Review of Oregon Trail Gardens
January 1998
by Steven C. Chamberlain
105 Academy Street
Manlius, NY 13104
Steve_Chamberlain@isr.syr.edu
Oregon Trail Gardens
18010 SE Troge Road
Boring, Oregon 97009-9646
(503) 658-6341
FAX (503) 658-3052
ortrlgdn@teleport.com
Catalog - Free?
Owners: Don & Diana Ballantyne, Members AHS
In the past I have purchased H. 'Blue Tips' and H. 'Jade Cascade' from Oregon Trail Gardens. Both were hard to find elsewhere when I bought them, both arrived in fine condition and are thriving in my garden. This year I have ordered several hostas I don't yet have as well as a variety of other perennials.
The 1998 Catalog from Oregon Trail Gardens is a 38-page bound booklet with nice stiff covers. In 7 pages of alphabetical hosta listings, they offer 73 species and cultivars. The list includes H. 'Jade Cascade, H. 'Kifukurin Ko Mame', and H. 'Yo Yo' as well as more common cultivars.
Prices are very competitive for mature tissue cultured plants. The most expensive hosta offered for 1998 is H. 'Striptease' at $50. There are a dozen good cultivars available for $5. Prices on the other perennials, shrubs, and vines are also quite good. However, the shipping and handling charge is $1 per plant west of the Rocky Mountains and $1.50 per plant east of the Rocky Mountains, which adds up pretty fast and makes the prices a tad less competitive when significant numbers of plants are ordered because there is no discount on shipping charges for large orders. Payment must accompany orders and credit cards are accepted and charged at the time the order is received.
Hostas are shipped bareroot and arrive in excellent condition. The selection of hostas is nice for a small nursery. In addition to many uncommon perennials, they offer interesting selections of Heuchera, Sedum, Tradescantia, Tricyrtis, and Viola cultivars and several of the newer Pulmonaria cultivars.
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