Plant Shopping

Last week I had to bring my lawnmower to Coon Valley to be repaired. It’s far enough away I thought I’d run errands while it was being worked on.

“Errands” meant plant shopping. I hadn’t been anywhere all year! I mean there’s lots to plant here and so many of my favorites, but off I went.

My first stop was Melport Meadows Nursery, just west of Cashton off Hwy 33. And really I would have been happy just to go there! If you haven’t been you might enjoy the trip, and also leave home with a carload of goodies.

I had a list in my head of what I was looking for, and I found that and more. A Climbing Hydrangea, a couple of ferns, a Golden Spikenard, and not pictured is a gorgeous (to me anyway) Sycamore. What I loved about it was that the entire top had died, and some robust 5′ suckers that sprouted above the graft/bud stood tall. Of course she offered me a great price on it and that cinched the deal.

Melport is a very reasonably priced nursery with many perennials less than $10. There are lots of Proven Winners plants and they are more, but there is also a nice selection of other shrubs as well. And trees! I did pick up an Ann Magnolia as well.

I was looking for an Invincible Spirit Hydrangea (which is a pink arborescens type) and found one at Christen Farm Nursery. I had seen a big blooming hedge of them a couple weeks ago and couldn’t stop thinking about them. I finally picked the place tonight to plant it – a full week later.

I stopped at a couple other places too, but didn’t find anything. At Home Depot however I did pick up a wild card. A Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum). They are so leathery and pretty and upright and pink berried, and also maybe zone 5? But why not try – it was only $6.

It’s just not summer without a little cache of goodies I don’t really know where to plant.