Decisions, Decisions
In my job, the only thing worse than May is August. I must buy plants to sell now and next spring. It gets a little confusing sometimes (and we may end up with an extra group of plants right now or perhaps I put them on my spring order and they’re missing from the ‘now’ order!) Did I mention I also have to do my fall orders now – I kinda forgot about those!! After 29 years you would think I could handle this. I can’t (just in case you were wondering). I do, however, have a lot of backup at the nursery.
The worst part of this is; because spring is a screaming time of the year, I need to do the thinking now so later I can point and shoot on the fly! The problem is my decisions all depend on you! I must figure out what you are going to do so I can figure out what I am going to do! It is such a vicious circle! Some of you are thinking “who is this chick?” If she has been there for 29 years why haven’t I seen her?? You have. It is just that I am way older looking than you might remember! And, I am chained to my desk in deep thought (sending you a message about what you should do next year because I already had to make the decision).
It is the decisions! At this time of the year, I often come into work and announce that today is “no decision day”!! Sometimes days in a row are no decision days (I don’t think I have hit a whole week yet). I have noticed that this has become an annual (perennial?) thing! I have yet to have a day at work this year where I don’t have to make at least one decision! But I shall keep trying! Someday it will happen, I have faith.
So, I have already made a couple of decisions for you. I have a little time left to make changes – so if you have a problem with my decision, please see your nearest salesperson at Christensen’s and let them know!
Decision #1 MORE Hydrangea paniculata ‘Puffer Fish’. Wow, isn’t she awesome (It is a she because of the awesomeness!!) I was told it was a ‘BoBo’ on steroids. They weren’t kidding. The flower is far larger and more numerous than a ‘BoBo’, though the plant itself is nearly identical in size and shape. You may find these already in stock… (…if they’re not sold! They seem to sell as fast as I can order them.)
Decision #2 Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Summer Crush’ vs ‘Cherry Explosion’. I am going to stick with the ‘Summer Crush’. ‘Summer Crush’ is part of the “Endless Summer” brand. I do see better reblooming on the ‘Summer Crush’ and a more compact plant than the ‘Cherry Explosion’. However, I like the color of the ‘Cherry Explosion better. I was torn but have made a decision!
Decision #3 One last note on hydrangeas… it is going to “Prime” everywhere! That might not make sense at the moment, but it will first off in the spring
Decision #3 ‘Imperata’ is no longer available for us. It is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed and has been banned in many of our surrounding states as invasive. That means that even though it’s not banned in Michigan, it isn’t worth it to grow for our market! (Whew, this one wasn’t really my decision) Sorry, we are looking for a hardy compatible replacement, but it is not an easily replaced plant – Stand by.
Decision #4 Weigela. I haven’t actually made it this far in the alphabet yet but…
...‘Vinho Verde’ that’s my choice. The leaves are lime green with a dark(!) burgundy and it has dark pink flowers. It has a nice compact habit and comes in around 4x4’.
...‘Czechmark Trilogy’ This is Chris’s choice. I will admit it is absolutely adorable in flower!! Nicely shaped plant about 3x3’ with the most breathtaking flower you have ever seen. (alright maybe a little over the top but…) the flowers are pink, white and red! All at once! Hence the name… Trilogy.
... And finally, ‘Bubbly Wine’ I think I have finally found some (don’t tell Marci!!) I am not going to tell you anything about it. You need to come in and talk to Jeff Good (one of our salesmen) because it is his plant! Jeffery found it as a sport on an existing weigela in his yard and now it is a Proven Winner®! (well, after several years of working with the PW group and a bunch of trials and testing.)
That’s probably all I have room for today. I didn’t get very far down my list. Maybe I will have a part two article coming up with more sneak peeks at my decisions!
P.S. I have been at work this am for 1 hour and have had to make 5 maybe 6 decisions already!! Tomorrow is definitely going to be a no-decision day.
