So, do you live in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, or one of its nearby suburbs? Are you wanting something new for the garden or a container? Something nobody else in your neighborhood has?
My friend, do I ever have the nurseries for you. A friend of mine, Sharon B., who belongs to the Garden Writers Association and the Oklahoma Horticulture Society clued me in on a new-to-me nursery. If you have a chance, pack a lunch and go out there.
It’s Whispering Springs Greenhouse, at 12647 South 104th Street in Mustang, Oklahoma. I know, it’s way out in the country, but heck, no one can afford to own a large nursery in town anymore. David Yates, who owns it, gets his business via word of mouth, and finally the word got to me. He and his sister (I believe her name was Janice) create the most wonderful hanging baskets, and they have some very unique annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. I bought the new petunia, Pretty Much Picasso™. It is one of the Supertunias® which aren’t your momma’s petunias for sure. Here it is still blooming in Helen’s North Carolina garden in November. I also bought a pretty double Calibrochoa MiniFamous™ ‘Double Blush Pink’ (which won a 4.43 rating in the UGA plant trials), a trailing Lanai® peach verbena and some other things. Per Janice’s suggestion, I’m trying a new cherry tomato, ‘Sweetie’ which is supposed to have hardly any seeds. I also got two more ‘Cloud Nine’ eggplants. I can hear you laughing from here. I now have twelve. I think. Good thing I like eggplant.
While you’re out that way, you might also check out Bob Scott’s Nursery at 10116 W. Wilshire Blvd. in Yukon. Bob and his wife are known for hostas and daylilies, but they have so much more. He hybridizes Topguns daylilies which are vigorous dormants. Since they are hybridized in Oklahoma, they perform well here. I have several. My favorite is H. Topguns Lola Scott.
As long as we’re making road trips, you should also take a Friday or Saturday and visit Bustani Plant Farm owned by Steve and Ruth Owens. I’ve written about Bustani before. I got this sweet little cuphea there. Can you see the bat face (or mouse ears), hence the common name for many cupheas?
These nurseries are owned by local people, and I think we should try to support them any way we can especially when they carry such great plants.
Rose
Gardeners and nursery owners alike will thank you for this, Dee! I know I really appreciate it when someone alerts me to a new nursery in the area, especially ones that carry something different than what we see in the bigger garden centers here in town. Love the double callibrochoa, but I still can’t decide if I like “Pretty Much Picasso.”
.-= Rose´s last blog ..Graduation Day! =-.
Les
We are enjoying a friendly argument at work as to whether we like Pretty Much Picasso. I am still on the fence.
Pam's English Garden
You have me wishing I lived in Oklahoma!
.-= Pam’s English Garden´s last blog ..What a Difference a Zone (or Two) Makes =-.
Pam, I’m glad, but then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy your beautiful garden.~~Dee
Jean
I tried the Lanai series of verbena last year and was pleasantly surprised. They even survived our record low temps and are blooming away now.
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Seeing Green and Other New Things =-.
nola at the alamo
I’ll have to try and drag the hubby there next time we visit his family in OK City! That Pretty Much Picasso petunia is amazing; I love the color combo!
.-= nola at the alamo´s last blog ..Rambling About the Garden =-.
Nola, if you do, be sure to call first. I don’t think he is open all summer.~~Dee
Cindy, MCOK
I haven’t seen that Cuphea … I must look for it! Congrats on finding a new haunt!
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..The Great Rockout of 2010: Day One, Phase Two =-.
Cindy, thanks. I know, isn’t it the cutest thing?~~Dee
Leslie
I love nurseries like these! They’re just a bit too far for me to visit so I appreciate the virtual visit. So many tempting plants, too, so I’m lucky it’s virtual!
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..Garden Blogger Bloom Day April 2010 =-.
Yes, Leslie, probably saved yourself some money.~~Dee
Lisa at Greenbow
Oh, I wanna go there.
Well, come on down. I’ll take you.~~Dee
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
What great finds. I heartily agree, shop local nurseries as much as you can. And if you get to know the people who work there, they will often save back special plants for you or clue you in on some new varieties. I frequent a local grower near me, and she treats me very well.
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Garden Design Update: A Guest Post From the Garden Fairies =-.
Carol, knowing people is always the best way to go.~~Dee
Helen Yoest @ Gardening With Confidence
Thanks for the link love, Dee. I think Pretty Much Picasso is pretty much a proven winner. H.
.-= Helen Yoest @ Gardening With Confidence´s last blog ..50 Ways to love your garden: Fifteen – vegetable gardens =-.
You’re so welcome.~~Dee
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening
I just love finding those kinds of nurseries.
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Precocious Spring: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day April 2010 =-.
Me too, Kathy. Thank goodness Sharon told me about this one.~~Dee
Gardener on Sherlock Street
Cool plants. Love local nurseries. They know that plants because they started them. Best resources around.
.-= Gardener on Sherlock Street´s last blog ..I Didn’t Plant This =-.
You’re absolutely right.~~Dee
Jo
Love those Petunia’s and all the pics! Great post too. Local is the way to go & I hope they appreciate your spreading the word about these gems! Maybe Oklahoma needs to go on our list of states to consider moving to…
.-= Jo´s last blog ..Sharing Spring In My Neck O’ The Woods =-.
Thanks Jo. I try for local if I can. You can see the flowers growing here. Of course, I had to drive 45 minutes to get there, but oh well. It was a wonderful trip.~~Dee
Frances
Hi Dee, you have done a great service to these nursery owners and the plant lovers in and around your area. Sometimes the advertising budgets for these types of places are small or none and word of mouth and blog helps a lot. I love that petunia and the other thing you have shown. Daylilies bred right there are the best kind too. Hope they get loads of business from this. 🙂
Frances
.-= Frances´s last blog ..Knot Garden Time =-.
Hi Frances, I hope so. Wish you were here, and we’d make the loop.~~Dee
Kelly Bundy
I love those petunias! I’m planning a trip near Mustang soon. I hope Whispering Springs Greenhouse still has some when I get there! So so pretty. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Kelly Bundy´s last blog ..And a good time was had by all =-.
Kelly, they had quite a few, but they were only available in hanging baskets. Wonderful place.~~Dee