Cherokee Brave
I’ve got a nice shady corner of the yard that will bookend my new red/white/pink (candy cane) garden. This is where I plan to plant a pink dogwood. Two weeks ago, I headed to the closest, best (and, granted, most expensive nursery) to check out the dogwoods. Because it is summer and the trees are long past bloom, I expected to pay $40 – $50 for a tree.
The kind nursery staff directed me to the pink dogwoods, “Cherokee Brave.” The price: $125! I nearly fell over. I decided that I didn’t necessarily need a pink dogwood, so I moved to the white-flowering variety. They were $119.
Are these prices outrageous? This nursery’s stock is the best around and the trees are 7 – 8 feet tall. I assume that the prices reflect a slow growth rate and the many years it took to grow them.
I checked out the Arbor Day Foundation’s website. There, I could buy a 2 – 3 foot red or pink dogwood for $10.98. While the ADF’s price is more budget friendly, I know the tree won’t bloom any time soon and we don’t plan on living in the house long enough to see it flower. Call me selfish, but I don’t want to buy a flowering tree that only the people after us will enjoy.
According to my nursery’s staff, a sale of 20 – 30% off the entire stock should be coming along in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I will be visiting the other greenhouses in town to do a little price comparisons.
The kind nursery staff directed me to the pink dogwoods, “Cherokee Brave.” The price: $125! I nearly fell over. I decided that I didn’t necessarily need a pink dogwood, so I moved to the white-flowering variety. They were $119.
Are these prices outrageous? This nursery’s stock is the best around and the trees are 7 – 8 feet tall. I assume that the prices reflect a slow growth rate and the many years it took to grow them.
I checked out the Arbor Day Foundation’s website. There, I could buy a 2 – 3 foot red or pink dogwood for $10.98. While the ADF’s price is more budget friendly, I know the tree won’t bloom any time soon and we don’t plan on living in the house long enough to see it flower. Call me selfish, but I don’t want to buy a flowering tree that only the people after us will enjoy.
According to my nursery’s staff, a sale of 20 – 30% off the entire stock should be coming along in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I will be visiting the other greenhouses in town to do a little price comparisons.
posted by Kasmira at 19.7.05
4 Comments:
Yikes!! That's one expensive tree. But you're right that there's no point planting a tree at all if you won't get to enjoy it.
Depending how long you plan to stay there, I probably just wouldn't buy a tree at all for this house. :)
Yes, that's a little pricey. Should be cheaper in the fall, which is a better time to plant anyway. My favorite (and most expensive) nursery around here usually does 50% off all trees starting in September. Got about an 8-ft dogwood for 50 bucks last year.
Sounds more like Cherokee BRUTAL! I think waiting for the sale will be worth it...especially since it isn't going to flower again until next spring
I've been fortunate and never had to plant trees. My houses have always come with enough of them. I had no idea trees were so expensive. Yikes!
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