There’s a nice home nursery that we like to visit in the spring when the owners announce their sale of starter plants.  This is our second year to visit Wellington Gardens, located a bit out of the way and tricky to find, down up a long dirt road in Brentwood NH, just 20 minutes from our home. There the family raises all their own annuals and perennials in their 5 greenhouses and offer great early sales at a time when we are itching to plant.

Last weekend, the tiny starter perennials were on sale and we were among the first customers that day…. just before the parking lot overflowed with autos.

Shoppers wandered in and out of the greenhouses shopping for vegetables, herbs, and annuals but it was the tiny perennials that were on sale this day. I like to buy small and allow the roots to develop in my own garden and, gee, their starter plants were perfect. They are lovingly cared for and quite healthy… all grown from seed.

Although perennials were what we were after (and I did pick out a few), I happened to spot their spectacular hanging baskets in one greenhouse.  I couldn’t go home without one of the annuals hanging baskets, healthy and packed full of goodies. Nothing like the root bound, dry baskets you find at the big box stores! How could I resist??

This weekend is the big sale of annuals at Wellington Gardens, only $1.75 for 6-packs…. a Mother’s Day special.  I think we’ll be there for the plants for sure, but also to visit Linus, the resident 18-year old African sulcata tortoise that comes ‘running’ when she sees company. I should take her a few strawberries, yes?