'Belle Blanche'Datura - stramonium var. tatula f. bernhardii