Living Like a Perennial in an Annual Kind of World
I’m not from around here. To be honest, I’ve never really been from anywhere. Growing up with a father in the military, and then after joining up myself, I learned pretty quickly not to invest my time into putting down roots, both literally and figuratively, because it was too painful to surrender them every two or three years. Fortunately for my family and me, I had a mother who didn’t buy into that attitude. She treated people like they’d always be her neighbors, took care of houses like they were her own property, and she planted gardens like she would see them every spring for the rest of her life. Always an avid gardener, she often baffled the neighborhood by her tireless planting when, all too often, we would be leaving before she would even see the flowers come into bloom. (She even planted thorny rose bushes once underneath my sister’s window to discourage her from sneaking out. It didn’t work.) In all those years of moving around, my mother taught me a lot about what it means to make the world a more beautiful place, and there are her gardens all around the world to prove it. And now, a mom myself with a family and a little bit of Woodstock dirt in my name, I decided that it was my turn to put down a few roots of my own. I asked around to discover the best locally-owned nurseries to help me in my efforts, and time and again, these were the names that came up.
1. Autumn Hill Nursery
With two family-owned locations in both Canton and Hickory Flat, Autumn Hill Nursery is a gardening wonderland for both the novice and the expert. Their website cordially invites you to “Come by. Visit awhile and get to know us. Bring along a picnic lunch. Your children can feed the fish, your spouse can sit and read in the shade; and WE can talk gardening. Hope to see you soon.” You won’t get THAT from any big orange box stores. When I made it to the Hickory Flat location, I was greeted by Shiree who talked with me for a good thirty minutes (at least) on the intricacies of planting and maintaining roses. She helped me load all my purchases in the back of my car, and then enrolled me their free “Gardening Together Club,” which offers rewards for each purchase that you make with them. I drove away with solid, unhurried advice and some of the most beautiful, healthful flowers I’d ever purchased.
2. Lady Slipper Rare Plant Nursery
Lady Slipper has a great reputation around town for carrying healthy, rare flowers and plants that you’re not likely to find in every yard in your neighborhood. Casey, the owner’s son, was gracious enough to give me a grand tour of the nursery on my first visit, and he showed me plenty of uncommon and gorgeous plants grown on the property, including pineapple lilies, fifty-four varieties of hostas, and over twenty varieties of herbs. I think what they’re most famous for, and rightly so, are the endless rows of hanging baskets whose vibrant colors and creative arrangement would impress even the most seasoned gardeners.
3. Morgan’s Ace Hardware
Located conveniently in downtown Woodstock behind Right Wing Tavern, Morgan’s Ace Hardware never fails to treat me well whenever I come in. I went there once for duct tape, and three people asked me if they could help me before I could get to the right aisle…now that’s service. That’s why it didn’t surprise me much when their name was mentioned when I asked where I should go to buy the best plants. The clerk was more than happy to take me out into their nursery and show me their heirloom tomato plants, hanging baskets, and spring supply of perennials and annuals. What’s more, it’s also a one-stop shop for all the finishing touches on your garden like statues, bird baths, and porch swings.
