Thursday, April 14, 2011

Postcard from Squirrelhaven*: First trip to the garden center of the season

the haul: Ranunculus, Osteospermum, pansies and violas
There's nothing quite like the smell of a garden center or nursery the first time one visits after a long winter. It's earthy and fresh and slightly sweet; it smells like spring. I usually make my first visit a bit earlier than the middle of April, but I made up for lost time. In addition to the plants for containers and for tucking in front of daffodils, I bought a ceramic container that is purportedly frost proof.

We shall see.

I almost forgot to mention that I went to the garden center looking for resin pots. It wasn't until after I got there that I realized it was a different garden center that had the ones I wanted. I'll be heading out to that one maybe today.

*This a quick post with photos taken from my phone.

13 comments:

Darla said...

Nice plant picks....cool looking container, hope it lives up to it's advertisement. Oh yes, the sights and smells of the nursery!

joey said...

Aw yes, enjoy! I was there on Saturday for container plants ... 2 flats of opal mix pansies, Johnny Jump-up, yellow columbine, creme brulee heuchera, primula ... indoor ferns for sunporch ... What a joy!

Belinda @ Wild Acre said...

Oh, I love that smell too, warm earthy herbaceousness!! The smell of new green growth - so lovely!

greggo said...

I think the staff has a aerosol can they spray every morning called "early spring".

Carole Sevilla Brown said...

Ooh, I love my first visit to my local nursery in the spring! Everything is full of possibilities. I can go and daydream and then bring my new treasures home. It's always so exciting :)

Layanee said...

It is so much fun visiting garden centers especially that first spring visit when all looks so new. Love your picks. I know you will come home with more from the next visit.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Sounds like you made one of those Freudian slips going to the wrong garden center. You will just have to go to the correct place. Nice haul here. I have some of those frost free pots and they have held up over the years.

Shady Gardener said...

Oh, sure... the wrong garden center... Have I heard (used) that before? ;-) Have fun again today, MMD! I'll look forward to seeing your purchases.

rambleonrose said...

I like the container! And keep telling yourself that it was the wrong garden center... :)

Gail said...

MMD, Great finds~I can't see Ranunculus without remembering the beautiful planters at the Chicago Botanical Garden during Spring Fling. I like the container; it's an excellent color. Happy planting~gail

Janet/Plantaliscious said...

What a lovely pot! Nice haul. I am currently banned from visiting Garden Centres, but I am going to the Malvern Spring Show...

Ms. Wis./Each Little World said...

That is a beautiful haul you have there. And nice color combos!

Cindy, MCOK said...

Congratulations on the first of many nursery hops for 2011!