My plant bargain was a Clematis 'Cezanne' for 75% off on the end-of-season bargain table with mostly dead plants. I can't remember how much I paid for my bargain plant, but it was under $10, and at the time this cultivar was not widely available in my area. It looked a little sad, but I figured, for the price, it was worth a try. It made it through the winter in a protected spot, and I was able to plant it out in the garden in the Spring. It's doing fine & just needs time to mature.

Recently, when looking around in a gardencenter, I discovered "viola cornuta" in pots to a reduced price. They looked a bit "dry" but I thought, watering them and the plant will be ok again. So I took one pot and wanted to pay for it. The woman at the cash desk said: "do you really want to have it? I said "yes, I'll give them some water and they will look nice again". The lady then urged me to take the other pots too...for free. Now I have 6 pots and with some water and care they are alle blooming wonderful!!

Many years ago, I stopped by one of my favourite plant vendors and selected three perennials. When I went to pay, the vendor picked up a tray and filled it with perennials... 24 perennials for the price of 3. (I had bought many plants from this same vendor throughout the summer and since she wanted to get rid of her stock, she was more than eager to part with them). Did I ever feel great! Every one of those plants came back too!

So many bargains, I scarcely know where to start! But I think the one that tickled me the most was a lovely copper beech that I got last year for 19.00 Canadian. I asked the nursery owner's wife three times if she was sure that was the right price, as I couldn't tell from the partly worn-out label, and she said yes. It was about five feet tall, and in really good shape, so I stuffed it in the Yaris and headed home. Turned out later that a friend went to get one, and they were supposed to be quite a bit more than that, for that size. And then there was the weeping blue Nootka chamaecyparis that was over 100 bucks and I got for 22.50. Seems THAT nursery had too many and had deeply discounted some of them, and then the nursery staff discounted it a bit more because it was me. (I refer quite a few people to them over the course of a year, so I don't mind getting the occasional bargain.)

Stuart, I've got to go shopping with you sometime. I am drawing a blank on the biggest bargain I've gotten while plant shopping. I'll think of something someday, and then post about it with a link back to you.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Nice blog, have a look at my garden.
Ian