Gill Hall wrote:

I went to a not-often visited Garden centre about fifteen miles away to
discover that it had turned into a Wyevale. Nicely laid out, plants looked
healthy, but I was shocked to discover that pots (admittedly, quite big ones)
of Vinca major and all the various vinca minors were selling for no less than
£7.99. I was shocked and didn't buy anything except a herb - for £1.50.

Am I out of touch or is this normal pricing?

For Wyvale yes.. they are one of the BIG commercial chains in the GC
world.. You have to realise that these are the supermarkets of the
Horticultural world. They are interested in making money.

That said I have been to garden to both good and bad as well as cheap
and expensive garden centres and nurseries..

Last time I bought something from wyvale it was on the discounts shelf..
2 pots of rather sad looking minature daffs in pots at 65p each.. They
were for me good value as I know they will come back next year.

What matters to me is the price and quality of plants as well as the
information that goes with it.. I have a few favourite nurseries and
garden centres, but in general there is a lot of overpriced dross out
there with a few jewels amongst it.

Generally I prefer nurseries to garden centres.. You tend to find a lot
of 'saminess' in GC's because they get their plants in bulk from a large
suppliers (ususally). Nurseries tend to have the specialist and
unusual.. Depends what you want really.

My 2p's worth..
//
Jim