Photo of the Costco Cymbidium Orchids

These are the two orchids I bought at Costco yesterday for just $19.99 each. They're over 3' tall (the chair is there to show scale). Don't know how long they'll be there, but if you love orchids, these are the deal of the century!!

Photo of the Costco Cymbidium Orchids

Fantastic Orchids From Costco!!

At Costco today, I found the most beautiful cymbidium orchids, a yellow one and a rose-colored one! They’re three feet tall and FULL of blooms and buds, and they cost only $19.99 each! I want to go back and buy three more, but I don’t have the room. These two won’t fit under the special lights with my 32 other orchids in the basement, because they’re too tall. I’ll have to put them in front of the dining room windows.

At least, this time I didn’t embarrass myself like I did last month. I had bought two phalaenopsis orchids for $15 each at Costco. A few days later, I saw two more exotic varieties on the same cart, mixed in with the remaining phalaenopsis plants. It had been years since I’d seen either one in a store, and I couldn’t believe my luck! I was in a hurry, so I scooped them up and went to the check-out, wrapping them gently for protection from the cold weather.

When I got them home, I took them to the basement, watered them and wondered what kind of idiot would sell an orchid in a pot with no hole in the bottom. Then I realized, to my horror, that the damned plants were the best artificial orchids I’ve ever seen! I was mortified. I’m a Master Gardener, for God’s sake!

I propped them upside down to let the water completely drain, so the things would dry out. And then I took them back to Costco for a refund. The Customer Service clerk cracked up when I told her that I’d mistaken them for real. I should probably keep these stories to myself, but telling them keeps me humble . . . very humble!

Fantastic Orchids From Costco!!

Terrific Trees from Global ReLeaf of Michigan

Ever hear of a nonprofit group by the name of Global ReLeaf of Michigan? Well, if you need trees or shrubs, you should check these folks out at: http://www.globalreleaf.org/. Global ReLeaf’s purpose is to plant trees in communities throughout the state, because “the addition of trees improves the environment, cools urban heat islands and beautifies our neighborhoods.” And because I need volunteer hours to maintain my Master Gardener certification, I volunteer at Global ReLeaf’s annual tree sale fundraiser every year.

I’ve bought lots of trees and shrubs from them, and they’ve been very healthy and have grown beautifully. The trees are bare-rooted (not in soil and burlap) and are young. They don’t look like much when they’re picked up in April, because they’re kind of twiggy. But some, like the maples and cherries, can be up to 10 feet tall, and some, depending on variety, grow quickly.

One of our trees is an Eastern Redbud, and within three or four years, it was eight feet tall and at least six feet across. It bloomed the year after it was planted, and it’s simply stunning. I love trees, and if it were up to me, we wouldn’t have any lawn, just a bunch of different trees. But, unfortunately, my husband thinks he has some say in the matter, and he likes lawns. Boring!

Okay, the following trees are $30 each, or $28 if three or more are purchased:

Sugar Maple
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Red Maple
Valley Forge American Elm
State Street Maple
Redbud
Crimson King Norway Maple
Japanese Tree Lilac
Red Flowering Crabapple
Swamp White Oak
White Flowering Crabapple
Tulip Tree
Tina Crabapple
Honeycrisp Apple
Showy Mountain Ash
Stella Cherry
Sterling Silver Linden
Heritage Birch

The following “specialty” trees are $50 each:

Paperbark Maple
Allee Lacebark Elm
Chinkapin Oak
Royal Frost Birch
Snow Fountain Cherry

The shrubs, which I won’t list here (they’re on the website) are $15 each or $12 each for three or more. And the evergreens are $20 or $18 for three or more.

There are 11 pick-up locations throughout the area, so check the website (http://www.globalreleaf.org/). You won’t find trees this healthy at this price anywhere else. Order early, because they do run out of certain varieties!

Terrific Trees from Global ReLeaf of Michigan