Let's Take a Drive...

What's a gardener to do when it's drizzly out and not gardening weather? Go nursery hopping, of course! One of my all time favorite hobbies!

So one state, two counties, and 45 miles later...I reach my first destination. I love to just browse and sometimes even leave without a purchase...GASP!! Keeping mental notes (I'm not a list maker!) of what costs what and which nursery had that particular plant, keeps me occupied for hours! Walk into a greenhouse filled with colorful hanging pots in every color of the rainbow, and you just can't NOT go nuts! Then I start daydreaming how great it would be to run a nursery... just to enjoy the eye candy...not how much work it would involve!

Six hours and 5 nurseries later, I'm tired but very happy! Besides the prerequisite annuals for pots, my new treasure is a tri-color beech tree! And what else...new daylilies!

This picture had to stand alone as it's my favorite scene of the day...all colors of the wave petunias. A great choice for containers but I like it in ground too, as they really do spread!
So get out and enjoy your local nurseries...or cross the state line...and find a new favorite!

P.S. What a headache trying to create this collage...any tips out there from the experts?

Eye Candy...

..WITHOUT the calories..HA! This is my favorite time to visit garden centers. They sure know how to catch your eye with displays such as these...you can't help but be reeled in! I was surprised to see so many geraniums in stock this early...they were big and beautiful, too! Sure was tempting but I resisted...go me!...well, at least on this trip.

However, I could NOT resist these beautiful columbines (double form) so a few found their way into the basket.

Trays upon trays of pansies. Had to laugh, though, when another customer came up to ask me a question and I (embarrassingly), had to say "sorry, don't work here".  So why was I deadheading the pansies? I just HAD to!  You know that impulse!

Has anyone grown ranunculus? I love the papery look and feel of the petals and just look at the range of colors!

Flea Bane, Phlox and Lilies...OH MY!

I really liked this kneeling angel. Hmm...the birthday wish list getting longer.

Wished I had more time to browse but someone kept pulling me away...
Note to self: next time, don't bring Hubby!