My yearly visit to my favorite greenhouse.

Last week I made my annual 60 mile treck to my favorite greenhouse and of course returned with a carload of fabulous finds. It's a family owned operation that's been around for at least 40 years, and they never cease to amaze me. The quality, prices, and extensive selection of the newest and coolest plants always blow me away. The workers are all friendly country folk, and if they don't know the answer to your question, they do their best to find it. I often find myself asking,"Are you sure that price is correct?"which sounds silly, but it almost feels like stealing walking away with a 1 gallon Alocasia thats a good 2 1/2 feet tall with leaves that are 18" long for $6. The same for 'Black Magic' Elephant Ear to. The 3 pack perennials always make me giddy-they're a whopping $1.50. That always makes me try something I normally would'nt. Would love to hear about those little known places that any of you take time out of your busy spring to frequent.

gemini_sage,

We have a country greenhouse here in Casey County that's run by an Amish family and its exactly as you describe yours! Very low prices and their variety is nothing short of amazing for a small greenhouse. I don't buy many flowers, mostly veggies, and they carry things that are hard to find in most Mom and Pop greenhouses.

For example; asparagus roots, 25 for $17.95; everbearing strawberrys, 25 plants for $3.50, 50 for $5.00 (yup, thats right folks!); they have horseradish plants, $2.25 each: lots of different varieties of heirloom tomatoes and pepper plants (most are $1.25 per sixpack); beautiful apple, peach, pear and plumb trees (most are $15.00) and small berry bushes such as blueberry and currants. On May 1st, several varieties of sweet potato slips will be available, don't remember what I paid last year but they were very reasonable.

I usually make 2 or 3 trips in the spring to check out what's new. They usually close around the end of May.

gemini, not sure where Morehead, KY is, near me at Bethelridge? We're just outside of Sommerset near Lake Cumberland.

Gemini_sage & Big_Red, spill the beans - where are these places? Are they anywhere near Cadiz, KY? We'll be going there in October for the DG Roundup at Prizer Point! LOL!

gardenwife,

Are they anywhere near Cadiz? Nope, its about a 4 hour drive from Cadiz and they'll be closed in October. :o(

You two are bad, bad and bad! That sounds like my kind of place! Tell me they are closer to Cincinnati. I need to take short trips. LOL Seriously, it sounds like you had a great shopping trip. I NEED more info please.

Ah well! ;)

Badseed,

Can't tell you where or who they are, it would be against the advertising rules on DG. I can tell you though, that it's about a three hour drive from Cincinnati.

Bummer! A three hour drive is probably beyond me anyway. I have turned into a real whimp when it comes to highways. :( Can I send you my shopping list? LOL Hmmm, or you could E me on the sly. :)

You are allowed to mention businesses you go to, you just can't toot your own horn if you are a business owner. Spill it, Red! ;)

My gem is is Paris,KY., so not far from Cinci, and they have a full service florist as part of the business-not sure if I can mention the name, but that would make it easy to look up. I think it's the only greenhouse-florist operation in that area. Forgot to mention they have an old Gardenia in the houseplant part (huge!)that greets you with the most wonderful fragrance as you enter the greenhouse. I'm a floral designer and every year I think about asking them for a job, but that would be scary-would never bring home any money!LOL
Badseed, hope you decide to make the trip-I think it's only about an hour drive for you, and a pretty drive at that. I think going through Maysville you could avoid the busy highways. E-mail me if you'd like more details. I'm trying to find an excuse to go back-the Ostiospermums and Angelonias are beckoning me, and I'm just sure I could use more herbs. And the Reiger begonias would certainly help brighten my shadiest patch- Oh good grief! now I have to go back!

You can mention names if they're not your business. If you have no financial interest in a business you are more than welcome to give shout outs about it.

Honest.

Okay, now I just have to get brave enough to make the trip! LOL

Isn't Paris, Ky where the famous daylily man, John Rice is? I might be making a trek there in a few weeks.

The daylily man? This is new to me, sounds like I'm gonna have to go back to Paris for sure. Smitts is the name of the greenhouse there.

Hillside Greenhouse is the name of my favorite, it's next to Nault's country store on Turkey Creek Road in Casey County. Nault's has every spice you can imagine, if they don't have it, you don't need it! Also carry fresh veggies, jams, jellies, fudge, preserves, cheeses, pasta, all sorts of canning supplies, etc. It's a great country store! If you're going to the greenhouse and need directions, just ask anyone in Casey County, they'll know where Nault's is! ☺

Had to go back to Smitts yesterday, but did'nt get too out of control. This time a huge pot of Clivia with 4 big stalks of blooms greeted me as I walked in(thank goodness it had a sold tag on it-the last thing I need is another house plant!). But the rainbow of colors of the reiger begonias finally seduced me. Otherwise I stayed focused; just kept telling myself "you're just here to pick up a few things for the whiskey barrells."So other than the begonias (which are brightening up that shady area so beautifully), I limited myself to Lantanas, 'Mararita' Sweet potatoes, and a nice variety of Coleus. The barrells that line the drive (and keep people from parking on our septic tank) should be a riotous display of color this summer with these new babies combined with Tropicana cannas, white callas, and Gloriosa lilies. And I did pick up 1 candy striped creeping phlox, but still did pretty good at staying focused(for me anyway!)
I needed a few things for a garden I'm designing for a lady, who has a problem with neighborhood cats using the mulch as a litter box (I've stuck my finger in lots of nasty suprises when planting things for her!). They had a variety of coleus that is solid green and not particularly attractive, but has a pungent sent that is supposed to deter pets. Have any of you tried these? The odor is strong (they had to ride in the trunk!), so it sure seems like it would work.