I was talking to the manager in the garden center at Lowe's today after I spotted a trolley full of native columbine and he told me that Lowe's is implementing a Native Plant program. They are starting out with a few natives to see how it goes and then they will be adding more. This is the first time I have seen native columbine at ANY garden center here whether it was a local nursery or a big box store. It sounds promising. Hopefully it the program will continue to grow.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

There is a small statured cultivar, can't remember its name, which they have sold down here for a few years now. They were kind of expensive and always in full bloom and I hate buying anything that has already peaked. One of these years I'll catch the unsold ones on their damaged plant rack and then they will be mine. A few weeks ago a package seed was sown in the basement. They are up and about to get their first true leaves. Two of the three that were given to me last year are alive and beginning to flower.

That is how I got my first stampede series greggiis....on the reduced rack heading to the dumping ground for a buck. that is the way to get some good stuff. I looked on those racks today but nothing but pansies and I am sick to death of seaing pansies.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Don't you just hate it when they hire a nursery manager that knows what they are doing - what are they thinking?

Do you know I was thinking that very thing as I was talking to him. This guy even grows a lot of his own stuff so he isn't totally clueless.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39