With the closing of Johnson’s in Tenleytown last month we lost a great neighborhood garden center. But worry not, we have many other great sources of plants close by. Some of these are not only high-quality plant providers but also fun places for family outings. Here are some of my favorites:
Ace Hardware. Right here in the hood, Ace is a terrific spot for picking up annuals (plants that need to be planted every year), and in the past they carried my two favorite annuals: impatiens for shady spots and geraniums for sunny spots.
Chesapeake Natives. This nursery at the Mt. Airy Mansion in Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has a great selection of plants and the most helpful and friendly plant gurus around. It’s hard not to be inspired by their enthusiasm and knowledge (including when they gently steer you away from overbuying!).
The property is surrounded by hiking and biking trails, so pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Chesapeake Natives has sale days, but you can also request a buying and advice appointment at a time that works for you. Check out www.ChesapeakeNatives.org.
Earth Sangha. If you want to pair some earth-saving action with your plant shopping, Earth Sangha in Springfield, Virginia, is for you. Funds from plant sales help support this terrific nonprofit’s public-lands restoration work in the DC region and its tropical-forest conservation efforts with farmers in the Dominican Republic. Located in Franconia Park, the plant nursery offers the most extensive range of locally sourced plants in the region, and the staff and volunteers are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Earth Sangha will be where I go when I tackle the largest part of my yard this summer. For information on their sales and plant list, take a look at their website, www.EarthSangha.org.
Izel Plants. Online shoppers read this! Izel Plants, which is based in DC and networked with nurseries across the country, will ship plants right to your door. Their very helpful website can steer you to plants that will thrive in your yard and has lots of information (and some great plant-humor t-shirts). The bulk of Izel’s plants are shipped “bare root,” so plants arriving in the mail may at first look a bit scraggly.
To ensure successful growth, have your planting area ready when you order and add plants immediately so they don’t dry out. They can be found at http://www.IzelPlants.com. If I have I missed one of your favorite plant-buying spots, I’d love to hear about it! You can be in touch at GloverDigThis@gmail.com.
(this article originally appeared in the Glover Park Gazette, March 2018)
StephShain 