What is your favorite local nursery to visit?

We may all see some inflation this year in plant prices :( When everyone takes into consideration the gas prices jumping because of the supposed "oil shortage", the trickle down effect caused increases for alot of supplies for growers - from the pots used for production to the plastics used to cover greenhouses. And that's not even taking into consideration the huge increases in propane to heat the greenhouses these past few years. We have a few friends who literally have thrown out their inventory and started fresh each spring because it's cheaper than heating the greenhouses and trying to keep it over the winter - OUCH!!

I think you may be right - that is why I am glad that I am trying wintersowing. I am hopeful that it will eliminate the usual huge nursery purchase this spring. http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/coldsow/all/

I work at a really great specialty plant nursery (a definite case of the fox guarding the hen house!) here on Long Island. It's a beautiful spot called the Peconic River Herb Farm, located in Calverton (right next to Riverhead). I love it there, and it's well worth a visit during the season.

There are a lot of other nurseries that I love around here, too. Trimble's in Cutchogue is a cool place. I also love the Bayberry in Amagansett and Marder's in Bridgehampton. Only problem is the traffic in the Hamptons during he summer.

Whenever I have visitors who aren't from the area, they always comment on the incredible number of retail nurseries that line the roads of Long Island! It's great!!!!

hmmm..I might have to come visit in the spring, Jamie - I love it on the east end! I don't recall seeing it on 25A - is it on Sound Ave?

Oh, you definitely have to come for a visit. It's just north of the LIE at exit 71. If you come off the Expressway, take a left and come up to the second street, River Road, and take another left, the place is a little ways down the road on the left. It's a beautiful location, in the woods right on the river...and we work hard to get cool plants!

Only problem is that I bring home a few things for my yard almost every day that I work, so you can imagine what a mess my yard is AND how little of my paycheck is left for bills!

LOL - you can count on me being there! Are they open year round?

Anita - we're open April 1 through October 31. This year we'll have a tag sale on a few Saturdays in March. Lots of good stuff (but not plants yet) on sale so that we can make room for this year's stuff. It's fun! I'll let you know the dates for the tag sale as soon as I'm sure what the plan is!

Yes. Please do. I'll will take a ride out. It's only about 20 minutes from my house.

rcn, Next time you are headed back home from ME, you leave yourself some time to go nursery hoppin with me! LOL

Dena

LOL, Dena. I'll keep it in mind! I usually save the nursery hoppin until I land in Maine since it's a long drive - 15 hrs. But last year my daughter moved to Portland, so my first stop is now a couple hours shorter (usually travel straight through from Virginia to Bangor) and figure I can make a couple of side trips along the way :)

ren48...
thanks for looking that up for me. I didn't realize Byfield was that close. great!

sedum37...
Great list of nurseries. I had forgotten about Seawrights for daylilies. I have been there but never when they are in bloom..lol. This gives me a few places to check out this spring. Thanks! :-)

I had forgotten about Broken Arrow in CT. I had stopped there on the way home from somewhere and liked what they had and their prices were reasonable. Healthy stock.

There is a book that lists nurseries in New England but I forget the name of it. I used it once, but it is a little out of date.

Pammy3974 - Blue Meadow Farm closed last year. See their web site:

http://bluemeadowfarm.com/

My favorite cabin fever fix is Logees. If you've never been there you won't be disappointed and it's well worth the trip just to see many of the plants in their catalog in bloom.
DH took me there a few weeks ago and I could have wandered through their GH's all day.
This is just one side of one of their greenhouses.

This is the other side of the same GH. It gets a little thick with plants on this side and you have to squeeze through them.

nice...glad you got your fix...

Thanks snowhermit, I gotta make that a must see.

For some of the more common perennials, I sometimes shop at Shellys in Branford. Good prices and they take good care of plants (they water!)

Kathie, I guess you already found your way here!
Where is Shelly's?

Across the street from Richlin. South on Rt 1, at the Starbucks in Branford hang a left and it will be on your right.

I must have passed it a million times. Never dropped in. But I will now. Thanks.

snowhermit, thanks for posting the pics of Logees :) I finally had my first visit there last November (and hopefully not my last). I just love the whole atmosphere there! Your second pic is great - even has the Begonia I fell in love with and just had to buy! Dave you have to go!!!

Ok, so I got my Rare Find Nursery catalog last week and since I don't remember anyone listing it here - has anyone visited there? Their catalog is outstanding this year, and free shipping until the end of February!!! Needless to say I went online immediately and ordered three things to save the $18.00 on shipping. You've just got one more day to place your orders! http://www.rarefindnursery.com/ Of course I had to check them out in Garden Watchdog first since this was my first order with them :)

Came back to show you what I bought!
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/3945.htm
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/4227.htm, shoot! no picture here, but the pic in the catalog was what got me there to begin with.
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/4245.htm darn, no picture here either - but I had to buy something else to get the free shipping! :)

Debbie



This message was edited Feb 28, 2006 6:26 AM

Deb (not Rick), What a great forsythia!
I wonder if any of our Jersy friends have been there.

Those hpotos have me going through withdrawel syndrome! Nearly the entire side of the one greenhouse is Begonias, & there are mature specimens of many plants in the center of the greenhouses to show you what they are like full grown. It is so crowded that you have to walk sideways through the Begonia section! It really is amazing. But wear shoes that can get dirty - the floors are dirt in some areas, & can be wet.
Shelly's has been around as long as I can remember - They have gotten into some really nice pots & garden decor. They also do greenery during the holidays. A small but unique shop.
Now to check out Rare Find Nursery & try not to spend too much money :)

Hey Julie! You really are a stone's throw away. (Don't worry, I don't throw stones). How have you been?
Dave

You're right Julie, you don't want to wear good shoes there.
They must have recently watered when I went there and the GH with the dirt floor where the HUGE plants are had many puddles.
Dave you'll be amazed when you go. Many of the plants in their catalog are grown in the floor of the GH's so they are huge.

Just waiting patiently for warmer days to come - The days are really getting longer, so I know it won't be long now! It just doesn't FEEL like it with this cold snap we are having. Dave - I have biked & walked all through your neighborhood over the years. I have spent many many days at the lake when I was younger. It was our playground! The kids in the neighborhood all knew one another & we were like a large pack of animals.

Julie, The lake? You mean between Flat Meadow and Highwoods?

Thirsty Lake - well, it is kind of stagnant these days, but it used to be a wonderful lake! There is also a quarry that has been relandscaped into a pond on private property on Flat Meadow... It had a nice little waterfall/dam & was surrounded by thick, lush vegetation years ago. We could swim & boat, & fish for Sunnies. Then they drained it to dredge, & it has never been the same. Somehow the fresh stream does not feed it adequately, & it is more stagnant than not. There are tons of ticks there!
We are snowbound!

March 12 - Easter Seals Goodwill Industries will hold it's annual "A Taste Of The Tropics" from noon to 4 PM at Edgarton Park in New Haven, CT. It is free. Forest exhibits, animals, children's activities & experts to answer questions. Tropical plants & Orchids will be on display & available for purchase.
For more info:
www.newhavengoodwill.easterseals.com or call 203-777-2000.
Sounds like a fun Spring trip, & it is for a good cause!

This message was edited Mar 2, 2006 7:59 PM

JR the link didn't work?

OOPS - try it again, without the extra comma!

that worked -thanks

I would love to go & to help out goodwill but I'll be away.

I think I will stop in just to see the park - I have not been there yet. And to see many Orchid varieties will be very nice too. They also sell bedding plants.

When I lived in NJ, my favorite nursery was Waterford Gardens in Saddle River, NJ. (Tricker's used to be at this location.) Go there in the frigid winter months and breathe in the warm, moist air in the greenhouses where they are growing all the water lilies. Then visit the gift shop and see all the cool gifts and beautiful koi in the indoor fish pools. There's also a beautiful, big koi pond out front. Or at least -- that's how it was when I was there a couple of years ago! I spent some time out of the area but will soon be moving to upstate NY, so that's why I'm lurking in the northeast forum!

Unusual bit of trivia: My grandfather was one of the stone masons that built the wall around Edgarton Park.
Hello Hannelore. Welcome. How soon till you rejoin us geographically?
Dave

Thanks, Dave. If all goes well, we'll close on the property at the end of April. Then we have to figure out all the steps in getting a house built and getting moved. Could be a while before we get it all pulled together -- but at least I can start doing some planting every time I visit the property!

Wow! Good luck.

You might get the house built before the final frost date ;^)

Definitely! But -- which year??

Hmmm Well what about the Variegated Foliage nursery in Eastford CT, Good selection, great end of yr prices the owner is quite different. Nice Daylily place in Brooklyn, they also have very nice Hostas, Owned by a older couple the name escapes me =( now....