First, a musical eulogy to the nursery that put Kingston on the map:
Once Kingston held the Holy Grail of nurseries,
then Burpee packed it up and took it east…
Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Heronswood.
The Camelot of plant purveyors, Heronswood is now but a fleeting wisp of glory as well. Last spring, when the nursery closed with car-wreck swiftness, the gardening world mourned. As the realization of what had been lost dawned on those of us who were fortunate enough to be regular visitors, we worked our way through the five stages of grief:
Denial: “It’s only temporary.”
Anger: “Who does George Ball think he is?”
Bargaining: “Just one more hellebore!”
Depression: “Now where will I find a Chelidonium majus var. laciniatum?”
And – at last – acceptance, as gardeners here at the peninsula’s end discover that we are full to bursting with plenty of other fine nurseries intent on supplying all the chlorophyll-based delights we could wish for. Not only that, but each owner/operator of the dozen businesses that follow is someone you wouldn’t mind sitting down to lunch with. What is it about working with plants that brings out the best in us?
BOONEBRIER FARM
• Owners: Jim and
Ann Mossman
• (360) 297-7431
• www.boonebrierfarm.com
• 11067 NE Arness Road,
Kingston
Just off South Kingston Road, between Kingston and Indianola.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 11 through June 24. To accommodate those interested in cut flowers, the nursery will also be open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning May 30. Wedding orders welcome.
Specializing in herbaceous and intersectional peonies and Siberian iris. Jim and Ann will be taking orders for fall peony roots, available in September. Hundreds of potted plants for sale and many more plants in the ground represent 200 varieties of peonies and more than 80 varieties of iris. Display gardens are open during nursery hours; call for weekday appointments or garden club tours. Once established, peonies will live and bloom for generations.
DEER MEADOW FARM
• Owners: Kelly and
Chuck Hagood
Plants available at the Kingston and Hansville farmers’ markets from April through July.
Kelly propagates all of her own plants, most of them from seed. She offers many interesting varieties of annuals including coleus, dahlias and geraniums. This year she is offering a line of cottage garden favorites such as delphinium, penstemon, verbascum and other tried and true perennials. Also container plants and potted gardens. Quality is her primary concern.
DRAGONFLY FARMS
• Owner: Heidi Kaster
• (360) 638-1292
• www.dragonflyfarmsnursery.com
• 34881 Hansville Road
Directions: 4.8 miles north of Kountry Korner, look for the bright blue mailbox and driveway on left.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March through October and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
At Dragonfly Farms abnormality is the normality. New this year is a huge selection of hanging baskets, trees, and annuals including hot-colored coleus varieties. Dragonfly Farms specializes in unusual seed-grown perennials, and agaves, cacti, coneflowers, grasses, bamboos, pitcher plants, shrubs, plus tropical and Mediterranean selections for this zone. While Heidi grows much of her own stock, she recently purchased “a bunch of cool stuff” from the Heronswood Nursery close-out. Her garden art offerings are unique and ever-changing. Her two-acre display garden is open for view to weekend shoppers, as well as to groups for garden tours by appointment. She believes that “right plant, right place” solves the majority of gardening problems.
FOXGLOVE
GREENHOUSES
• Owners: David and Gail
Halsaver
• (360) 297-0410
• Delaney Road, Hansville
Directions: Look for their signboard just across Hansville Highway from the Gliding Eagle Market.
Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. most Saturdays beginning March 31 into late October. Closed Sunday. Other days by appointment.
In business since 1984, Foxglove Greenhouses are a major wholesale supplier to such mail-order heavy-hitters as Wayside, Park Seed, and Smith & Hawkins. Shop their greenhouses like the wholesalers do for hard-to-find perennials and unusual annuals at attractive prices ($5.50 for most gallon sizes and $2.75 for 4-inch perennials). This year Foxglove is offering mainstay perennials, excellent for this zone, including English delphiniums and several varieties of meconopsis. Also tropicals, more than 20 varieties of tomatoes, and at least three dozen plant selections for container planting. Plant your containers right on site (bring your own pot or purchase one at the nursery) with expert design guidance from Gail. The Halsavers regularly hold container and propagation seminars for local garden clubs. Buy from the grower and save.
HENERY HARDWARE
& GARDEN
• Nursery manager
Laura Warner
In-house garden specialist
Mary Stein
• (360) 297-3366
• Downtown Kingston
Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Arriving throughout the season will be a special line of Chicago wicker and other quality outdoor patio furniture. Henery’s has landscape plants, ground covers, seeds, bedding plants, annuals, perennials, shrubs, small trees, Japanese maples, and hundreds of hanging baskets for Mother’s Day. Also a good selection of outdoor pottery, whiskey barrels, and Crocks Footware gardening shoes. Henery’s has a full range of garden tools including Felco pruners and a new line of specialty Japanese gardening tools. Friendly gardening advice by Mary, the in-house expert. A full service home center, Henery’s serves the outside as well as the inside of the home.
LABYRINTH HILL FARM
• Owner: Susan Harrington
• (360) 638-2642
• www.labyrinthhill.com
In the July bloom season, Labyrinth Hill brings fresh lavender to the Kingston Farmers’ Market and will ship it anywhere in the country. A member of the Kitsap Lavender Growers association, the farm will participate in the first ever Kitsap Lavender Market at Port Gamble July 21-22. For more information and classes available, check the Labyrinth Hill Web site.
THE POTTING SISTERS
• Owners: Karen Brown
and Janice Adams
• (360) 297-4799
• www.pottingsisters.com
Prefer your plants pre-planted into containers? The Potting Sisters specialize in container garden design with an emphasis on interesting and unusual plants, and pots from around the world. The sisters (yes, they really are) work with their clients to create unique and personal designs. Free delivery within 35 miles of Kingston or on quantity purchases. They also offer a replanting service to keep the plantings fresh and seasonal.
Check their Web site for spring classes and an open house to be announced for May.
RAVEN NURSERY
• Owner: Beatrice Idris
• (360) 598-3323
• Indianola Road
By appointment only at the Indianola location. Find Beatrice at the Kingston Farmers’ Market in spring. Display gardens specializing in species maples, daylilies, native conifers, and other native plants. Beatrice is passionate about her work. She uses no pesticides or herbicides and concentrates on plants that grow well in the Northwest. Visit the nursery June through August to view her amazing, 300-variety daylily gardens.
SACK’S FEED & GARDEN
• Owner: Dave Hildebrand
• (360) 297-2443
• Downtown Kingston
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
As the “country people’s store,” Sack’s can be relied on for fruit trees, vegetable starts, uncommon perennials, drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, hanging baskets, annuals and seeds including Territorial and Botanical Interests. This year Sack’s promises a line of new and unusual varieties from “secret nurseries.” Chicks available March through June. Gifts and farm supplies, pots and potting soil, tools and fertilizers. Expect friendly, knowledgeable service and quality products. You’ll find the supplies you need to grow a beautiful, healthy garden including many organic products such as alfalfa pellets and natural pest control. They are happy to fill special orders whenever possible.
SAVAGE PLANTS
& LANDSCAPE
• Owners: Jim & Joan Savage
• (360) 297-8711
• www.savageplants.com
• 6810 Highway 104, Kingston
Directions: Just west of Wolfle Elementary
Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t be frightened, the plants don’t bite – they’re just savage good. Specializing in landscaping, larger items, unusual perennials, shrubs, grasses, conifers, annuals, Japanese maples, tropicals and vegetable starts, as well as specimen trees for customers who don’t want to wait for the mature landscape. European and Guy Wolff pottery. Display gardens include rock slab, pond’s edge, potage and mixed border. This friendly, family-run business excels in landscaping. Plants are displayed in an artistic manner designed to inspire customer creativity. In June, Savage’s new indoor retail space will be unveiled with a grand opening event complete with cake and prize drawings. Check the Web site for information on Savage’s excellent free Saturday seminars.
SUNDQUIST NURSERY
• Owner: Nils Sundquist
• (360) 779-6343
• www.sqnursery.com
• 3805 Sawdust Hill
Road, Poulsbo
Directions: The dead end side of Sawdust Hill Road, to the east of Bond Road
Open 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on these Fridays and Saturdays: April 13-14, May 11-12, June 22-23 and Sept. 14-15.
Sundquist Nursery makes an appearance at many prestigious plant sales and shows including the Northwest Flower and Garden Show and Bainbridge in Bloom garden tour. Display gardens include natives, grasses, drought tolerance, and more. Tour the gardens on open days; organized groups of 10 or more may tour other days by appointment. The nursery specializes in both collectors’ selections and tried and true ferns and perennials including epimedium, ornamental grasses, echinaceas, hostas, natives and many more. Nils researches his offerings to weed out plants with “issues.” He offers practical and creative gardening advice to ensure you’ll enjoy the plant you take home for years.
VICTORIAN
LADY LAVENDER
• Owner: Sylvia Peterson
• (360) 297-3257
• Plants available at Kingston and Hansville farmers’ markets
Look for Sylvia’s selection of lavender plants at local farmers’ markets May through July. Available starting in July are dried buds, cut lavender and lavender products. The great thing about lavender says Sylvia, is that it’s a “very grateful plant” that offers low maintenance, beauty, ease of cultivation (full sun, poor soil and dry conditions) and is not bothered by deer or other pests.
