After a morning attempting to oust some more of Lavinia’s disreputable friends, I went shopping. I am not talking spuds or sausages. I am talking proper shopping. I am speaking of discount store purchasing! We have a local general store which excels in the naff, their plant centre included. Glittered heather, 1m high plastic gnomes, plastic flowers and, I am cringing as I type this, ornamental cabbages. All these can be found in this cathedral to bad taste. Far worse, they do not appear to care for their plants, I would even doubt whether they actually like them very much. It was in this very same place that I overheard a discerning customer asking a member of staff if a certain specimen would do well close to her pond. The reply was “Sorry, I don’t know anything about plants”. I feel we need a dramatic pause to digest this comment. It is a plant centre and you don’t know anything about plants!
Whether or not I should frequent this evil establishment is open to debate. In my defence I must mention that it is here I have purchased Anisodontea capensis, Edgeworthia chrysantha and Rhodanthemum hosmariense, amongst other gems. In amongst the dross there is always the potential of treasure just waiting to be discovered. Tucked behind, or underneath, pushed to the side, looking a little thirsty. This in itself is irresistable. The thrill of the horticultural chase. Today, amongst the vibrant displays of chrysanthemums I found an Acca sellowiana and a variegated Olearia traverii. The sublime nestling amongst the ridiculous.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Plant ignorance is unforgivable in a plant store; much the same as the answer we get everywhere for anything: “Sorry this isn’t my department.”
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You wouldn’t mind if they said “I will find someone to help you”!
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I am glad I read beyond the ornamental cabbages. It was close! I often kid myself that I am ‘rescuing’ plants, even from reputable nurseries. In this instance you clearly had every justification to liberate those poor plants.
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Sorry, that would have put me off too! I might get a Plant Liberation Front T-shirt made up, you want one too?
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Same here; more than this, in places that sell mums and ornamental cabbages you’ll never find anything else, except mums and cabbages all over again…
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Oh dear, that sounds very scary!
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The great thing about this sort of garden centre is the fact that, although they charge a lot for common plants, in their ignorance, rare treasures are often sold at giveaway prices.
Much worse than those cabbages- dyed heathers. There should be a very special part of Hell reserved for people who dye flowers.
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I just don’t get ornamental cabbages but someone must like them. I frequent a local centre a bit like this and take pleasure in buying their ‘unhappy plants’. There are always a few and they are great bargains – but it worries me that so many are allowed to get in this state.
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That store sounds like a lot of fun: a real treasure hunt. I picture you emerging with your newly acquired plants in your arms and chuckling to yourself about what a steal they were.
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That is me!
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