This week I made a stop at my local Lowe’s garden center. I try to stop in frequently throughout the summer, because there are always so many unadvertised specials to be found! While I was there this week, I overheard a sales person talking with a customer, trying to explain the over abundance of plant material. She said – they have a contract with a large wholesaler, and they receive a certain number of plants whether they need them or not. This usually means that they have way to many plants & need to mark them down – or else they will risk loosing the plants due to lack of proper space & care.
There is almost always a rack of plant mark downs when I stop in. I routinely find deals of 50-% – 75% off!
I am so thrilled with my latest finds!
This is an evergreen ground cover called: Lithodora – Grace Ward
It flowers in May & June, only gets approx 6″ high, and is one of the best blue flowering ground covers available!
This little beauty is a wonderful option for; ground covers, rock gardens, spilling over walls, hanging baskets, or edging your flower garden borders. I think this plant would look wonderful with the white version of this plant which is called “‘White Swan”. I think I might also mix mine with some ajuga.
I was VERY excited to find this Longwood Wisteria plant with a few flowers already on it, especially when some types of wisteria plants can take up to 7-10 years to bloom!
They like to grow in sun or partial shade, and can reach 20 – 30 feet tall! It will grow in zones 5-9, and I was surprised to find out that this particular wisteria is a US native! Although this plant blooms from late spring to early summer, there are also reports of this beauty showing off again right through September!
Thanks for the tips on Lowes. I am trying to landscape this year as cheap as possible. I have had some neighbors split hosta’s and lillies with me so that I can use them for filler around trees and the fence line. I never thought to look at Lowes for stuff on sale. I don’t have much of a green thumb and I like stuff that is easy to maintain and comes back from year to year. I am also just learning about plants.
I adore wisteria! I saw it gracing a home beautifully in Bethlehem, PA when I visited in May, and since then I’ve been scheming and plotting for a time and place to add it somewhere on my property. Enjoy!
I found out last summer that Lowe’s has a ‘dead plant rack’ where you can find some awesome deals!! The plants aren’t really “dead”, most just need water! My friend and I have gotten some wonderful plants this way
Oh Wisteria. I love the look of it but wonder, about our cold winters….
Mari-Nanci
I didn’t know that about Lowe’s. I did notice that they’re much better at marking down plants than Home Depot. Lucky you to get that wisteria already in bloom! I’ll have to make a run to Lowe’s and see what I can find.
Manuela
I love Wisteria myself, and have two beautiful white varieties. However, please know that Wisteria is seriously invasive. It’s grown up into my pecan trees and tried its best to choke it out. My husband threatens to cut them both down, so I make sure I keep them trimmed back and out of the trees, because I love the way they look and smell when they’re in bloom!
I am in “awe” with the Wisteria. Can you tell me what zone you are and what city. Would be nice to see some pictures….
thanks,
jackie …montreal canada
I absolutely love my wisteria, but I agree about the invasive part. I had some elective surgery and was late getting out to trim mine back…it had twirled itself onto my forsythia and my lilac, and started up my porch screen!! On the other side, it even had grown along the ground where my son doesn’t mow, and started up the deck railings!! I did cut it back after it bloomed, but I have a question. I started the wisteria years ago on a wooden trellis, which it has completely destroyed. What is good to use to support the plant? I can’t just cut the arbor out from under it, or I am afraid it will break the tree, which is at a precarious angle. It’s too old and thick to retrain on anything. The old arbor is in pieces and looks hideous. Help!