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.

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).
August 21, 2020

10 Pierson’s Building Center

We are heading (speeding) north along Highway 101 toward my hometown, Eureka. Approaching the town of Percy, I turn to Aunt Patti and say, "You have to be really careful on this stretch because the CHPs always hang out here." Just as I turn back, wouldn’t you know it, there's one of them now...
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?"
July 7, 2020

05 Bang-For-Your-Buck Plants

To me, a Bang-For-Your-Buck Plant is a plant that gives me a lot for my dollar—in size, in its ability to live a quiet life alone as a specimen or focal point in the landscape, and in its WOW factor. Doubting a plant can give me these is one reason I tell Aunt Patti, "NO, that plant WON'T work!"
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.

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!