5.21.2011

Santa Fe Greenhouses

The unofficial last frost date in Santa Fe, New Mexico is May 15th. Some years, I ignore the frost date altogether and blithely start planting in March. This year, I heeded the warning signs of capricious weather and deferred my planting. Even four days past the frost date on Thursday, May 19th, there were snow flurries hither and yon. Today was my first visit to my favorite nursery Santa Fe Greenhouses; they also have an online store, High Country Gardens.


The first thing I do is visit the inspiration garden. I walk past the pot yard, and under the pergola to a garden retreat. Some days during the summer, if work is too hectic I will come here to gather my thoughts and sit amid the plants, flowers, and sculptures.

It's akin to going to the grocery store; I have a routine. I go look at the penstemon, salvia, then the agastache, which are generally grouped together. This year, however, the plant layout was different. I was having difficulty finding an Missouri evening primrose (oenothera macrocarpa formerly missouriensis), when one of the employees reminded me that the plants are in alphabetical order by botanical name. Ah, the alphabet what a concept!
I walk around the aisles, then hit the perennial greenhouses. What I lack in spontaneity, I make up in purchasing power. Seriously, not really - but I do try to support the local economy when I can. 



9 comments:

  1. When our daughter went to school in Santa Fe, this was my absolute favorite place to visit.

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  2. @Patricia, I had to restrain myself because I went to another nursery, too. But I've got about a third of my purchases planted.

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  3. Nothing like seeing plants in action, test-viewing them before taking them home. Your piece sure makes me want visit that action-packed nursery.

    All the best!

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  4. I can easily imagine going to their display gardens after a hectic day to unwind a little--even on a busy Saturday it can be peaceful. My life has improved in all kinds of ways since they opened their new store in ABQ... Happy planting!

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  5. @Lee, it's as if almost everything I wanted for my garden is in one place.

    @Stacy, I'm glad the plants are available more locally to you!

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  6. Thanks for allowing us to see the nursery though your eyes. Loved the photography! Best, Ava Salman, owner and VP Marketing.

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  7. @Ava Salman - Wow, thanks for commenting on my post. I hope the camera phone photos did SF Greenhouses justice. Your namesake agastache is my favorite!

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  8. Your photos of the Santa Fe greenhouses reminded me of the one we had near our home in Virginia. It had an annual section, a perennial section, trees, bushes, ponds, benches, garden sculptures. Oh, how I miss it. All we have here in the semi-rural Arizona desert is Home Depot's garden center.

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  9. @L. Ambler - I think I'm spoiled by having so many nurseries close by. The nursery in Virginia sounds lovely. I learned after trial and error during my early gardening days that Home Depot's plants aren't always resilient in the high desert.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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