A VISIT TO DEATH ROW (FOR PLANTS)

If you are reading this, I assume you like to garden. I also would guess that you don't like to watch perfectly healthy plants die. WELCOME TO DEATH ROW.

I've been to visit twice now. Local stores are glutted with plants that they can't sell. One missed watering out in full sun and it's off to DEATH ROW.

Most garden shops have a few plants marked down. But this year I'd say there were hundreds, perhaps even a thousand at this one store. Here's a view of another row of  poor plants. They might get watered once a day if someone remembers.

And here are four more rows of plants on DEATH ROW.

But...here is some good news. The really savvy gardeners in my neighborhood know that these plants aren't 100% dead. With a little tender care, they'll recover. There were 3 wonderful gardeners back there last time I visited.

So, who got to come home to my garden?  Let's see.

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'

These were $1.00 each. Coreopsis is a tough little plant and I love their cheerful blooms. I bought a bunch!

Salvia greggii 'Lipstick'

This little native is so cute. I've grown them before.

I bought 6 for 75 cents each.

Osteospermum 'Voltage Yellow'

The Cape Daisies (Osteospermum) aren't perfectly suited to our climate, but I bought them anyway since anything's better than slowly wasting away on a metal shelf.

Lavandula stoechas

I posted bail for this half dead silver Lavender plant. ($2.50)

I've never seen one before except in garden books.

It's also not a great match for our climate, but since it was the last one and looking a bit sad

I decided to take a chance.

Lavandula inglesa 'Munstead'

There were tons of Munstead English Lavender for $2.50 each. I brought home one.

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunfire'

I bought this one at full price. It is an exquisite Coreopsis hybrid bred from our native coreopsis.

They'll probably be marked down 50% by next week, but I dare not wait and run the risk of a missed watering by the employees.

Their new home: LIFE ROW

Here's their new home. I think they'll be happy here.

I'll tell you a secret. We have two large garden centers side by side. The first has a Clearance Section and the other doesn't. In fact, the second store never, EVER has a single plant marked down.

So where do all their dead or dying plants end up? Answer: The giant trash containers out back.

No one there wants to take the time or effort to mark down plants.

So in a strange way, I'm very thankful to the manager of DEATH ROW for taking the time to set up a Clearance Aisle.

Perhaps we should call it HOPEFUL ROW!

Happy Easter!

Thanks for visiting Tropical Texana.

David/:0)