If the e-newsletter does not appear properly in your email, click here to view it online.

E-Newsletter: October 2008

The Phoenix Perennials
E-Newsletter
October 2008

Hello from Phoenix Perennials!

Yes, fellow gardeners. It's the October e-newsletter. I will be out of town in early October when the e-newsletter should normally be sent out. So I'm sending it out early and giving you a lucky heads up on our fall sale. See details below. Mark your calendars! We are often asked by the gambling types among you what the likelihood of certain plants remaining available as the sale escalates to higher levels. Generally speaking, plants remaining only in small quantities sell out early during the 15% off period, plants remaining in moderate quantities often sell at during the 25% period, and if you see plants in large quantities they will often still be around for the 2 for 1. It's worth coming in to case the joint and strategize as the sale escalates through October!

Also in this e-newsletter: fabulous fall bulbs, great workshops, the exotic houseplant sale continues, and a quick fabulous at Phoenix.

A special congratulations to our very own Phoenician Shelley who has just completed her Certificate in Garden Design at UBC and won the Rosemary Verey Award for an "outstanding contribution to the program.  Along with academic achievement and creative excellence, [Shelley has] been an inspiration to the class with her commitment, enthusiasm and passion." Shelley is one of our designers who runs our In-Nursery Design Service.

Cheers, Gary and the Phoenicians

In this Issue

1. The Fantastic Fall Sale
2. Fall Bulbs Are Here!
3. Exotic Houseplant Sale
4. Upcoming Workshops: Come learn with us
5. Fabulous at Phoenix: Gary's Picks of New, Notable and Luscious Plants at the Phoenix Candy Store

1.

The Fantastic Fall Sale
Mark your Calendars!

Please remember that this is a generous sale. We can't make any exceptions on the dates or details listed above. During the 2 for 1 weekend if you do not wish to take a second plant for free you may purchase your single plant at 25% off the normal retail price.

2.

Fall Bulbs Are Here!

Our fine selection of fall bulbs is now at the nursery or soon to arrive. We will offer an exciting selection of some of the more uncommon and unusual bulbs such as botanical tulips, camassia, fritillaria, cyclamen and erythronium, as well as some striking new cultivars of hybrid tulips, hyacinths and daffodils.

Here is a snapshot of the different groups of bulbs along with a list of the species and cultivars we'll be offering in each of those groups (You can google these on the internet to view images.).

Allium - Ornamental Onions Ornamental Onions offer fabulous spheres of colour. No spring garden is complete without them. atropurpureum azureum bulgaricum christophii flavum 'Fireworks' moly 'Luteum' neapolitanum ostrowskianum schubertii sphaerocephalon unifolium 'Forelock' 'Globemaster' 'Ivory Queen' 'Mount Everest' 'Purple Sensation'	A. flavum 'Fireworks'
Allium schubertii (above) and A. 'Purple Sensation' (right)

Camassia - Camas Lily Our native camas lily and it's related species and cultivars are great for people who love blue flowers. leichtlinii esculenta quamash 'Blue Melody'

C. quamash

Eremurus - Foxtail Lilies Tall and dramatic foxtail lilies are great for hot sunny spots and bloom in June. bungei himalaicus robustus 'Cleopatra'

E. bungei

Galanthus - Snowdrops Harbingers of spring... you can't be without snowdrops. elwesii nivalis 'Flore Pleno' (Double) nivalis nivalis 'Viridi-apice' woronowii

Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'

Narcissus - Narcissus & Daffodils Classic old cultivars and crazy new ones, narcissus and daffodils are a necessity for the spring garden. Butterfly: 'Tritomba' Cupped: 'Avalon', 'Cool Flame', 'Poeticus Recurvus' Double: 'Double Poet's', 'Extravaganza', 'Rosy Cloud', 'Tahiti' Indoor Forcing: 'Chinese Sacred Lily', 'Grand Soleil D'Or', Paperwhite 'Erlicheer', Paperwhite 'Ziva' Mini: 'Golden Bells', 'Pacific Coast', Novelty: 'Full House' Poetaz: 'Bridal Crown' Rock Garden: 'Rip Van Winkle', 'Sailbot'

Narcissus 'Extravaganza'

Narcissus 'Sailboat'

Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle'

Tulipa - Botanical Tulips Small but mighty in both colour and their perennial habit, these tulips will return year after year. batalini 'Bright Gem' chrysantha 'Honky Tonk' humilis humilis 'Persian Pearl' Kaufmanniana 'Waterlily' 'Lady Jane' 'Lilac Wonder' 'Little Beauty' 'Little Princess' 'Peppermint Stick' polychroma praestans 'Tubergens Variety' praestans 'Unicum' pulchella 'Eastern Star' 'Red Hunter' saxatilis sylvestris (Woodland Tulip) tarda 'Tinka' turkestanica

Tulipa 'Little Beauty'

Tulipa 'Tinka'

Tulipa 'Red Hunter'

Tulipa - Hybrid Tulips This year we are expanding our selection of unique hybrid tulips. We've selected from among the newest and most unusual cultivars. Bouquet Tulips: 'Candy Club', 'Praestans Fusilier', 'Wallflower' Classic Mayflowering Tulips: 'El Nino' Darwin Tulips: 'Queen of Night', 'Garant', 'Jaap Groot', 'Silverstream' Double Early Tulips: 'Eternal Flame' Double Peony Tulips: 'Abigail', 'Black Hero', 'Ramona' Fringed Tulips: 'Canasta', 'Giant Beauty', 'Temple of Beauty' Greigii Tulips: 'Fire of Love', 'Red Riding Hood' Impression Tulips: 'Design Impression' Kaufmanniana Tulips: 'Chopin' Parrot Tulips: 'Black Parrot', 'Parrot Blue', 'Fantasy', 'Rai', 'Rococo' Triumph Tulips: 'Denise', 'El Cid', 'Jackpot', 'Lady Night', 'Shirley's Dream' Viridiflora Tulips: 'Eyecatcher', 'Flaming Spring Green'	Tulipa 'El Nino'
Tulipa 'Black Parrot', 'Eye Catcher', 'Jackpot'
Tulipa 'El Cid' and 'Abigail'

For a full list click here.

3.

Exotic Houseplant Sale
Our friends at Bit 'O Paradise Nursery are downsizing and must find homes for their big beautiful tropical houseplants. We have decided to help them. These beautiful plants need someone to love them. Through the month of September we will be holding a crazy parking lot blow-out sale to connect great plants with loving families.

All plants 60% Off!

There are many spectacular and unusual things including: Bromeliads, Orchid Cacti, Jade Plants, Clivia, Bird of Paradise, Pony Tail Palms, Tibouchina and more!

Come down and have a look and see if you can adopt any of these great plants. None have a home for winter. Many of them make great patio and garden container plants for summer but need the protection of your house in winter. In winter they will enliven your interior with fabulous foliage and flowers like the bird of paradise pictured below which, after a summer on the patio or in the garden, will bloom indoors in the middle of winter. I know you're tempted!

Sale Ends October 19th, 2008.

4.

Upcoming Workshops
Come learn with us

Special Offer: Book all three fall workshops for $40, a savings of over 10%.

September

Grasses that Captivate: The transformative powers of ornamental grasses | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday September 20th, 10am | $15 | The popularity of ornamental grasses continues to grow as gardeners discover their many virtues. Don't get it yet? Come to this informative talk and learn what grasses can do for you and your garden. Already enamoured with ornamental grasses? You'll love this workshop too. You'll get tips on using them for best effect in your garden design. As well, you'll be introduced to several cultivars you might not have seen before.

CONTAINER SERIES | Jewels of the Spring Garden: Bulbs for spring containers  | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday September 27th, 10am | $15 | Meet the spring blooming wonders that you can include in your garden and in pots including a number of uncommon but exciting possibilities. You will also receive instruction on designing with bulbs and planting them in layers for knock out displays. Each participant will then plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre). A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop. The cost of the bulbs that you choose to include in your container are not included in the cost of the workshop.

October

CONTAINER SERIES | Winter Containers: Plant up a container to create winter interest | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday October 4th, two workshops starting at 10am (sold out) and 2pm (spaces still available) | $15 | This is a fun hands-on workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in learning how to successfully create gorgeous perennial containers that will provide months of winter interest and an antidote against the dark, cold days of the year. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre) with enough space for at least 3 to 5 one gallon perennials. A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

Booking Workshops

Spaces are limited. Please call (604-270-4133) or visit the nursery to book your space. Payment is required when booking. If you would like to take advantage of one of our special offers please let us know at the start of your booking.

Each workshop requires a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 15-25 depending on the workshop. If the minimum is not met we may not be able to run the workshop in which case we will contact you a few days before the scheduled date of the workshop.

Workshop participants will receive a 15% discount on any purchases they wish to make the day of their workshop. Woo hoo!

5.

Fabulous at Phoenix
Gary's Picks of New, Notable and Luscious Plants at the Phoenix Candy Store

Echinacea 'Green Envy' -- Not-So-Purple Coneflower -- We tried to offer these once a couple years ago but echinacea don't like to be barerooted and shipped on transatlantic flights. This year we have little plants coming in as little plugs and hope they will grow for us and for you!

Agapanthus 'Mood Indigo' - Lily-of-the-Nile - This luscious new hardy agapanthus has rich velvety dark purple bell shaped flowers that made us gasp when we first saw them. Who needs blue when you can have this purple??? The Phoenicians greedily took home most of our first order before anyone else could see them so we had to order more!

'Striped Beauty' with warm yellow flowers striped with orange.

'Prolifera' and 'William Rex'

Anemone 'Party Dress' - Japanese Anemone - A relatively new cultivar with big, fabulous, frilly flowers in a lovely shade of pink with just the slightest hint of lavender. Tall strong stems to three feet festooned the flowers. Great for late summer and fall colour.

Schizostylis coccinea - Red Flag - Ignored all spring and summer at the nursery, this hardy South African native comes into its own in the fall and blooms continuously well into winter (and sometimes through to the other side, i.e. into January!). Fine-textured iris-like leaves and deep red gladiolus-like flowers on 1-2’ tall spikes. Really a must-have for the fall garden.

Changing Email Addresses?

Be sure to let us know your new email address!

Share this E-Newsletter with a Friend

Word of mouth has been such an important part of our success and growth at Phoenix Perennials. Thank you to everyone who has told their friends about us and thank you in advance for continuing to introduce new people to our nursery! We couldn't do it without your kind patronage and support!

If you have any other questions, please contact us at phoenixperennials@shaw.ca.

Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.
One of the largest and most exciting selections of perennials in the Lower Mainland.
Specializing in distinct perennials, fragrant shrubs, hardy subtropicals and the botanically intriguing.3380 No. 6 Road, Richmond (Between Bridgeport and Cambie)
604-270-4133
www.phoenixperennials.com

Please visit our web page for information on the nursery, driving directions and a map.
We are near the south end of the Knight Street Bridge and very easy to get to from all of the surrounding municipalities and beyond.

Seven Days a Week 10am-5pm
February 22nd, 2008 through October 31st, 2008

Copyright Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd. 2008

Back to the Articles Page