On the Road Blog - Follow the Signs
5/4/2024 4:33 pm
On a recent visit to my family in and near Philadelphia, the gals (sister Caren, mom and I) headed out to one of our favorite perennial and annual specialty nurseries in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
It should surprise no one that our car was stuffed to the gills when we left Black Creek Greenhouses, despite yours truly only buying six small plants because she is moving in about a year and some rationality is required. I've identified this nursery previously in this blog as a great road visit in the Lancaster area and nothing has changed. They have great plant material, amazing prices on plants, pots and containers, knick knacks, tools, gloves, fresh rhubarb and asparagus in season, miniatures for the fairy garden and a great bathroom -- all indoors in greenhouses.
I confess that on this visit, I was a little disappointed in Black Creek's succulent selection (to be fair, it was still April). Historically I would bring home lots of 4" pots for my containers and the rockery. Not this time, however. As we were heading home, we passed three low, hand painted road signs in a row advertising: "Perennials", "Succulents, "Cacti". We kept driving a bit in that direction when Waze announced our turn for home coming up. The car was jam-packed. What to do?
I hadn't discovered where these signs led the last visit for the same reason - a packed car, but that time I had already found a lot of succulents. My brain opted to ignore Waze and continue ahead a bit, seeing no more signs for an uncomfortable few blocks until finally some smaller ones sat at the base of a small Amish farm. I looked up and saw a single greenhouse on a hill. I began to have doubts and hesitated roadside. Years ago, I followed a pottery sign like that and then spent money even though I didn't love anything. That pity purchase made me cautious going forward with no info.
"Ah, what the heck" I decided after a couple of seconds and I turned into the driveway. A single goat had escaped the pen twenty feet in and was lazing in the road. I inched up and he moved. Following the curve to the greehouse, a single chicken sat in the parking pad gazing at the inmates who were less clever. I inched into a spot cautiously, hungry but not for fresh killed chicken.
We exited. There were several tables of perennials outside the greenhouse. Nothing special, at least that we hadn't just seen. Prices weren't particularly special either. No one had come to greet us so far and I was kind of relieved, thinking we'd be in and out of the greenhouse empty-handed before anyone came. Once inside, our collective jaws dropped.
It was a mass of succulents mostly in 4" pots with bunches of clever container plantings hidden throughout. There was absolutely no order to the plants, just succulents intermingled everywhere with a few annuals and perennials randomly appearing, but my, what a lot of interesting plants they were. Plants I'd seen retailed for lots of money at other nurseries, money that would have me not even considering looking for annual succulents. Here the deal was $3 a pot unless marked otherwise (few were) and $2.75 for six or more! I managed to get my six, maybe seven. My sister spent the next hour with a stuffed box of succulents and cacti on her lap. My mother had a similar box (including cacti with sharp spines) lodged between her feet. (I decided TSA would not appreciate me bringing spiny cacti as carry on. I appreciate that they tolerate the plants I often bring which aren't wound causing.)
We not only left with plants, but with ideas for planting too. Now I know that an old springform and other cake pans are fine containers for a succulent dish! So is the top of tagine!
I drove home carefully, avoiding sudden moves as best I could. We stopped for lunch passing boxes to each other to get in and out, laughing at ourselves, giddy from the hunt for plants.
Gardening has formed an essential bond among the women in my family, and amongst many of my friends too. Plant shopping is no small part of this. Untethered by concerns of "where will I put it," we always experience a euphoric joy plant shopping. I recommend you try it. Follow those signs. You likely won't regret it.
It came out easier than it went in!
A few little treasures flown home under the seat front included some Crassula species. Plant tags were not a thing there!
Below, a Ledebouria socialis perhaps. I've had some species of Ledebouria (Silver squill) live a few years outside as well a a probable Echevaria or Graptopetalum
A bad hair plant flown back just for Kathleen Dumitrescu!
Tephrocactus verschaffeitii or Austrocylindropuntia subulata? -
