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.

July 29, 2020

07 Absolute Home & Garden

Heading out from Emerisa Gardens and on to our next adventure, Aunt Patti and I were chit-chatting and, since I'm always driving (whizzing by at top speed), the corner of our eyes barely caught something interesting on the left as we passed. "Was that garden art!?"
July 21, 2020

06 Emerisa Gardens Nursery

One thing I love about traveling to nurseries (other than the obvious!) is that they are located in areas you would not otherwise visit. Emerisa Gardens Nursery is out "in the fields" and as usual we are driving along asking ourselves "where in the hell is the nursery?"
June 27, 2020

04 Happy Bee Garden Center

Speaking of annuals, we stopped at Happy Bee Garden Center after a lovely visit with some family—since they were in our "path." I’m sure they felt honored.... Happy Bee Garden Center (now F&B Farms and Nursery) was completely filled with annuals. Color galore!!! We couldn’t help but stop in our tracks at the door and stare.
June 17, 2020

03 Annie’s

Like I said, if you have never been, you have not lived. Seriously. I went for the first time by myself probably 20 years ago. Annie's, woman-owned and run, is located in Richmond CA literally "on the other side of the tracks." It wasn't just paranoia to be thinking I might get carjacked. Once I made it down a block or two, I started seeing green beauty, and there it was. Annie’s. Right from the entrance I knew it was going to be better than sex.
June 16, 2020

02 – 101 Plants & Things

North from Dragonfly Farm is 101 Plants and Things. Before we arrived, we stopped in the little town of Bandon and had a great crab sandwich on the bay. It was such a beautiful day, clear blue skies. We did go to the flea market--per the woman at Dragonfly Farm with the crap load of kids, who told us we should check a guy out there who sells plants. But I am a plant snob, and he had nothing I wanted to waste valuable space for on my side of the car.
June 15, 2020

01 Dragonfly Farm

The Oregon coastline is beautiful in and of itself. But adding one of the most beautiful nurseries on the road to joy makes it freakin’ amazing. Dragonfly Farm is like sex but better, if you ask me. Let me warn you though. Due to the lushness of the area, the Dragonfly Farm sign is hidden. When the Google Maps woman says "turn right," you have to screech the tires as you brake and swing a hard right into the driveway. This made us have to pee, adjust the luggage and comfort our precious plants in the back of the car.

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!

 
July 29, 2020

07 Absolute Home & Garden

Heading out from Emerisa Gardens and on to our next adventure, Aunt Patti and I were chit-chatting and, since I'm always driving (whizzing by at top speed), the corner of our eyes barely caught something interesting on the left as we passed. "Was that garden art!?"
July 21, 2020

06 Emerisa Gardens Nursery

One thing I love about traveling to nurseries (other than the obvious!) is that they are located in areas you would not otherwise visit. Emerisa Gardens Nursery is out "in the fields" and as usual we are driving along asking ourselves "where in the hell is the nursery?"
June 27, 2020

04 Happy Bee Garden Center

Speaking of annuals, we stopped at Happy Bee Garden Center after a lovely visit with some family—since they were in our "path." I’m sure they felt honored.... Happy Bee Garden Center (now F&B Farms and Nursery) was completely filled with annuals. Color galore!!! We couldn’t help but stop in our tracks at the door and stare.
June 17, 2020

03 Annie’s

Like I said, if you have never been, you have not lived. Seriously. I went for the first time by myself probably 20 years ago. Annie's, woman-owned and run, is located in Richmond CA literally "on the other side of the tracks." It wasn't just paranoia to be thinking I might get carjacked. Once I made it down a block or two, I started seeing green beauty, and there it was. Annie’s. Right from the entrance I knew it was going to be better than sex.
June 16, 2020

02 – 101 Plants & Things

North from Dragonfly Farm is 101 Plants and Things. Before we arrived, we stopped in the little town of Bandon and had a great crab sandwich on the bay. It was such a beautiful day, clear blue skies. We did go to the flea market--per the woman at Dragonfly Farm with the crap load of kids, who told us we should check a guy out there who sells plants. But I am a plant snob, and he had nothing I wanted to waste valuable space for on my side of the car.
June 15, 2020

01 Dragonfly Farm

The Oregon coastline is beautiful in and of itself. But adding one of the most beautiful nurseries on the road to joy makes it freakin’ amazing. Dragonfly Farm is like sex but better, if you ask me. Let me warn you though. Due to the lushness of the area, the Dragonfly Farm sign is hidden. When the Google Maps woman says "turn right," you have to screech the tires as you brake and swing a hard right into the driveway. This made us have to pee, adjust the luggage and comfort our precious plants in the back of the car.