I Sure Know How To Ignore A Budget

In some ways I've been really good at sticking to my self-imposed $100 budget for annuals.  I only bought a few things here or there and if you don't count the perennial herbs I bought -- which you shouldn't in the 'annuals' budget -- I was just at $100 and that included veggies.  Seriously, I've been good.  See, I'm patiently waiting for all this basil to grow (which would happen much more quickly if the sun would shine) instead of buying bunches of it though it's killing me to wait:

 

But I willfully and knowingly ignored the budget and spent $36 on petunias:

 

But I saw these deep purple ones with white edges and fell in love:

 

The pink is brightening my spirits considerably:

 

And I can't quite get this color to show up correctly.  It's a deep burgundy, wine colored, so lush:

 

Really, I had to do it, splurge and spend $36 on hanging containers, right?  The pansies were nice for some color through the cold, rainy spring, but they just weren't saying summer to me.  I'm trying to figure out where to put them though, because they are still pretty and I read that if they make it through the summer, they may re-bloom in the fall:

 

And I further exceeded my plant budget, but this was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up.  Groupon had a $15 deal for $30 worth of plants at a nursery about 10 minutes from my office.  I had never been to that particular nursery before, but I figured there had to be $30 worth of items I would buy at any nursery.  It was quite an experience.  It has changed hands and names numerous times, the staff were friendly enough, but had no idea what they had in stock or where it was on the property.  Let's just say I probably won't be going back.  But with my powers of persuasion and my groupon certificate I managed to walk out with a tomato plant, a golden lemon thyme (another one, I know, but I love it so much), a golden sage, a variegated oregano, and a rosemary:

 

The tomato plant was in the cutest trellises square container and has actual tomatoes on it already!  How could I resist?  It had two labels -- Mountain Pride and Husky Cherry tomato -- it should be pretty obvious quickly if it is a Husky Cherry tomato or not if those tomatoes don't get any bigger than they are now:

 

But that's it, I promise I won't buy anything else.  Really.  Well unless something fails, like my basil seedlings.  And once Vaiuso starts having their stock clearing sales.  Or if I find an incredible bargain.  Oh, who am I kidding?  Are you having trouble sticking to your garden budget or are you smarter than me and realize you'll never stick to one anyway?

Comments

[Melissa (irishgardenlady)]

I was supposed to make a garden budget? Oh man am I in trouble. But you did say herbs don't count right? Ok I may be safe.....no I got a shrub...not safe.

[Mummer]

Oooh, pansies! I love them, too! To save for a fall bloom, continue to dead-head like mad, pinch back leggy stems, and hide in cooler shady areas while watering occasionally. And save a few seed-pods just in case.
Referring to saving plants, how are your little Japanese maple seedlings doing? One of those would make a lovely hostess gift!

[Heather's Garden]

Melissa -- Perennials don't count at all in the budget!

Mom -- I have tons of shady spots for them, but none where I will remember to deadhead them. More likely I'll give them a haircut in the late summer. The Japanese maple seedlings are all doing great. You may get one yet!

[Wendy]

The pansies will be back. Nothing you eat counts towards the garden budget. That's the grocery budget. So I think you're in good shape. What's groupon? I'll have to google that. I learn so much from you, Heather!

[Heather's Garden]

Wendy -- In that case I've only spent about $60 of my $100 annual budget and can keep shopping! I wish it worked that way, but I did set a budget and I need to at least try to stick to it. I'm sure you've discovered what Groupon is by now. Basically you buy a gift certificate for something. It can be you pay $25 for a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant, $27 for a $130 gym membership, that sort of thing. Try www.savingsclique.com too, they're local to the CT shoreline and have some cool stuff.