Big Box Surprise
Yesterday I was at a big box store desperately looking for a new coffee maker. We've had the worse luck with coffee makers...they seem to break after about 1 year...just after the warranty expires. Having done a lot of research on line and narrowing down my search I saw that one of the big box stores had a limited quantity. When I arrived at the store, they didn't have the coffee maker I wanted in stock (I guess that would be the limited quantity part). Utterly frustrated I decided to take a walk through the Lawn and Garden department thinking that would make me feel a little happier. Now, normally I don't purchase plants from big box stores because (1) historically I haven't had luck with the plants surviving (diseases or bug infected) and (2) I like to support my local growers & nurseries.
But, while I was walking around my eye was drawn to a rack of blue, no indigo, no cobalt blue colored plants. Whatever shade of blue, they were electrifying... (*note these photos look more violet/purple than blue. I couldn't get my photos to the true color)
They looked
like something from the daisy family. The tag identified it is Senetti
Pericalllis, commonly called Cineraria. Well, as I was standing there admiring
them an employee came up and said that they were 50% off because they had come
in too early; making them $6.00. Well, that certainly made them even more
appealing.
So I started to justify and at the same time talk myself out of the purchase...Are they native?...No, they come from the Canary Islands. Are they drought tolerant?...No, they like consistently moist soil (don't let them dry out). Is it a perennial?...not sure in my zone (7b); probably more for pots. They can take light frosts and temperatures to 32F.
What a tough decision. It doesn't really fit the profile of the plants I choose for my garden. However, they were so stunning and for $6.00 hard to pass up. After all, blue is my favorite color, they add some much needed color at this time of year; even though I will have to keep them in the house for a few weeks before the danger of night frosts have past.
In the end I took the plunge and purchased one.When I got home I read that they can have as many as 200 blooms in a 10 to 12 inch pot. Wow!
The Senetti Pericallis was a nice surprise purchase which brightened my day even though, I am still searching for that coffee maker...
Karen I had cincerarias and, it is true they can be full of blooms, and this one has a magnificent color, sometimes we need to skip rules and just enjoy the "serendipity" encounter!
ReplyDeleteYou are right...sometimes we need to break the rules. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteNiebieski, to też mój ulubiony kolor kwiatów :-). Wcale Ci się dziwię, że kupiłaś tego ślicznego kwiatka, mimo iż to nie czas, bo jest śliczny.Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteBlue is my favorite color or flowers :-). Do you wonder that bought this lovely flower, though this time not because it is beautiful. Yours.
I am so glad I bought it. I am enjoying its beauty!
DeleteWhat a great new year's surprise! They are stunningly beautiful...and that color is beautiful! I like happy accidents, don't you?
ReplyDeleteYes! I am so happy I took a stroll through the garden center.
Deletewe're searching for a coffee pot too Karin!! hahaha! But I think you made the right move here. That pop for $6.00 is a no brainer! Hope it brings you smiles the rest of the winter!
ReplyDeleteIt is so difficult to find a quality coffee maker at a reasonable price. Good luck with your search!
DeleteThey are really exceptionally beautiful. That color is an eye catcher. I hope they are perennial for you. Maybe the first year if you protect them and see if they do ok after that.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
From what I've read about them I think if I bring it in when the temps dip down below freezing I can make it a perennial. Of course, this means it will have to be a potted plant but I think there are some amazing plant combinations that would compliment these beauties.
DeleteSuch a beautiful flower that you could not leave it in the store....
ReplyDeleteI've seen them before, but haven't bought them because they were touted as annuals when I was looking for perennials at the time. I agree - they are absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGreat purchase! You know that's only the equivalent of a couple cups of coffee, and that plant will give you LOTS more satisfaction, and last a lot longer! I don't think any gardener in his/her right mind would have been able to resist!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it that way but you are right! Funny how plants just tug at our heart strings.
DeleteThey're gorgeous and they'll last a lot longer than if you bought cut flowers. I have a hard time capturing whites and reds with my camera. My camera seems to "see" so much more than I do, so I'll forgive its shortcomings! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced finding those plants was an accident at all. It was karma's way of apologizing for the coffee pot, an appliance we break on a yearly basis. I would have bought them, too. Too much beauty and cheer to pass up for that price. :o) That blue is incredible!
ReplyDeleteIt seems we are not the only ones with this issue. My experience is that the more expensive coffee makers last just past the warranty and the cheaper ones that don't make very good coffee last forever. Ugh!
DeleteThey're stunning, and I can see myself doing the same thing--especially at that price and in your zone! They look beautiful, especially in that last photo with the filtered sunlight streaming around them. If you find a good model for your coffeemaker, please let me know. We've had the same trouble--even with an expensive model that grinds fresh coffee. Argh!
ReplyDeleteWill do! I had a Cuisinart that would grind coffee and it broke after a year. I bought another Cuisinart model which started leaking all over the counter after about 18 months. I will never buy another Cuisinart again! I've learned my lesson.
DeleteI'm all for local and native but sometimes plants are like candy for me, enjoy them in the moment knowing it doesn't last. Looks like you are greatly enjoying these blooms so why not?
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to think of it...you are right, it is like the sugar high one gets from eating sweets!
Delete