I 'm Sheri Burke, plant lover, and let me say that if there is a plant nursery on my daily path of errands, I stop. If there is a nursery on my path to my BFF’s house, I stop. If there is a nursery on my path to visit family, I stop.

This stop-for-every-nursery path of mine led me to the idea of making yearly trips with my Aunt Patti (just as crazy about all things plants as I am) with no objective except to visit nurseries and public gardens. We pick a general destination, let’s say Oregon. We make a list of all the nurseries on our path, depending upon which freeway we decide to travel. And we head out!

I drive, Aunt Patti navigates. And we have a rule: she has her side of the vehicle, I have mine, and the two cannot encroach on the other without paying rent or a free plant. We take food and drink with us because stopping somewhere to eat means less time at a nursery!

Only after we have been thrown out of the last nursery for the day do we start looking for a hotel. Luckily, we have not had to sleep in the car. We love living on the edge. So come along and enjoy with us our journey of plant nursery joy!

First Visit?

JUST A SUGGESTION! Begin with post 01 Dragonfly Farm. Find my archives here.

January 15, 2021

23 Flowercraft Garden Center

Before I get into some Flowercraft Garden Center purchases, may I register a complaint? During this pandemic, visiting nurseries has been very difficult on Aunt Patti and me. Here's why: Most—if not ALL—their restrooms are "CLOSED TO PUBLIC." Soooo annoying!!! I mean, I get why, and some might consider this a petty problem, but...doesn’t everybody have to pee?!
December 18, 2020

21 Bushnell Gardens Nursery

What do you do while cruising down the road and you see a sign that reads, "GIANT PLANT SALE"? Duh! In the Name of Plants you STOP! There is nothing that should keep you from screeching those tires, making a hard turn, and jumping from your vehicle to start waltzing.
December 11, 2020

20 Fabulous Fall Foliage

If fall colors don’t make you want to get out there and add variety to your garden, I don’t know what will! Who does not enjoy being outdoors at this time of year? And when I'm stuck working in my office, I want to look out my window at something breathtakingly beautiful.
September 18, 2020

13 Woodlanders Online Nursery

I can’t remember the name of the first nursery catalog I bought from, but I do remember receiving the package. Here I am with giddy anticipation, ripping open the box, expecting to see plants that look JUST LIKE the catalog pictures. And what do my eyes see? Twigs and clumps of dirt. What in the hell was I supposed to do with these?
November 7, 2025

108 Fall Into My Garden

Don’t you just love Fall Days in the garden? I do. When visiting nurseries, no matter the season, I'm always thinking about Fall Color. I try to prioritize purchasing plants that, along with whatever beauty or interest they bring, will also make my fall garden as stunning as in spring and summer. "Fall" with me into a post about color and other fascinating developments in my garden!
September 26, 2025

107 The Secret Garden

AP and I visited The Secret Garden on our way home from visiting out-of-town nurseries. We got there late in the day—which explains why it was 105 degrees. (Who in the hell else goes nursery shopping in the late afternoon?!) Due to the heat we did not stay as long as we might have. But we still managed to put a dent in our wallets!
July 25, 2025

106 Notable Nurseries 2

In Episode 2 of note-worthy nurseries, I bring you 3 nurseries that AP and I visited on our So Cal trip in 2021. The first nursery is surrounded by ocean breezes, the second feels like it's somebody's backyard, and the third had me expecting a celebrity sighting!

Sheri Lynn Burke

My journey began as a small child watching and helping my mom in the garden. Years later, I bought a home, had those kids, had an ugly landscape and thought, "I can do better." So for the next 10 years, thousands (and thousands) of dollars went to plants. But I became a serial killer as 80% of them died. "Screw this!" I said. I had an eye for design but didn't know how to keep the damn plants alive! I procrastinated for 5 years ('cuz I wanted more death) and then became a certified Master Gardener. Four years and three pieces of paper later, I got a Horticulture degree. No longer a serial killer, I'm now a landscape designer and contractor with my own business. I had to train this green thumb that I got from my mother. But, Mom, I owe it all to you!

January 15, 2021

23 Flowercraft Garden Center

Before I get into some Flowercraft Garden Center purchases, may I register a complaint? During this pandemic, visiting nurseries has been very difficult on Aunt Patti and me. Here's why: Most—if not ALL—their restrooms are "CLOSED TO PUBLIC." Soooo annoying!!! I mean, I get why, and some might consider this a petty problem, but...doesn’t everybody have to pee?!
December 18, 2020

21 Bushnell Gardens Nursery

What do you do while cruising down the road and you see a sign that reads, "GIANT PLANT SALE"? Duh! In the Name of Plants you STOP! There is nothing that should keep you from screeching those tires, making a hard turn, and jumping from your vehicle to start waltzing.
December 11, 2020

20 Fabulous Fall Foliage

If fall colors don’t make you want to get out there and add variety to your garden, I don’t know what will! Who does not enjoy being outdoors at this time of year? And when I'm stuck working in my office, I want to look out my window at something breathtakingly beautiful.
September 18, 2020

13 Woodlanders Online Nursery

I can’t remember the name of the first nursery catalog I bought from, but I do remember receiving the package. Here I am with giddy anticipation, ripping open the box, expecting to see plants that look JUST LIKE the catalog pictures. And what do my eyes see? Twigs and clumps of dirt. What in the hell was I supposed to do with these?
November 7, 2025

108 Fall Into My Garden

Don’t you just love Fall Days in the garden? I do. When visiting nurseries, no matter the season, I'm always thinking about Fall Color. I try to prioritize purchasing plants that, along with whatever beauty or interest they bring, will also make my fall garden as stunning as in spring and summer. "Fall" with me into a post about color and other fascinating developments in my garden!
September 26, 2025

107 The Secret Garden

AP and I visited The Secret Garden on our way home from visiting out-of-town nurseries. We got there late in the day—which explains why it was 105 degrees. (Who in the hell else goes nursery shopping in the late afternoon?!) Due to the heat we did not stay as long as we might have. But we still managed to put a dent in our wallets!
July 25, 2025

106 Notable Nurseries 2

In Episode 2 of note-worthy nurseries, I bring you 3 nurseries that AP and I visited on our So Cal trip in 2021. The first nursery is surrounded by ocean breezes, the second feels like it's somebody's backyard, and the third had me expecting a celebrity sighting!