This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Another Field Trip - Three Nurseries in Three Hours

A Sunny Sunday was the perfect opportunity for another field trip!

Last weekend my friend, George and I, set off on one of our favorite activates- visiting great nurseries.  George doesn’t get around much in the West County area and hadn’t been to any of the nurseries on my list.  My SUV was empty, filled with gas and ready to go. 

Our first stop was Wiethops, on Barrett Station Road.  Unfortunately, we were early and they weren’t yet open for their fall season.  In September and October they sell lots of pansies, mums, kale and other cool-weather plants. In my opinion, they have the best mums and pansies around; it’s the only place I buy them.  We’ll go back in a week or so and see what stupendous selections they offer this year. 

Since Sherwood Forest is right next door to Wiethops, we stopped in and paid them a visit.

Find out what's happening in Town And Country-Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you are in need of shrubs and trees for fall planting, you’ll find high-quality specimens at Sherwood Forest.  As soon as I began shopping, some exceptional-looking ‘Brackens Beauty’ Magnolias caught my eye.  They’re one of my favorite trees and the offerings at Sherwood are top-notch. 

In addition, they had an extensive selection of boxwood- all sizes, prices and varieties for any landscape.  While wandering around, I saw a gorgeous Gingko tree on sale.  If I could have fit it in my car, I would have snagged it. 

Find out what's happening in Town And Country-Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wandering into the greenhouses devoted to annuals, perennials and fall mums, the pickings were slim.  They did have a large selection of grasses, though.  I spied a huge container of Zebra grass for George’s place.  For the measly price of $10 it was ours! 

As we continued our leisurely shopping pace we saw it: a stunning birdbath.  There it was, in all its masculine, granite and hand crafted glory.  The texture was rough, allowing the sunlight to glisten as it hit the specks of crystal in the granite.  The still water in the birdbath sparkled in the morning sun.  For a moment we didn’t speak.  We both knew it was perfect. 

We inquired about the price.  At first, we were quoted $175.  I figured a birdbath of such grandeur would be immensely more expensive than that.  I was right.  It was over $400.  I think the guys at Sherwood might negotiate a better price.  They did, but we still had more nurseries to hit.  We placed our Zebra grass in the back of my SUV and it was down the road to Greenscape Gardens.

At the southeast corner of Barrett Station and Dougherty Ferry Roads sits Greenscape Gardens. Greenscape is family owned and always a great stop for a huge selection of perennials and native plants.  The “Grow Native” family of plants can be found at Greenscape.  You’ll also find trees, shrubs, mums, vegetable plants, soil, fertilizer and lots and lots decorative items for your garden.  They really do have it all! 

If you shop with the kids or grandkids, visit the live chickens at Greenscape. 

George and I were on the lookout for some shade perennials for his back garden.  We found some unusual, yellow ‘koyamae’ Salvias so large they were bursting out of their pots.  We grabbed them; it was a real find! 

As we meandered to the front of the store, I saw fellow Master Gardener Jennifer Schamber and asked her what was new in her life.  As she emerged from behind the counter, I could plainly see what was new.  She was pregnant and glowing!  Even though she was working and the baby is due in a few months, she looked radiant and lovely.  She and her husband already know that it’s a girl and will be named Lily.  How appropriate!  

Asking Jennifer if they had any birdbaths was futile.  They were sold out and won’t get any till next spring.  After exchanging goodbyes and congratulations (again!) we were off to Sugar Creek Nursery in Kirkwood.

Sugar Creek is on Woodlawn, just south off Manchester Road.  I always know that I’ll find unusual plants in great shape.  We’re looking for some Hellebores to add to George’s garden.  We found them in the shade area of the nursery, grabbed a red wagon and began filling it up.  I am a big fan of Russian comfrey (Symphytum) and was pleasantly surprised to find a variegated variety at Sugar Creek. 

They also had some beautiful Japanese Wild Ginger (Asarum Splendens). The leaves are variegated and super glossy.  I wish I could remember which friend of mine was looking for Wild Ginger.  If you desire some, Sugar Creek has a nice selection. 

George has an area with questionable soil that he’d like to fill with grasses.  Japanese Blood Grass fills the bill.  It can be invasive, but it will be planted in a contained area, edged in concrete.  An added bonus is that it doesn’t get very tall. The deep red color is striking against a concrete walk or brick patio. 

Speaking of grasses, planted in the middle of the nursery is the largest variegated grass I have ever seen!  It must be 15 feet tall!  It’s worth a trip just to see it. 

Milling around I found a lovely blue Lobelia and some super-fresh pansies.  George snapped up 5 amazing variegated Phlox and we considered ourselves finished. As we were checking out, we realized that we forgot to look for a birdbath.  Nothing we saw there could hold a candle to the granite stunner at Sherwood Forest.  

We loaded up the 4Runner, leaving a space large enough for the perfect birdbath.  It was back to Sherwood Forest.

I honestly think the guys at Sherwood Forest were waiting for us.  As soon as we emerged from my car, the tan blonde guy smiled and said, “You’re back for it, aren’t you!”  Yes, we were.  Because it was perfect.  And a good deal.   Although the search for the perfect birdbath was over doesn’t mean that the field trips are.  Stay tuned for more experiences as George and I go “On the Road!” 

 

 

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Town And Country-Manchester