This is my almost-local nursery. I used to get overwhelmed when coming here. It is a large store, but, the abundance of plants is staggering. I used to get in there and either buy the store out of go home with nothing because I couldn't make up my mind. To be fair, there is a beginning and end to it all, I just never take it in all at once. It is much safer that way. It is privately owned and operated by the same family for generations. There are three stores in the Washington, DC area and I visit them all when I am in their neighborhood, but, chose the one closest to me today. Not because it is the closest, but, because when it is spring, variety is their specialty. The people there are knowledgeable and have taught me much useful information regarding my gardens, the plants and the care of them. There are two employees that have been giving me photography tricks and one girl who gives me tips on life. (Some are pretty good too!) So, it is really a one-stop-shop. In case I forgot to say it, welcome to #MarketFriday!
First things first. I find my way to the greenhouse that has geraniums.I love the geranium, especially the Ivy variety. The regular geraniums grow tall and upright, the Ivy Geranium hangs down and makes for a lovely sight. The regular geranium has soft leaves and the Ivy have a smaller and waxy/shiny leaf. I love planting them in window pots for the sills and letting them grow long all summer long. I just looked at the price and they have gone up (again) since last year, just like everything else has. They are $7.95 for a 5-inch pot, some are $8.95, depending on the color. I liked the expensive ones, of course. I am happy that I overwintered the ones I had and all but one made it through the winter, so I only need to replace the one.
They come in a variety of colors, but, this one above is my favorite color, not quite red, yet darker than pink. A celebration of the in-betweens, varying in color from white to shades of pink where others are the brightest and deepest of reds to violet. Who grows geraniums at their house? More than a few, I am guessing.
Today is #MarketFriday initiated by 
Hive account@dswigle (Denise, that's me!!) Join me as we share our markets across the globe. I always look forward to seeing what you send me! It is amazing to see the different markets and cultures of our friends here on Hive.
The double pleat blackberry columbine. I bought it for the very first time three years ago - it was love at first sight! I was appalled at their price, but, bought one large pot. I was shopping in the perennial house as they keep their annual flowers and perennials separate. It makes less confusion when people are buying. I was very excited to see these and I collected seeds at the end of the season, I sent them to both of my sisters. They loved them and started them a while back, so we should be about even in the growth charts. I gave them all my seeds, so I needed to get another one this year. Next year, I will have dried more seeds and will try growing them myself.I love the unusual shape of them! Have you ever seen these?
I thought they were expensive last year. $14.99 seems pretty steep but, it is 4 quarts.(3.79 L) If they do well again, it will be worth every penny. There is always that off chance that they will not. Life should not be always about how much things cost unless it is above your budget. If it is within your budget, I balance my needs and wants, depending on the joy I will get out of it.
You see the words annual and perennial on plant tags and in garden books. What do these terms mean and why should you care? Simply put, annual plants die in the winter season. You must replant them every year. Perennials come back every year. An annual is a plant that lives for just one season. Whether you plant from seed or purchase seedlings to plant, an annual will sprout, flower, seed, and then die — all in the same year. Annuals tend to bloom all season long and are often bright and showy. Though you will have to replant next year (or choose another plant to put in your annual’s place), annual plants tend to cost less than perennials and are less of a commitment.Perennials, on the other hand, live for three or more growing seasons. They are less work than annuals because they grow back each year from roots that go dormant in the winter. They will be around from year to year, so they put their energy into growing strong roots instead of growing lots of flowers like annuals do. source
Top Ten Perennial Flowers for most Gardens (Zones 1-8)
Coreopsis Verticillata
Campanula Glomerata
Hemerocallis
Chrysanthemum
Siberian Irises
Echinacea, the Coneflower
Peonies
Achillea Filipendulina
Hostas
Rudbeckia Fulgens
It is hard to not get distracted while I am here. Coffee to be had in their little cafe and choices to be made on flowers. I am redoing some of my gardens this year, moving things around, swapping some plants from one house to another house. It will be a busy spring, but... it all starts here. Have you got your plants in pots yet?
They have started giving a discount already. That seems suspicious to me, the season has just begun, but, I am not going to complain about 50% off! I'm not crazy. If you were looking for herbs, I think this is the best price I had seen. I had started a few from seed, but, I needed more parsley and thyme. The rest of them, I had already started a while back. So now I was complete. Has anyone noticed how expensive herbs and spices have gotten??
I am intrigued by different cultures. It has always fascinated me and I would love to see yours! Don't forget to take photos wherever you happen to be shopping - whether it be the grocery store, the local marketplace, or even an art gallery, a kite festival, or any kind of local festival. Wherever money is exchanged for a service or for merchandise! Be different if you wish! It does not have to be a traditional market!
I have to be honest with you. The minute I saw some of these hats,I immediately thought of Dan 
Hive account@bluemoon and his granddaughter Ilinca. She is not quite two, but, she loves to take his hat and wear it. It is so adorable and she looks like an angel in it. See here It was because of this post, I was passing these hats and thought how nice it would look on both of them. Funny how things like this trigger other thoughts. Dan and I have never met in real life, but, we have known each other through over a half dozen social sites. It has been a pleasure to share my life and how he has shared his. I know, it's #MarketFriday and here I am hawking friendship, yes?
These are bleeding hearts. My dad used to tell me I had a bleeding heart and when I left home, he came to visit the very first spring with a tray of bleeding hearts. Ha! I like them because they come back, year after year, but, be careful! They spread and spread...and then they spread a little more. Oh, my heart! My bleeding bleeding heart.
The nursery has acres and acres of plants, trees, bushes, and various fountains and pottery. You can hire their landscaping services and they will plan your garden or plant a tree. All for a price, of course.
Using a Chiminea as a Flower Planter is a great idea, especially if you have an old one that you no longer use. "A chimenea /tʃɪmɪˈneɪ. ə/, also spelled chiminea (from Spanish: chimenea which derives from French cheminée, "chimney"), is a freestanding front-loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney." I used the real dictionary for that one.
Please leave the link to your post here so it can easily be found by others. It helps you and me to have them in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much for joining us!! ❤
And just like that, this post is done. I hope you had a good time and learned a little something new. As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit, and just remember, #MarketFriday loves you! Thank you for supporting the challenge! Have a most fabulous day! Cheers!!
Who can resist the fountains? I know I cannot. They are sometimes a subtle piece or other times can be very dramatic, in looks or the way the water comes out. I have two of them, each one of them gives me such pleasure, as I sit at night and listen to the flow of water. I want to thank everyone, as I don't always get a chance. You have made #MarketFriday a great place to peruse. I am loving what I am seeing come in. Thank you, again and again.
As always, there must be flowers to color my world. Indeed, this post was filled to the brim, so we should all have an amazingly brilliant day!#alwaysaflower
Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing: "Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade
With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by;
But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.
Rudyard Kipling
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!
- Go to the market, or anywhere that you pay money for a service.
Take pictures! Be creative!
- Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost? Was it expensive? Did it go up or down? I need something other than pictures of the market.
- Post the pictures. Of course, you should tell a little bit about the ones you post, it is too difficult to guess on some
- Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post (#hive-196308) This is not required but appreciated.
PLEASE Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it!!
- Following me and reblogging the post would be appreciated, but not a rule, more vision for more views on the #MarketFriday posts!
- You must put #MarketFriday by Hive account@dswigle somewhere on your post.
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
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