Perennials By Design
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
The extended cold spell means that the development of many flowers is quite late this year. So its a good opportunity to catch up with your planting.
Southport is blessed with having many garden centres and professional plant nurseries on the doorstep down the Tarleton By-pass. Nurseries don’t offer the cafés and objet d’art of the ‘garden centres’. But what they do offer is a vast range of professional knowledge and many plants that you won’t find in a garden centre.
The best nurseries of all are those that supply the trade and professional users. Although some have special ‘public open days’ usually they aren’t open to the public.
However Perennials By Design is a trade nursery that is also open for cash&carry sales to the public (no credit cards).
I called in on a quiet weekday afternoon. After telling them what sorts of things I was after, I was treated to a guided tour of several acres of plants, along with a rolling commentary of Latin names, planting conditions and flowering characteristics. I’m not suggesting that everyone is going to get this every time, it really will depend on how busy they are. But if you do have questions the depth of their help and knowledge is invaluable.
I came away with a barrow full of large mature plants, at seriously good prices.
You will find Perennials By Design at 151a Southport New Road (A565), PR4 6HX
(its on the right if you are travelling towards Preston)
Oh and if you do go, please mention you read this on Virtual Southport!!
photo: My purchase (yes I did pay full price for everything)… Viola, Hosta, Pullminatia, Dicentra, Centura Montana etc… and these are large 6 inch pots!