On Wed, 31 May 2006 01:09:45 +0100, Andy wrote
(in article ):


"Sacha Hubbard" wrote in message
al.net...
On Tue, 30 May 2006 13:38:02 +0100, Andy wrote
(in article ):


"Sacha Hubbard" wrote in message
al.net...

Just a bit of mild curiosity and a small personal survey. ;-) What
does
the panel think is a reasonable time in which to take back a dead plant
and
expect a replacement? Some nurseries have definite policies on this, I
know
but I'd like to have an idea of customers' reactions for my own
curiosity's
sake. We had someone bring back a Weigela today which she'd had for a
year
and had taken to Berkshire where it has died. We did replace it and on
the
whole, I'd say we tend to do that sort of thing but it would never have
occurred to me to bring back a year old plant for replacement!
The only time we've refused to do so is when someone brought back a
Meyer's
lemon tree and swore up, down and sideways that he hadn't a)
over-watered
it
and b) hadn't let it get frosted. As it showed unmistakable signs of
both,
he was refused another one when he requested it on the grounds that he'd
only
kill that one, too. But he did get his money back.
--
Sacha

Well I bought a Scabious from Hillhouse in March, and planted it out in
my
garden after about a week lolling around in the greenhouse. Within a
month
it was obviously dead, and I had even watered it in, not that it needed
it
really, but I took the view it was just a bad 'un anyway, no one to
blame.

Our Scabious were outside all winter so I don't know why you put it in
your
greenhouse because that won't have helped it, I'm afraid. That just
softened
it up before it was exposed to the elements, whereas before that, it was a
toughie! I think the poor thing was probably shellshocked and given the
extremely cold nights we had, watering it would have hastened its demise
because it would have been standing around in bitterly cold, wet soil.

It'd cost me a similar amount in petrol to bring it back for a refund as
it'd cost to buy a new one, so you're one up on that one!

How? We still reared the plant, paid for the pot it was in, paid for the
compost, paid for the labour that potted it on and the labour that sold it
to
you etc. We don't make money out of plants because they die - we'd
rather
that they live! BTW, if you've been here, you surely noticed that it's
Hill
House Nursery, not Hillhouse?
Next time you're down this way, come in and get something else. Do you
recall what you paid for it?

I'm being light-hearted Sacha: you're 'one-up' because I could have shown
you
the rotted remains and asked for another, but I choose not to do so. I've
chalked
it up to fate. It was alive when I bought it from you, so I attach no blame!

Well, as I say, come in and get another one if you're passing - at least at a
discount. ;-) But as they cost only £3.50 in a 2l pot you would need to be
going right by the door!

I had not studied the Hill House name before, so it wasn't clear in my mind
when I wrote
it whether there was a space or not, as for leaving ''Nursery' off the end,
I was just being
lazy.

My only other complaint was the scones in the tea shop - I bit into a large
lump
of bicarb in one of 'em last year - make sure they stir the mix a bit
better!

Erggg. Very clever of you, though. We don't use bicarb. ;-) Baking powder
perhaps? Mem. to cook - put Kenwood on higher speed!

By the way, just out of curiousity, is the Riverford Farm canteen any good?
I saw a picture showing long tables with benches either side, and I believe
it is
necessary to book ahead? Not very convenient for the impulse eater at
lunchtime, what's
the philosophy behind Riverford Farm? I thought you might know since you're
not far away.
They have a shop not far from me, but I've never been to their main farm.

They do some very nice sausages and Beef & Stilton pasties.


Their farm shop food is very good - the prepared stuff that is, but it is
expensive. As to the canteen, I don't know because we haven't been there.
The reason we haven't been is because they have had to agree to some
complicated arrangement whereby they have to combine eating there with a tour
of the farm in a tractor drawn trailer. I have no idea why the local
authorities have insisted on this but we wonder if it's something to do with
reducing traffic.
Riverford has grown very large and while the locals support the ethos,
they're beginning to find it a bit of a nuisance with large trailers and
machinery thundering about, combined with mud left on the road at the packing
shed at Wash etc. They send out something like 30k boxes a week via the
packing here and organic franchises elsewhere and last year set up a shop in
Totnes, too. It's all doing very well and the Watson family have its
administration sewn up between them, running a co-operative with other
farmers in our area. For example, our nearest farmer has just given up his
dairy herd - who can blame him, unfortunately - but has kept the land and is
growing a mass of organic veg. for Guy Watson. The fields you saw around us
are nearly all organic and those that aren't are being prepared for that
certificate. They recently spent £90k on a green oak barn, so business is
good!
The place I can recommend is Sharpham Valley vineyard. There's a small
eating area outdoors, under one of those temporary marquee things and the
food is very good, though not big, elaborate restaurant food. The girl who
cooks is Tante Marie trained IIRC and she produces delicious things from a
tiny van like a hot dog stand. They're hoping to get permission to build a
proper kitchen and small restaurant there and with that lovely view down to
the River Dart, I hope they get it. It's possible to do a guided tour of the
place (they also make delicious cheese) but you're equally at liberty to
wander through the vines and down to the river, on your own. If you're down
this way again, I suggest you try it. And for two good evenings out with
delicious food, try two entirely different places - The First and Last at
Ermington with its wonderful "built after lunch" crooked spire church and
Bickley Mill at Bickley, near Ipplepen. And for that matter our own very
local is excellent and always busy and popular, The Live and Let Live.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
email address on web site