If you had an entire day to drive around nurseries in the DFW and surrounding areas, which ones would be on your list?
DFW nursery tour
Archies in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie
Lori
So far my loop contains Weston Gardens in Fort Worth, Redenta's in Arlington, Petal Pushers in Cedar Hill, and The Greenery in Waxahachie. I'm totally open to different nurseries or a completely different path if anyone has any great ideas. If the path goes near any good BBQ then it is a bonus! :)
What about Covington's in Garland or Landscape Source in Rockwell.
Tina
Weston Gardens and Petal Pushers are definitely tops. Both have the best rose selection if that is your thing, plus plenty of other things to choose from. Petal Pushers has better prices though. I still have not been to Redenta's in Arlington so can't comment on that. I love the one in Dallas even though it is small.
Rhode's in Garland (great selection of hardy plants and natives) and Northhaven Gardens in Dallas (good all around selection) are worth adding to the list. Northhaven's is a 50 mile round trip for me but I go at least 4 or 5 times a year. Shades of Green in Frisco has one of the best perennial selections, though they are almost all gallon size and pricey. I'd only detour to Covington's in Rowlett if you are looking for a great selection of shrubs and small trees. Their perennial and bedding plant selection was just so-so.
So my day would be starting at Rhode's in Garland bright and early, then to Petal Pushers, then maybe to The Greenery in Waxahachie, then to Redenta's in Arlington, then then to Weston Gardens in Ft Worth, then to Green Mama's (never been), then home. That would take all day with lunch in the car. :) Northhaven and Shades of Green, I already go to a couple times a year so I would skip them. But for you, I would suggest Northhaven on the way to Rhode's.
Isn't the place that was voted best BBQ in Dallas area by D Magazine right by the exit to Weston Gardens off of 20? Here it is http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2010/February/The_Best_Barbecue_in_Dallas.aspx It's "Off the Bone". Also the one voted second best is in Red Oak, not too far off of I-35, which is between Petal Pushers and The Greenery in Waxahachie.
"Off the Bone" sounds great. I think we have a winner! Now I'll just have to make sure I have everything timed just right for lunch. :)
Keep the suggestions coming!
I like all the suggestions, especially the BBQ. Haven't been to Rodenta's but I hear they have some nice plants. I love Weston Gardens and go there frequently. The one complaint I have is about their listing of zone hardiness, they sell agave and succulants that are not cold hardy here and some have said they were on the labels. Just my complaint on this cold day, usually I love the perennial selection they have.
C
While I like Covingtons (they are becoming more organics-friendly all the time), I can only "highly" recommend them for trees and shrubs. They don't have good selections of native flowers. I would only recommend a visit if you were going to be in the area already. I do highly recommend Rohde's, North Haven Gardens, and Shades of Green. Of the 3, I think Rohde's has the best supply and selection of native plants. Redenta's in Arlington is a great place to find Texas native plants (I usually stop in there after our spring RUs).
Dennis, have you been to Blue Moon Nursery in Edom?
Carla
Do any of these nursery's have non native plant's? I do container gardening also and would like something different for my containers.
I have not been to Blue Moon Nursery yet. It is a bit far out for my tour, but it sounds great and I'll be sure to hit it the next time we take a trip out to Tyler.
I am also a big fan of Rohde's. I try to hit that when I am in Dallas visiting my brother.
I will be going to Blue Moon with my garden club this Friday. Anything special to look for?
Thanks, but I don't really have anything specific on my list. More just filler stuff, since I really don't have any more room for anything big. It's tough when I see something hard to find that I really want, like an American Smoketree, but have to pass it by since I don't have a good home for it. I can't seem to convince my wife and daughter that we don't really need any lawn.... :)
The nurseries I enjoy walking around and seeing what cool or unusual things they may have, are Covington's, Shades of green, Rhodes and Nicholson Hardy. Nicholson Hardy is pricey but they can have some gorgeous stuff. They have two locations on Lover's Lane. Their store nearer the tollway has an incredible seed selection.
Tina, North Haven has the best selection of annuals and container type plants.
Blue Moon is worth the drive in MHO...lots of cool places to shop in Edom too.. There used to be a flower shop and nursery called Petal Pushers in Grand Ledge, MI, just outside of Lansing. I worked there..lol..
I love Archie's in Fort Worth, but as a treat I'll drive to Dallas and go to Nicholson-Hardie and NorthHaven. Even to the place on Lemmon Avenue near Love Field once in a while. (It's the pottery place, but has some pretty plants.)
You would not believe the pots of hellebores at Nicholson Hardie. Huge plants, almost 2 feet tall, covered with flowers. They have lots of wonderful potted peonies. (Instant gratification..) North Haven had some of the prettiest bedding plants this winter -- those ruffled pansies I love the best, and which are pretty hard to find.
I also enjoy Redenta's in Arlington. I usually go to the one in SW Arlington. Their herb selection is really good.
Hellebores? I've been wanting some. I hope they still have some.
Some local gardeners have been seeing them more in the stores. I saw them at Marshall Grains.
I had such a nice outing to BlueMoon. It is worth it to see their little fairy gardens...now Dennis, your daughter would love that! We went out to see the Azalea Trail in Tyler...the cold spring delayed the azaleas...so I guess that is still coming up.
I will definitely hit Blue Moon on our next day trip to Tyler.
Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. I started my tour yesterday, but had to cut it short due to family illness. I'll hopefully be able to continue it in a few weeks. I was only able to hit Weston Gardens and Redenta's, and Off the Bone BBQ. Good call, Sweezel! Yum!
There is a good BBQ place just down the highway from Blue Moon (I don't remember the name of it, but I sure remember the ribs and corn bread!).
Carla
We usually try to go to Country Tavern BBQ in Kilgore when we go out to Tyler. Hitting BBQ joints is one of my favorite parts about Texas car trips. :)
Thanks for the tip, I went to Nicholson Hardy yesterday and went crazy buying hellebores.
Calloways has two varieties of hellebores in quart pots. They are $5.99 (cheap for hellebores compared to previous years) and the pots are well filled out.
If y'all are doing Rohde's and Covington's, don't forget to stop by Monday's in Garland. It's under new ownership and I haven't been in since he sold it, but it's always been one of my favorite places to shop. Beautiful tropicals, ferns, begonias inside... a lot of stuff that isn't widely available around here.
Dennis, aren't you organic? Rohde's is 100% organic and they have great supplies.
I dropped by Rohde's yesterday, while I was at a dentist's appointment in Dallas. They seem to be a bit behind the other nurseries with spring restocking, so I'll have to go back again in a few weeks.
I'm hoping to make it to the Heard Museum spring plant sale. They have their plant list online, and there will be some really good stuff there.
North Haven's also has, from what I've seen, the best selection of herbs around.
The Heard sale was pretty good - didn't seem nearly as crowded or crazy when they opened on Saturday as in the past.
DFDennis, YOU"RE MAKING ME HUNGRY!! hahahahahaha I am going to have to check out some of these places y'all are talking about.. I want to go to Rhode's.. I've sent several emails to them but have never rec'd an answer!! Oh well..guess they are too busy.
I just go to the local Calloway's then maybe Lowe's! hahahaha.. I don't know of a lot of other places.. but then again I am still a "newbie" to Texas..period! hahahaha
Thanks for all the info... I am looking to get a large boulder for my front yard & will go out "shopping" soon..so I can check on the nurseries as some are on the way!
I always map out all of the good BBQ joints when travelling around Texas! My wife sometimes gets a bit impatient about the extra time spent driving through small towns instead on the interstate. Lockhart and Luling are not TOO far out of the way when visiting my mother-in-law. :)
My hubby & I love to travel.. sometimes it's funnier when we get lost..especially when looking for somewhere to eat off the interstate!!
dfwdennis,
so how did your nursery tour go?
yeah Dennis, how did it go? It was nice to meet you on Saturday!! Thank you for the plant.. it goes very well where I planted it today.. the sun is dappled there for the most part!! hee hee
Unfortunately my first attempt was shortened due to an illness in my family, and I haven't had a chance to try again. I'm hoping to have a makeup day day soon! :)
There is Jackson on Lemon across from the Airplane Museum. And Lovers Lane... cant remember that name for nothing.
Actually I am having a good time with the catalog markdowns, everyday I get a box in the mail. lol I just got a Rose of Sharon from MB with a little purple flower. Everything was half price plus 40% off and all shipping was 8.00. ... and there was still the one cent sale. I swear Spring Hill mark stuff down while you are looking at it. lol I got them at 25.00 off 50.00, shipping was not bad so I got some of those expensive plants. lol I am waiting for them to mark down Polemonium ... and they will!
... now if Bluestone Perennials just do right and take all the Clemitis half price ... lol
My dad bought polemoniums at Wal-Mart today. Don't know what he paid but said he got a good price.