Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sunday Greenhouse Road Trip Part 1

Barnes Nursery Huron, OH

I have been wanting to check out local growers featured on the Maumee Valley Growers Website to help support local growers. I spent the morning copying the addresses into our GPS for an afternoon of Greenhouse Touring. What a perfect day to enjoy a scenic ride East out toward the Lake. First stop on my Mothers Day Greenhouse Road Trip was Barnes in Huron, Ohio. It was a great day for a drive and an even better day to see how local growers were doing on one of their most busiest retail days of the season. This large greenhouse on the Lake was busy but we were still able to get a front row parking spot.


I was impressed with their large selection of garden accessories and the prices were some what reasonable. The displays were well orgainized and very creative. Every where I turned I was impressed with their invintory of garden accessories. However, I couldn't find the two many annuals by Proven Winners that are at the top of my wish list this summer. Not sure what this bush on the lower right corner of the collage was. The leaves were similar to the Rosa'Sharon but they were a rust color. I couldn't find a tag on the item to find out what it was.

They had a wonderful selection of tropical s much to our delight they were inside because the wind off of the lake was very chilly. Barnes have a wonderful selection of Burley ceramic birdbaths even in the lavender collection that has been discontinued.

I think one of my favorite features at this greenhouse was the trellis structures. Hubby advised me to take lots of photos so we could add one to our bedroom deck / garden area. I also find an adorable rooster sculpture that I would love to add to one of my country gardens but it just wasn't the right size.


NEXT STOP.............


Mulberry Creek Herb Farm
Huron, Ohio

This may have been my favorite greenhouse for the day and the funny thing was I almost didn't stop at this location because I am not a big herb grower. WOW am I happy I decided to enter this location into the GPS. Not only did I find two new heirloom tomatoes to grow this year but I learned so much about minature perennial gardens all of which this helpful staff specialize in.

They also have one of the only LIVE ROOF's I have seen in NW Ohio. Photo in the top collage. The owner was excited to give me information about the living roofs and information on his plans to expand this structure. This farm has been in business since 1995 and Certified Organically Grown Vegetables growing everything organic.



Organized and stocked with a large seletion of herbs I have NEVER HEARD or seen at other growers in N.W. Ohio and Southern Michigan. I brought home the oregona featured in the top collage. Look at the detail and color in this linaria also in the collage above. Doesn't it look like a purple snapdragon?


Specializing in Minature Garden creations. Everything you need to put together a wimsicle fairy garden.


It just wouldn't be one of my blog entires without featuring a close up of a flower in bloom. This is a wonderful siberian iris that was blooming in the minature garden landscaping that also featured a train track.

I had no idea there were so many different types of spring lettuce!



What a beautiful location and peaceful experience in this totally natural Herb Garden! The chickens only added to the country gardens charm. June 27 is the date for the 2009 MULBERRY CREEK HERBFAIR. stop by their webpage to learn more. I can't wait to return again to expand my minuature collection.

This was a busy and event full Mothers Day. Please stop by tomorrow when I will add Part 2 of todays Greenhouse Road Trip. I can't wait to share with you all where you can find some yummy Lake Erie Perch!

Happy Mothers Day!

11 comments:

Tessa at Blunders with Shoots, Blossoms 'n Roots said...

Oh! That Iris is so beautiful! Looks like a wonderful day, you sure got some great photos!

SuburbanGardener said...

Happy Mothers Day. The road trip looks like so much fun!! What a cool idea to cruise around like that. Probably a good idea to take cash and leave the credit cards at home.... :)

Liisa said...

I agree with Tessa, that iris is pretty spectacular! What a wonderful way to spend the day!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a wonderful road trip. I look forward to part 2.

FlowerLady

Anonymous said...

Wonderful review, excellent information and splended pictures! Outstanding job Bren.

Sonia said...

Oh how fun, a garden day of visiting greenhouses!! That would be a "perfect day" to me. I live in Oklahoma, so maybe I could get my gal pals together for a similar road trip. Great idea and beautiful pictures! Miss Bloomers/Sonia

Heather said...

Hi Bren- what a fun way to spend the day! Hope you had great one:-D

The Army of Four said...

What a wonderful nursery!
Ooooh, look at the Siberian Iris! I really have been wanting to find a good spot to plant a group of those! They're so beautiful - and the whole "Siberian" thing would be funny. :)

Roses and Lilacs said...

Those are great nurseries. I could get lost for days in those places. I'm planning a nursery trip too, need to find a free day.
Marnie

5 Vegas said...

Love it! Going to have to head up to Huron...Thanks

Anonymous said...

Love your music today. Now this is my kind of place. I too have decided to support local growers and...I can't find the PW's I want either. I even wrote PW about it. I wasn't too pleased with the answer. Pretty much, they aren't seeing it. They say their sales are steady. So I suppose it may just be a regional thing or something. I think they thought I was crazy. So it made me feel good to hear you say they were hard to find.