Category: Nurseries

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Rare Find Nursery – A Great Nursery for Rhododendrons

Rhododendron (laetum x lowii)by Eric Hunt.

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Rhododendrons?  ThisGardenLady certainly finds them beautiful. The word Rhododendron, which includes the azalea in the family, comes from the Greek meaning Rose Tree. It is the national flower of Nepal which must make the country look like Shangri-La when they are in bloom.

One of the breeders of rhododendrons was Hank Schannen. Mr. Schannen had been a recipient of the Gold Medal of the American Rhododendron Society and a former board member of the Rhododendron Species Foundation.  He started a nursery to showcase and sell his Rhododendrons called Rare Find  Nursery in Jackson, NJ.  Though Hank Schannen had passed away a few years ago, we are fortunate that his partner and associates have kept the Rare Find Nursery going.  And though they sell excellent other plants, the Rhododendron is still the star of the nursery.

TheGardenLady went to Rare Find Nursery recently with some friends. The Rhododendrons were in magnificent bloom and she was taken on a tour of the 11 acres of Rhododendrons.  To see some of what I saw on the tour look at this video:

For information about Rhododendrons you can check out and perhaps join the American Rhododendron Society. “Rhododendron species are found in the wild from the arctic regions to the tropics, spanning a wide range of climates.“   Their website tells you which are the best rhododendrons for your area.

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Rare Find Nursery – A Great Nursery for Rhododendrons

Is there anyone who doesn’t love rhododendrons?  ThisGardenLady certainly finds them beautiful. The word “rhododendron”, which includes the azalea in the family, comes from the Greek meaning Rose Tree. It is the national flower of Nepal which must make the country look like Shangri-La when they are in bloom.

One of the breeders of rhododendrons was Hank Schannen. Mr. Schannen had been a recipient of the Gold Medal of the American Rhododendron Society and a former board member of the Rhododendron Species Foundation.  He started a nursery to showcase and sell his rhododendrons called Rare Find  Nursery in Jackson, NJ.   Though Hank Schannen had passed away a few years ago, we are fortunate that his partner and associates have kept the Rare Find Nursery going.  And though they sell excellent other plants, the rhododendron is still the star of the nursery.

Continue reading “Rare Find Nursery – A Great Nursery for Rhododendrons”

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Plants that can Survive Outdoors in West Chester, Pennsylvania March Weather

tete-a-tete miniature daffodil by ndrwfgg

TheGardenLady received this question from someone calling him or herself “Garden Challenged”.

I’m having guests next weekend and would like to put something pretty in the outdoor planters. Any suggestions for something that can survive mid-March in West Chester, PA (outside of Philadelphia)?

Visit your neighborhood plant nurseries. I recommend checking the better nurseries in your area where they will have the more interesting plants. Look only at the plants that the nurseries have sitting in their yard. (Don’t look at any plants that they have growing in their green house or indoors. Plants they keep indoors will not be hardy if you put them outdoors in a planter.)

Any plant the nursery has sitting on their grounds is hardy for your outdoor planter at this time of year. They should have many plants sitting outdoors including some that are flowering like pansies and some spring bulbs like daffodils. If you are worried, you can also ask the nursery workers if the plants have to be taken indoors at night. Nursery people love to talk about plants and help people. They will tell you how to plant the container. If they tell you the plant cannot stay outdoors at night, they usually know what they are talking about- they wouldn’t leave plants outdoors to freeze. They would lose money and they would lose you as a customer. You don’t want any plant that has to be taken indoors at night if you are planting something for an event.

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The Holly – Part II

Deck The Halls! by Caro Wallis

This is the second post in a two-post series on Hollies.  You can read the first post here.

Holly requires a moist but well drained moderately fertile, humus rich and slightly acid soil. They will grow in sun or part shade but for best berry production, most compact growth and for the best leaf color in the variegated hollies, holly want a sunny spot. Most hollies are either male or female. So when buying, check to see if you need both to set fruit.  See here. You can try starting holly from seeds but germination may take 2 or 3 years.

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Bob’s Market and Greenhouses

Another person I met at the conference was one of the owner’s of Bob’s Market and Greenhouses. Later he invited a group of us to visit their greenhouses and meet the rest of the family who run this wonderful company. We not only got a chance to learn about this company and ask questions, but we had the opportunity to tour the Greenhouses.

Bob’s is one of the many nurseries that raises the seeds that Ball Horticultural Company creates and produces. Bob’s Greenhouses plant the seeds and creates what is referred to as ” plugs” (little pots with plants) that we buy in the retail nurseries around the US where we shop.

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Visiting White Flower Farm Nursery

Japanese Iris by eclectic echoes

As I mentioned in my last post, this past weekend, I convinced a gardening friend to visit some of the gardens I have written about on TheGardenLady.org blog and other gardens or nurseries I wanted to visit to enable me to write about them.  I also wrote about visiting Cricket Hill Farm on the first day of my two day garden trip.   But this wasn’t the only garden I visited on this day.

The second garden I wanted to visit was part of one of the best known and, I always thought, most beloved plant nursery in the US. I have been getting the catalogs of The White Flower Farm nursery since the 1960s.  Even though the early catalogs had illustrations not photos of the flowers, I used to think that their catalogs were as good as any of the early plant books that were published in their early years- they were really informative. But in all the time I have known about the nursery, I had never visited it.

Some garden aficionados had warned me that they were no longer as outstanding as they used to be; that their selection at the store was not as extensive as they used to have because most of their plants were mail order plants. After all, they have changed ownership. Since I had never been to White Flower Farm before, I did not know what to expect. But I was not disappointed. In fact, the opposite was the case. This GardenLady was “blown away” with the nursery. First of all, they are worth traveling to visit for their display gardens alone. There are acres filled with show gardens. And their plants are of excellent quality and the newest varieties on the market.This is not a place to get bargains or inexpensive plants like Russell Gardens Wholesale. But White Flower Farm is an excellent plant nursery to visit just to see what is available. And I cannot imagine anyone leaving empty handed.

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Garden Themed Presents for the Holidays

Cachepot by HORM Design

Are you looking for unique or unusual presents for the holidays? This GardenLady has a few suggestions. I love the items that are not necessarily sold in the malls. And you know that TheGardenLady loves local items whenever that is possible especially because it supports the economy. So you will be able to find gifts in your location. And since it helps in these harsh economic times if the prices are reasonable, the shopping for gift suggestions are going to have modest price tags.

The first suggestion is to check out your local nurseries for presents. Many small nurseries not only have plants and flowers for the holidays, (And what could be nicer than a pretty new poinsettia for Christmas or a bouquet with blue and white flowers for Hanukah?) but also these nurseries often have surprising and unusual gifts. One of my favorites, Ambleside Nursery in NJ has the most delightful gifts.  I think I can often do my entire holiday shopping at Ambleside Nursery. For example, they have the most extraordinary creche sets from around the world. And their Christmas tree ornaments have been among the most unusual ones that I have ever seen. One year I bought little mice ornaments for gifts. I eagerly look forward to seeing what surprises they have this year.

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Georgia Vines Nursery is A+ in Customer Relations

Yesterday TheGardenLady posted a comment from Terry, an angry customer, who was frustrated with Georgia Vines, a nursery that has been touted and promoted on TheGardenLady site.  We’re happy to report that the matter has been resolved.  Travis, the son of the owner of Georgia Vines  contacted Terry and discovered what had happened:  Terry had given the wrong address.  Travis shipped her seeds again to the correct address.

Anyways things are back in order, and this gives TheGardenLady more confirmation that her positive recommendation of Georgia Vines was spot on.

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A Frustrated Gardening Customer


Angry flowers by thegareth

TheGardenLady received this comment fromTerry.

Lori I ordered and paid for seeds on the 1st of Oct and have not seen them. I have called your weird cell phone that’s going to “tell” mother,,,,maybe 4 times now….but nope…mother never called or emailed…just took my money….forget the free shipping….Lori this is really wrong.. Go check the cell phone you use for custom service you will find my phone number there! Call me back and tell me you ARE shipping the seeds I ordered and paid for!!!!now 30 days ago! Or next week…I will cry on youtube.

TheGardenLady received this impassioned comment (and she hopes it’s not spam or trolling) and feels that she MUST respond because TheGardenLady recommended the Georgia Vines Nursery.

First TheGardenLady phoned the Georgia Vines Nursery and spoke to Travis, Lori Rubel’s son, who is now working for the company. When we were speaking, I emailed your comment to Travis who received it while we were speaking. I do not know the people who own Georgia Vines but speaking to first Lori and now her son, Travis, makes me feel like these are lovely people who own a fine nursery and who want to satisfy their customers. They felt there must be some mix-up. So to the reader who wrote this comment, please telephone Georgia Vines by using their proper telephone number which is  1- 912- 342- 3762 and explain what happened to you.

Gerogia Vines has expanded their business- last year they moved to a larger facility. Their web site is where you can see a photo of Lori who started the business and Travis, her son who is now working there. They also have a new blog.  Besides honoring your order,  I am sure they will answer any and all questions you have about vines.

Dear reader, PLEASE send TheGardenLady another comment letting everyone know that everything worked out well.

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Buying Plants from Nurseries When It’s This Hot


York Restoration Corporation Building Restoration Local Nursery by York Restorations

TheGardenLady feels sorry for plant nurseries in this heat and drought. Not only do they have to do frequent watering, but TheGardenLady can’t imagine many people buying right now. So the nurseries are putting their plants on sale and some prices are almost so low that it seems like the nurseries are giving away the plants or just barely covering costs. Russell Gardens Wholesale has some perennial and herb plants on sale for $1.  So you can pick up some bargains.

But buyer beware!

Another reason for these sales is that gardeners know that one should avoid planting in hot, dry weather, because this weather can easily stress plants. If you must plant in summer, plant in the cool of the morning.

And unless you have enough water to give to your plants, you will have a lowered success rate of the plants surviving. All new plants, that includes trees and shrubs, like to be watered well the first year to get their root system established. Even the drought-tolerant plants need to be watered well when first planted to establish their roots.

Proper watering becomes the most important part of plant survival because transplanting causes a certain amount of shock to a plant due to the loss of roots, transportation and handling, and a change in growing conditions. So don’t think that if you have a landscaper do the work of planting for you, that your plants will survive without your watering adequately.  See here.

And when shopping for plants at this time of year, again buyer beware. It is always advisable to shop at reputable nurseries where they know their plants, can give you advice on proper care of the plant and who know how to care for the plant in their nursery. Most places get fresh plants at the beginning of the summer, but if the plant has been in the nursery for a long time, it had to be properly cared for at the nursery before you buy it. Good nurseries know what they are doing. Some of the chains hire people who don’t know how to care for the plants. A good nursery will have watered its plants properly and shouldn’t sell you something that won’t live out the week.

When you buy the plant and bring it home, since the plant has been sitting in a small pot for the summer season, at this time of the year it is probably root bound. To get the plant out of the pot, you may have to cut some of the roots off that have grown out of the holes and you may even have to cut the pot off the plant.

Sometimes soaking the plant for an hour will help get the roots more able to absorb water. And then you will probably have to make cuts in the roots – this is called root pruning – so that they will grow outward when put the plant in the ground. This cutting will help to free the roots.  See here.