Well, it's that time of year again, fall planting! I can hardly wait for the orders to arrive all year. You have to get your orders in early in the year if you want to get certain varieties. The best ones sell out quick. This fall planting season is especially unique because a peony I have been wanting for 3 years (or more) has finally arrived, Peony Lavender, from hybridizer Saunders. I would love to expand the work done in the field of lavender colored peonies. All shades of purple are my favorite color. I have been trying to get Don Hollingsworth to sell me a Peony Lavender root for some time, and this year he decided to put it in his catalog. So I didn't waste any time putting my order in. I also ordered it from Hidden Springs Flower Farm last year, but they decided they couldn't ship any. So I requested they send it this year, but they didn't and just sent a refund. That was very disappointing, but now I finally have one from Don.
The fall orders have been arriving these past few weeks. I waited until I had them all so that I could take some pictures and compare the packing materials, the size and condition of the roots, and my overall opinion of the vendors. So this is what I came up with:
Gilbert H. Wild
- Packing Material: sawdust and clear plastic bag
- Size of Roots: small to medium
- Condition of Roots: wet and firm
Hidden Springs Flower Farm
- Packing Material: peat moss and plastic garbage bag
- Size of Roots: medium
- Condition of Roots: moist and firm
Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
- Packing Material: peat moss, biodegradable peanuts, and green translucent bag
- Size of Roots: large
- Condition of Roots: dry and firm
Song Sparrow
- Packing Material: cedar shavings and clear plastic bag
- Size of Roots: large
- Condition of Roots: moist and firm
