Dave got it started...

...now it's up to us to fill in the blanks! http://davesgarden.com/local/

New DG feature - a resource for locating garden centers, public gardens, etc. More information on this thread http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/672584/#new

Thought I'd post this for anyone who hasn't seen it because I found it a little difficult to navigate to the first link. It's been less than a week since I first proposed this feature and Dave took off with it and got the ball rolling!

Debbie, you're a whiz! I added a few entries, will do some more later.

hart, I haven't had a chance to add many, but figure every "one" counts, right? I decided to just forget about adding the longitude/latitude - it just takes too much time for my dial-up :(

One thing that will help if you do decide to look up long/lat - don't bother checking the satellite photos for anything in our area. They don't have them.

I'll try to remember to add some more after Christmas. Too busy right now. I do wish they had a slot for a brief note. I added Harper's, for example. Would have put in a note saying they have water garden supplies but also have a lot of garden statuary. Oh, well, guess people can figure that out from the full name.

I do like this a lot better than what they've done with Garden Watchdog, which is add a ton of places that have no mail or internet ordering. It's almost impossible to go to watchdog and search, for example, for places that specialize in roses. Every place that sells one rose plant is listed plus every daggone little local garden center.

hart, just wanted to let you know that Dave has revised the listings and you can now add your comments :)

edited to add: looks like you and I are the only ones who have added any in Virginia - prompting everyone to add to this wonderful resource to benefit all of us - we need more!

This message was edited Dec 4, 2006 5:02 AM

I really, really have to get Christmas stuff done. LOL I'll do some more after Christmas and add some comments. I'm glad Dave added that feature.

I figured I was a pretty good person to do some Virginia ones since I'm familiar with all the garden centers in this region as well as many in Northern Virginia.

I'm making the rounds through the regional forums to let folks know about our new garden finder feature - it was a nice surprise to see a thread already started ;o)

Please add your feedback for the businesses you've patronized and the public gardens and parks you have visited. It helps other gardeners and the business or organization.

For smaller businesses and organizations, this type of "word of mouth" is their only form of advertising. And for businesses of any size, unsolicited testimonials are priceless - they can't buy that type of good will.

Here are the Mid-Atlantic listings so far:

DE: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=de
MD: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=md
NJ: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=nj
NY: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=ny
PA: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=pa
VA: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=va
DC: http://davesgarden.com/go/advanced.php?state=dc

You can narrow this down to a particular category (garden center/nursery, or public gardens, etc.) You can also plug in your ZIP and specify a radius (especially helpful if you live near the state line and want to see everything in your immediate area.)

If your favorite nursery or park/garden isn't listed yet, let us know and we'll add it, or start the entry and add what you know (we'll fill in the blanks.)

Terry, now that they've started this feature, I sure do wish someone would cull all the entries for places that don't sell mail order or online from the garden watchdog. That and the fact that every daggone listing is listed as selling everything has made it impossible to use watchdog to search for vendors for particular plants.

(There are in fact a lot of vendors listed on there as selling a particular type of plant that in fact don't sell them at all.)

If you need a volunteer to help you do this, I'd be glad to help after Christmas if there's any way to do that.

hart, that would be great. The GWD is definitely intended as a mailorder source only, and paring down the categories to those that a vendor offers a good variety of plant, seed or supplies would be wonderful. See ya after the holidays!!!!

You're faster than a speeding bullet, Terry! LOL

Just remind me if I forget. Not that I'm getting middle aged and forgetful or anything like that. LOL

Not a speeding bullet...an air rifle is more my speed ;o)

I'll tie a string around my arthritic finger to remind me to remind you.....

LOLOL!

hart, I'm happy to take you up on your offer any time you have some time!

Small comment:

It would be nice not to eliminate from WatchDog those vendors that just sell a small variety of plants/seeds. First, that is how new vendors get started -- small. Second, sometimes I have tried to find a particularly unusual plant/seed, and I really want to locate anyone who sells it. I'd hate to have a vendor excluded just because that is all the vendor sells. For example, I spent an enormous amount of time last year trying to find a reasonably-priced vendor for a particular strawberry (Mara Des Bois). The vendor I finally bought it from (Wicked Wilds) doesn't sell other plants (I think) because mostly they are a dealer in fresh fruit. I don't know if they are in WatchDog; I am using this as an example.

But I also have had the problem of vendors being listed as "having" lots of plants that they don't have at all -- an annoying "teaser" to get me to their website, I guess. But it backfires since I turn away in a huff.

Hart: You are amazing and wonderful to take that on!!!!

[This was edited because it made no sense when I first wrote it.]

This message was edited Jan 18, 2008 8:33 AM

happy, if you are looking for mail order sources of a specific plant (such as the strawberry you mentioned), the first place to try is PlantScout: http://davesgarden.com/products/ps/search.php?search_text=mara+des+bois&submit=Search

In this case, we don't have any participating vendors currently listing that product, but a Google search like this will help you identify potential sources: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=8BW&q=%22mara+des+bois%22+mail+order&btnG=Search

In this case, it looks like White Flower Farm is selling it. If you weren't familiar with this source, the next stop should be the Garden Watchdog to see what others say about their products and services: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/96

If you decide this isn't a vendor you want to try, click on the "fruits and berries" category on their entry to see a list of all vendors selling similar plants: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/advanced.php?category=11 (that's more or less a "last resort" since in many cases, the list can be quite long.)

Now, if you're looking for a local source to buy from, it's easy to find the garden centers in your area: http://gardens.com/go/ - just click on "Advanced Search" and plug in your ZIP code (or city/state) to see who is nearby.

There isn't any easy way to know who-sells-what on a local level. (No one offers a free PlantScout type plant-finder tool for retail garden centers, and we're not ready to offer that service yet ;o) In those cases, your best bet is to ask friends and neighbors - either in person, or in your regional forum here at DG. Be sure to leave feedback for the mail order vendors and local businesses you patronize; what you know will help others!

Thanks Terry; you're wonderful to spell all this out. I found the berries last year after some hunting -- the White Flower Farm prices were over the top, so I needed a different vendor.

I was just reacting to your comment a few posts above that it would be good to pare down WD to vendors who offer a "good variety of plants." I still think it is useful even (or maybe especially for) smaller vendor.

The categories are definitely a "mixed blessing". On one hand, we strongly caution companies to limit their categories to only those items they truly "specialize" in (meaning they offer a good assortment of varieties or species of the plants/seeds that fall within that category.)

But a lot of vendors are afraid they'll lose out on some potential customer exposure if they aren't listed under every category they possibly can. Also, vendors change up their offerings occasionally, so their categories may need to be changed as well. (At one time, we didn't have WFF listed under berry plants, but they sell some fruit/berry plants.)

Savvy companies recognize the value in leading customers directly to their door with PlantScout. As time goes on, we hope more companies will see the benefits of PlantScout, so more of the "where-to-buy" questions like yours can be answered with a few quick mouse clicks ;o)

Thanks, Terry. These resources are all fabulous!

You're very welcome! Now it's your turn: please be sure to review your local garden centers and nurseries (and public gardens, farmers markets, etc.) so when spring fever hits, others can benefit from your experiences! http://davesgarden.com/togardens.php

Sign. I know I'm bad about doing that. I need to mend my ways.

chuckle...hey, now's a great time! It's cold out, and too early to plant. So we can fondly reminisce about last year's great garden center forays...

Yeah, if I hadn't been up since 4am trying to get office work done . . . . just peaking over at DG for a bit of a break!

Ahhh happy - I too am bad about that...kept "meaning to" and didn't...so that will be one of my goals. God knows I've benefited so much from other DGers taking the time to post the good, the bad, and the ugly!!

Hi Chantell!!!! Yes, you are right; that's another motivator. The wealth of information and help here is unsurpassed.

I am in Eatern Ky a few miles from the Va state line. Would I be a mid Atlantic gardener?

Yes, you are very welcome!