Nurseries: Merrifield Garden Center

Last Tuesday found me taking DH to the airport and, being me, I realized this would be a perfect opportunity visit a favorite nursery, Merrifield Garden Center. You might remember from my Tony Avent post that it was a Merrifield employee whose sharp eyes gave us the Striptease Hosta. Anyway, I don't get up here nearly as often as I would like because of...let's hear it...the traffic....so, it was with a bit of excitement that I pulled into the parking lot. I could stay as long as I wanted...no one to pick up or be back for...what a luxury!

One of the things that I like about Merrifield is that they have display gardens out in front...where most places either just have concrete or a strip with some miscellaneous shrubs tossed there.



They try to label things, I see, which is appreciated.


There's not too much in bloom.






Right now, though, it looks like they are beginning their spring cleanup. I have the feeling that I'm at the rehearsal for the big play and opening night is just a few days away. It's interesting and there's lots of stuff, but not nearly like it will be.

Sill, I like the stimulation. Pots in every color you can think of:


(I like blue)

The perennials are in the almost stage as well. I see lots of things under the tables (not ready for prime time) and carts of things to be put out....it's just that I'm here probably a week or so too early.

I wander out to the shrubs because I can see them stretching for miles. I'm not in the market for anything, but it's a nice day and I have that precious commodity...time. Look what catches my eye (how could it not!):


Now, that's red! It is so intensely red that it doesn't look real. But, it is. It's a coral bark Japanese Maple, but I don't think I've seen one with such stunning color...or maybe it is because everything else around it is so drab!

Here's the name:

Say you want one? Here's the price:

Beauty has its price.

I head over to the annuals. Something new:


Here's a close up (this is a new holiday for me):


Now, the annual area is filled with a gazillion pansies. Out of all those for sale, this is the only one I'm interested in:


Naturally, they're not available for individual sale....I can only have them as part of this container. Oh well.

Not to worry. You know I won't leave empty handed. In the fall of 05, I brought back this gorgeous heuchera (I thought) from Seattle. It was one among...okay, several...that I brought back...but this particular one, each leaf seemed a different color and they were rimmed in red. It was stunning! It was...you know it...the only one that died on me. I have searched and searched for it without success. I keep buying them...even though I know what I am buying is not that one...it is pathetic, I'm afraid. Having said that, here are the three that came home with me:



....and an orchid, a new trowel....and okay, just two packets of seeds. (Did mention I get a 15% discount there as a master gardener?)

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You can click on these pictures...just in case you really want to see that price!