What is your favorite local nursery to visit?

There is Quacken Grass Farms... They had some interesting varieties of the common nursery stock, & carried loads of native plants. I did find them to be a little pricey, but I still walked out with the "Oddity" variety of Hens & Chicks. They have small gardens planted with walkways. One is a succulent garden, another a woodland, bog & other gardens. Plus their greenhouses, & huge Hostas planted around the nursery. It was a nice walk - but the owners followed us every step of the way, which made me uncomfortable. We did a combo trip - Quacken Grass & Logee's in one day. They are only a few minutes apart.

This message was edited Mar 9, 2006 5:40 PM

Julie, Where is Quacken Grass farms?
Dave

That is the one in Brooklyn CT, about 15 minutes away from Logee's. My route is Logee's first, so I can spend as much time inhaling & enjoying the tropical & exotic plants, then off to Quacken Grass for native & hardy plants & a nice stroll through their gardens :)

Good tip. Thanks.

One of my customers told me about Logee's a year or two ago and raved about it. The thing that I forgot to ask her was ---- do they only sell ornamentals? I mostly (try to) grow vegetables, herbs, and small fruit. We have a tiny perennial shade garden out front and a couple of hardy wildflowers and iris in the side yard, but my gardening time is very limited and I need to make it pay off.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...but an update is needed....Blue Meadow Farms in Montague, MA which was brought up earlier in this thread is now closed....boo hoo! They were absolutely one of my favorites too...always had great plants and an amazing selection of annuals/tender perennials. They had their going out of business sale last season. Baystate perennials has only an on line catalog this year...no more print catalog...but is another great source of excellent plants.

www.baystateperennial.com

McCool - Logee's has many other plants, other than ornamentals. Their Solar House is almost exclusively herbs. They offer some exotic fruiting trees. In the warm months they devote a greenhouse to annuals & perennials. You can find a few hardy plants, but most of what they offer is more tropical than our cooler zone 5/6 climate. It is worth the trip to have the opportunity to see so many exotic beautiful plants. Many tropical plants can be over Wintered indoors, so we can enjoy a few of these gems in our zone. Even if you don't buy anything, the trip is a wonderful experience for the senses!
Julie

From www.bostongardens.com, lecture in Western Mass. Anyone who has read Ruah Donnelly's book on favorite garden centers would enjoy this talk. Too bad it is 1.5 hours from my house!

The Adventurous Gardener - A Ruah Donnelly Lecture
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Ruah Donnelly will speak on her two Adventurous Gardener books. A must for the passionate gardener, this slide lecture focuses on the Northeast's most outstanding nurseries and their owners - from specialists and plant hunters to hybridizers and ex-dairy farmers.

The featured nurseries are located in the Northeast, and worth visiting for their plant expertise, exceptional nursery stock, and inspiring display gardens. For armchair gardeners, most offer mail-order service. All are sources for beautiful and unusual plants suited to the region's gardens - from heirlooms and native plants to the newest hybrids for cold-climate gardens.

Location:
Gamble Auditorium, Art Building
Mount Holyoke College Campus
50 College Street
South Hadley , MA 01075

Sponsor: Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden
Time(s): 7:00 PM
Cost: Free admission
Phone: (413) 538-2116
jfurie@mtholyoke.edu
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/go/botanic

Newbury Perennial Gardens is off I-95 North at the Byfield exit. Not to far from Burlington, MA but I don't think they are quite open yet for the season. They do have a great display garden there, though, where you can see lots of plants that they sell. I love to go there for Mother's Day, without hubby and kids, and shop.

My favorite here in southeastern Ct. is Pequot Plant Farm. Not big, but the extreme knowledge of the salespeople, the quality and prices of the plants make it my favorite close to home. I go about ten times a year.

Next on my list is The Fantastic Umbrella Factory in Ninigret, R.I.- another small nursery, but really nice variety, especially when you can take your kids to feed the sheep and small fowl they keep there. It's a nice outing for an afternoon.

I used to visit the Umbrella factory every year, but they didn't always sell plants. The grounds have gorgeous gardens, with the shops around the perimeter. The craft shop is awesome - offering native pottery & jewelry, handmade musical instruments, glass blown art, etc. Very unique stuff! They have had a resident peacock for over 35 years. And there is also a shop that sells cards, gifts, toys, decorations, old time penny candy - they have the best cards you can find. Visiting the Fantastic Umbrella Factory has been a tradition in my family since I was a child. They had a fire years ago, but rebuilt & kept it pretty much the same. There is also a sister store called the Emporium in Mystic that has the paper goods & other funky gifts, but no plants.
Now I will have to visit the Pequot Plant Farm too :)
Julie

Jamie & Anita: we could meet some fine day at Peconic River Herb Farm.

Do they have a list of the hydrangeas they carry? I'm looking for a few but Fuji Waterfall is the one I like best. . . .so far.

Ver der Ber's on Rte. 25 in Aquebogue is great!

Did you girls know that nurseries are the #1 leading product in all of New York State?

Pirl - I so meant to go to Jamie's nursery when they had their tag sales, but as usual, life got in the way and I ran out of time - . We could definitely meet there! I'm always looking for a new nursery with different stock. There has been one that I've been wanting to check out in the next town over. Again, as usual---the best laid plans....

Ivy, Sounds good and both within easy driving range. Good to hear from you too!
Julie,Anytime you are game we can make some road trips. I now realize we can't be much more than a block away from each other (I didn't understand how you knew the first time you pointed it out) I have a row of bonica roses in front.

Dave

Anita - it's a great place for a long stroll - very woodsy and filled with atmosphere. Not your typical nursery! I missed all the tag sales, too, darn it! It's about 40 minutes from us.

Let me know and we can do it any weekend day (or week day) that's good for you. . . .and Jamie. I'll bring Jack along for immoral support.

Dave - Logee's is calling me! I hope to get there soon. I will let you know - perhaps we can do the trip together. I have begun the seed sowing for this year, which takes up a lot of time. I have lots of new plants to try, so it is a very exciting year. My sister just visited Acer gardens in Deep River, & she had good words for them. They do a lot of their own plant growing. The Garden Watchdog has one rating for them, & it is positive. Please let me know if you are searching for anything for your yard - I hope to do the Farmer's Market this year to sell the plants after dividing is done. I also gave some away on FreeCycle last year. Just basics, but people like them!

Oh, if there's a new haven county field trip to logee's, let me know! i'd love to check it out (not to invite myself along or anything...)!

I'll be stopping at Bay State Perennials in Whately, Ma. on my way to Vermont this weekend. It always has a nice selection and a good website. www.baystateperennial.com And reading about the 5 Star in Palmer Ma in this thread I may just make a detour to check it out. Thanks lafko06.

I've always meant to stop at the garden center in Northfield Ma, but never have, so I think I'll swing by for a look see. I don't know it's name. And in Southern Vt. I always go to my local nursery, Newfane Greenhouse, a most pleasant place and the people are super helpful and next door to them is Dutton's Farm Stand. I often buy annuals from them and if I don't buy plants, I will always buy one of their pies or cookies. It is our regular year round veggie stop. A real farm stand. They have great berries and apples as well as their own produce in season. If you are lucky in the fall and hit it just right, you might find the famous local Gilfeather turnips! And of course I'll stop in at Olallie Daylily Gardens in South Newfane run by the Darrow's and their herd of Border Collies. It doesn't open until late May for on site sales ( they begin shipping now), but I saw on their
website ( www.daylilygarden.com) that their catalog is now available and as I live only 2 miles from them, I'll stop by a see if I can snag one sans postage. This is a place that one should make a pilgrimage to in July to walk the fields of DL and feast on the colors. They dig to order the plants for you from the field. So plan on spending some time. They also have some perennials, iris and pick your own high bush blue berries. Plus if you come via Rt 30 to the Williamstown Road (depot rd) , it is a beautiful drive up the West River. Needless to say I am a fan and all these people are keeping alive what the big box stores are killing. Oh, the general store in Williamsville makes a great turkey and stuffing sandwich! The picture is of some Olallie DL poking up last week by Baker Brook in Williamsville and my garden shed. Happy shopping. Patti

Wow Patti, you just filled my summer!

Meg, your welcome by me. Actually, I would love to meet you and Julie.

Sequee & I go a couple times each year - we should make it a group trip. But beware - we can easily spend hours in that place!
Patti - I don't think people like ourselves, who love & appreciate gardening will ever allow these little treasures to disappear. I know I work hard at keeping these nurseries in business :)

Sounds like a plan Pirl!

If any of you are planning on heading up to Ollalie's, send me a dm and I'll see if I can meet up with you. Bring a container, as I most likely could share a few plants from my Vt. garden and fix lunch for you by the brook. Enticing? Patti

Patti, What a great invitation! Wish I was closer.

II live South west of Boston, and love to search out new places--- like Underwood Shade Nursery, in Attleboro, MA. Shade plants, and unusual varieties. Alas, they are going out of business- but they are open weekends in May to clear out the nursery at 50% off. Great quality plants.

Also, Tranquil Lake in Rehoboth , MA is a must for siberian iris, daylilies, and perennials. A beautiful nursery, and they have spring and summer festival weekends.

Finally, Cricket hill Gardens in northwest CT (near White Flower FArm) makes a great visit this time of year. Pricey, but stunning specialty nursery for tree peonies. Just spectacular to look at the display gardens in flower.

Thanks Cosgriff. Good tips.

love tranquil lake. My family doesn't like to go with me because I have to look at every plant! And you know how many that is if you have ever been when the daylilies are out.
A temporary nursery will be set up at the Mass Hort headquarters Elm Bank off Route 16 in Wellesley, MA on Sunday May 21st. The Society Row plant sale {truly fabulous!} takes place that day and includes plant items for sale from a large number of plant societies. Rain or shine, 8-9 Masshort member hour, 9-1 everybody else. $5. parking donation, but no admission charge. Go to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society website www.masshort.org for the details of the societies to be represented. Everything from azaleas to yuccas at this sale. Hopefully we won't have to deal with the rain part of the rain or shine. I've gotten some wonderfull things there over the years. I'll be there at 7:59 am.
Originally this sale was held in conjuction with the Arnold Arboretum member plant sale and then independently out at the Waltham experimental station.

I didn't know Underwood was going out of business. I had heard good things about them...

That's a shame. The good ones go out and some that never should have started remain in business.

Heading off to White Flower Farms today with a girlfriend in hunt of a tuberous begonia for her. I should be schlepping the remaining humus from that 6 yards I got last weekend to the garden - but it looks like it is going to rain and I did schlepp yesterday . . .

Ideal day for WFF! Even with rain - it keeps the jerks away.
Enough schlepping - take a day for yourself and your friend.

I love going to the nursery in the rain! It's not busy, the plants are happy, I'm happy....

A little off subject, but....went to an heirloom plant sale in N. Stonington, Ct. yesterday- got my MIL a HUGE basket with pink and white petunias and Blackie Sweet potato vine. Gorgeous! Two giant tomato plants, also. Black Krim and a Peach one. And some geraniums. I really love random plant sales around southern New England. Garden Clubs and Farmer's Markets are great!

Back from WFF. It was drizzely and cold but their greenhouse was warm. My friend found a begonia that she liked. I huffed at the $ 6.95 they wanted for a single heirloom tomato plant in a 4" x 4" plastic pot. (You'd think they were antiques or something!) The plants were nice and the descriptions well done. There was plenty of staff to help you - but the prices! I did buy a very nice, scented, english type rose for my neighbor's yard though. The roses including the ones you would find in a Jackson and Perkins catalog were $ 23.95. That is reasonable as they are in gallon pots. Their tulip display was a little past prime - but still very beautiful. I saw yellow lady slippers that I picked up and then put right back down when I saw the $ 99 price tag!

They've always had the "pricey" reputation but I can say I've never had one of their plants die on me. Even their roses seem to be a higher grade (or maybe they just get first pick) but I trust them - that means a lot. Now the $99. plant might just have to wait for richer blood than mine!

Its a nice trip to WFF but to respectfully disagree, I don't understand where they got the reputation to justify their prices. They have a score of 63 on the Garden Watchdog. There are cheap nurseries with better scores. They do make a great looking catalogue though.

Nobody could disagree with the catalogue!

I've just never had a plant die but it's also not the ride I want to take often because it's so far away and I won't pay those prices in person or by mail. I prefer to buy closer to home.

An MG neighbor has made a few trips up there and always comes back with something beautiful that she allows to die due to lack of planting (duh!) or lack of water (double duh!!).

I've seen bad write ups of too many companies I love on GW and vice versa. It's a good and worthwhile guide but if I believed all the negatives I'd never have had some of the best experiences possible with nurseries online.

We can agree to disagree and still be friends Dave.

We sure can!

Thanks, Dave! I should have clarified the fact that when I did buy from them, in person, 10 years ago, their prices didn't seem as high (shockingly high) back then.

A DG friend just made a trip to Heronswood (west coast DG person) and didn't find any of the ten plants she wanted. I'd be crushed.

Not to mention (but you know I will) that when we went to WFF we stopped nearby for lunch at a nice place but the locals were eyeing us from head to toe and seemed disgusted not to see name brand clothes, bag, shoes, etc. and we got "the look". The food was great though! I'm sure it was just the crowd that day and it never ever would happen again. Cough cough!

I have to say the prices are high, but when I want a plant that I know will be big and healthy, I will buy from them. They sent me the biggest Irises I have ever seen anywhere!

Pirl,
There are snobby people in CT??? Oh, the shock!

I've even heard L.I. has its toney spots too. ;^)

Do we ever!!! We were all "gussied up", long ago, for a Sunday brunch in East Hampton (this was a prize I won!) and the regular patrons barely dipped their NY Times to find us so repugnant in suit, tie, dress, etc. instead of trendy sneakers, $200. jeans, etc. Never went back there!