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.

April 23, 2021

33 Putting the “B” in Euphoria

My #4 favorite plant, the Euphorbia, has come into blossoming season with flower stalks uncurling to show off their beauty. All Euphorbias are show stoppers, but Euphorbia characias 'Dwarf'—Aunt Patti and I each bought one at Annies years ago—gets top billing in my book.
January 29, 2021

25 Conifer Crazy

Why do spruce, pine, fir, juniper, cedar, redwood and cypress fall under the category of conifers? Because they produce cones and have needle-like leaves. And because they are evergreen—with a few exceptions like the one in my garden which I have no desire to take a picture of in dead of winter because it looks like a twig.
January 8, 2021

22 Miss Viola

What’s in a blog name....except my NUMBER ONE FAVORITE PLANT!?! You may be shocked to read this because Violas are so common, and you know I have a thing for all plants new and unusual. But I have to ask you this: What flower, besides Miss Viola, actually smiles back at you?
August 28, 2020

11 Bamboo Hell to Heaven

Back in the day, I was stupider about plants. I am now paying the price. Let's go back some 25 years. My husband has always loved bamboo, so I put a few varieties of bamboo in one of those extra large wine barrels (stupid mistake #1) and placed it on soil (stupid mistake #2).

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!

 
April 23, 2021

33 Putting the “B” in Euphoria

My #4 favorite plant, the Euphorbia, has come into blossoming season with flower stalks uncurling to show off their beauty. All Euphorbias are show stoppers, but Euphorbia characias 'Dwarf'—Aunt Patti and I each bought one at Annies years ago—gets top billing in my book.
January 29, 2021

25 Conifer Crazy

Why do spruce, pine, fir, juniper, cedar, redwood and cypress fall under the category of conifers? Because they produce cones and have needle-like leaves. And because they are evergreen—with a few exceptions like the one in my garden which I have no desire to take a picture of in dead of winter because it looks like a twig.
January 8, 2021

22 Miss Viola

What’s in a blog name....except my NUMBER ONE FAVORITE PLANT!?! You may be shocked to read this because Violas are so common, and you know I have a thing for all plants new and unusual. But I have to ask you this: What flower, besides Miss Viola, actually smiles back at you?
August 28, 2020

11 Bamboo Hell to Heaven

Back in the day, I was stupider about plants. I am now paying the price. Let's go back some 25 years. My husband has always loved bamboo, so I put a few varieties of bamboo in one of those extra large wine barrels (stupid mistake #1) and placed it on soil (stupid mistake #2).