There are 3 garden centers in my area and two I stay well clear of. I can describe them as the most uninspring, boring, drab and heart sinking places to go to buy...well...anything! However there is one that stands out and is welcoming the moment you drive up the driveway. Beautifully planted out and well maintained, it has been drawing me in for years and is much a pleasurable day out as it is a place to shop. If only all garden centers looked like this one..
I agree that many garden centres offer a far wider range of rather low quality and bizarre gift items than plants, and have found that the independent nurseries and garden centres are better stocked with interesting and unusual plants. the only way to find out is to visit them all, for example, there is a garden centre near me that was very uninspiring and part of a chain which has been bought by a family and is now overflowing with wonderful plants,plus it has a great cafe and some tasteful gifts too.
see what you r eally need s some kind of gardening IKEA where you see lots of little gardens all laid out showing you ways in which things that are on sale in the gardenc entre could be used. Permenant show gardens done so well by all our lovely flower shows and then an A-Z bit t then edn where you kust pick up the bits you need. Obviously a bit more difficult with living plants thant furniture and don't know if it would be cost effective but it would make garden centre shopping more interesting
I enthustiastically dug out a lovely pond a few months ago, but have yet to put any plants in it. Is it a good idea to plant at the moment (early September) or wait until next spring?
As I live in london i go to harlow garden centre which is really nice and its only a 30 mionute drive the staff are always really helpful.they also have a tea and cake shop and offer there own jams and chutneys to buy.
Totally agree with your comments. Will not venture into LARGE centres until spring, do not want Christmas ramming down my throat thank you very much, it's a sign of the times everything geared around making as much money as possible however.
Always try to visit my small local centres to encourage proper use of GARDEN CENTRES and the sale of PLANTS.
Thanks Hulmemt, and thanks to everyone for your comments and feedback about garden centres. Please keep your comments coming as it is very useful hearing from all of you.
Garden Centres, Nurseries and Small Specialist Growers All have their own appeal. Sadly however a Number of 'Owner managed' garden centres in my area have passed into the hands of the chains, [Wyevale bought Blooms [Bressingham]& Auldene [here in the Northwest.] Fans of Garden Centres travelling around the country now find that these 'Chains' can all be the same. Once visiting a garden centre was [Like visiting a garden, a 'Unique' experience, now it is the same as the Garden Centre down the road!!]
It is NOT that Dobbies or Wyevale are 'Bad' just homogenised & Instituitionalised.
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However there is one that stands out and is welcoming the moment you drive up the driveway. Beautifully planted out and well maintained, it has been drawing me in for years and is much a pleasurable day out as it is a place to shop. If only all garden centers looked like this one..
Will not venture into LARGE centres until spring, do not want Christmas ramming down my throat thank you very much, it's a sign of the times everything geared around making as much money as possible however.
Always try to visit my small local centres to encourage proper use of GARDEN CENTRES and the sale of PLANTS.
M.T.HULME.
It is NOT that Dobbies or Wyevale are 'Bad' just homogenised & Instituitionalised.