Outrageous prices

gardengalrn · September 1, 2007

Grrrrrr!! I went to our local (only) flower shop today and was allowed to go into the cooler to pick my own flowers. I had done it before and didn't necessarily want an "arrangement," I have a lot of single bloom vases that I put on my kitchen window sill plus a few pretty vases I like to keep filled with whatever I can find. Last time the owner was there and I bought a lot of beautiful flowers for about $15. Today I picked several lilies, a few roses and several stems of various other things that I didn't know the name of. The clerk gleefully informed me after I was at the checkout that I had picked all the most expensive blooms. The lilies were $8 a piece!!! Now I know I wasn't expecting to pick up the flowers for nothing but I thought that was pretty steep! I wasn't really crabby about it but she knew I didn't care for that price at all, since she didn't say anything about it as I happily picked up 4 lilies (2 yellow and 2 of a dark jewel purple).
So anyway, I plan a cutting garden next year. I wanted to know what everyone else plants and what kind of lilies would make the best cutting? I have daylilies but I assume these I bought are oriental or similar. Any suggestions?

felpec · September 1, 2007

Most of the ones in the flower shops (and, yes, they are expensive, aren't they!) are Oriental or Asiatic lilies. Unlike daylilies that grow from tubers, these grow from bulbs.

They really are quite easy to grow (unless, like me, you have massive amounts of rodents both with and without antlers).

Here's a good link to get some more basic info:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...re/DG1112.html

remy · September 1, 2007

Hi Lori,
I suggest looking at Scheeper's Bulbs for decent prices on lilies, and the quality is good also.
http://www.johnscheepers.com/
If you want larger quantities at even cheaper prices, their wholesale division is
http://www.vanengelen.com/

I love lilies too(besides my roses

) I think the asiatics and hybrid like LA lilies are the easier types. Orientals want a bit more pampering. Oh I love the old orienpet 'Black Beauty' I have a couple shots in my 'Daylily and Lily' photobucket album.
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...0and%20Lilies/
Hope that helps a bit,
Remy

BDale · September 2, 2007

If you are interested in venturing beyond lilies, China asters are a nice choice for cut flowers. Easy to grow annuals, long stems, look great in a vase, bloom (here in Zone 5a) from mid summer until fall.

gardengalrn · September 3, 2007

Wow, the flowers are gorgeous, both the lilies and the asters. Remy, you are a busy girl! I will look at the sites that were sent, I'm really wanting some of these lilies. The purple ones I bought are pretty stunning, I had compliments over the holiday when we had our BBQ. My SIL thought they were fake, LOL. They are nearly plate sized and just WOW. So I guess I don't mind paying extra for them and they have held 3 days with no problem at all. Course, it would be nicer to have my own next year

Lori

remy · September 4, 2007

BDale,
Your asters look great! I grew seeds saved from the aster 'Hulk' that I received in trade. This is the first aster I've grown. It was an odd variety I saw in a catalog. They grew true to name and very well in a pot. I will definitely try some others next year.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2.../atserhulk.jpg

Lori,
My husband might tell you I'm not well.

I love growing too many things. That is why my house is perpetually a mess!
That is good to hear about how great the cut ones look. I don't mind paying if I get quality like that. Of course it would be even nicer to brag to your sis-in-law that they came from your garden.

Remy

BDale · September 5, 2007

Hi Remy,

I've seen "Hulk" in the seed catalog and thought it might be an interesting addition to a floral arrangement given the color and shape of it. Nice photo. Maybe I'll give it a try. Always so many choices with limited space. We've been very, very happy with the addition of Dahlias to our garden this year as well.

remy · September 5, 2007

BDale,
I just went to a Gardenweb local spring exchange swapper's house to take a tour of her gardens. She had beautiful dahlias. Every year she brings the tubers to the exchange and I've never taken any. I told her I've changed my mind for next year!
Remy

September 1, 2007	#1
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	Outrageous prices Grrrrrr!! I went to our local (only) flower shop today and was allowed to go into the cooler to pick my own flowers. I had done it before and didn't necessarily want an "arrangement," I have a lot of single bloom vases that I put on my kitchen window sill plus a few pretty vases I like to keep filled with whatever I can find. Last time the owner was there and I bought a lot of beautiful flowers for about $15. Today I picked several lilies, a few roses and several stems of various other things that I didn't know the name of. The clerk gleefully informed me after I was at the checkout that I had picked all the most expensive blooms. The lilies were $8 a piece!!! Now I know I wasn't expecting to pick up the flowers for nothing but I thought that was pretty steep! I wasn't really crabby about it but she knew I didn't care for that price at all, since she didn't say anything about it as I happily picked up 4 lilies (2 yellow and 2 of a dark jewel purple). So anyway, I plan a cutting garden next year. I wanted to know what everyone else plants and what kind of lilies would make the best cutting? I have daylilies but I assume these I bought are oriental or similar. Any suggestions? __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

September 1, 2007	#3
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	Hi Lori, I suggest looking at Scheeper's Bulbs for decent prices on lilies, and the quality is good also. http://www.johnscheepers.com/ If you want larger quantities at even cheaper prices, their wholesale division is http://www.vanengelen.com/ I love lilies too(besides my roses) I think the asiatics and hybrid like LA lilies are the easier types. Orientals want a bit more pampering. Oh I love the old orienpet 'Black Beauty' I have a couple shots in my 'Daylily and Lily' photobucket album. http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...0and%20Lilies/ Hope that helps a bit, Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

September 3, 2007	#5
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	Wow, the flowers are gorgeous, both the lilies and the asters. Remy, you are a busy girl! I will look at the sites that were sent, I'm really wanting some of these lilies. The purple ones I bought are pretty stunning, I had compliments over the holiday when we had our BBQ. My SIL thought they were fake, LOL. They are nearly plate sized and just WOW. So I guess I don't mind paying extra for them and they have held 3 days with no problem at all. Course, it would be nicer to have my own next year Lori __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

September 4, 2007	#6
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	BDale, Your asters look great! I grew seeds saved from the aster 'Hulk' that I received in trade. This is the first aster I've grown. It was an odd variety I saw in a catalog. They grew true to name and very well in a pot. I will definitely try some others next year. http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2.../atserhulk.jpg Lori, My husband might tell you I'm not well. I love growing too many things. That is why my house is perpetually a mess! That is good to hear about how great the cut ones look. I don't mind paying if I get quality like that. Of course it would be even nicer to brag to your sis-in-law that they came from your garden. Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

September 5, 2007	#8
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	BDale, I just went to a Gardenweb local spring exchange swapper's house to take a tour of her gardens. She had beautiful dahlias. Every year she brings the tubers to the exchange and I've never taken any. I told her I've changed my mind for next year! Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

September 1, 2007	#2
felpec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Zone 5/6 New Jersey Posts: 122	Most of the ones in the flower shops (and, yes, they are expensive, aren't they!) are Oriental or Asiatic lilies. Unlike daylilies that grow from tubers, these grow from bulbs. They really are quite easy to grow (unless, like me, you have massive amounts of rodents both with and without antlers). Here's a good link to get some more basic info: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...re/DG1112.html

September 5, 2007	#7
BDale Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 13	Hi Remy, I've seen "Hulk" in the seed catalog and thought it might be an interesting addition to a floral arrangement given the color and shape of it. Nice photo. Maybe I'll give it a try. Always so many choices with limited space. We've been very, very happy with the addition of Dahlias to our garden this year as well.