Rice Creek Gardens Inc.

I called Betty Ann and was able to visit the garden and nursery last week (Mid-July 2013). The display gardens at her home are stunning and beautiful, and I went home with a choice collection of plants that should do well for me in Alaska. What a treat.

Betty Ann's identifications are unreliable. I had always asked for genus and species and whether the plant was a naturally occurring species. With this information, I bought a number of plants and have been discovering that her speciation has been questionable at best. She also tends to call plants cold hardy for zone 3 or 4 that really are zone 5. Just advice in case you want to buy from her. If you don't care and only want a plant because it looks cute, that is another matter. She does sell occasionally out of her home.

Made the drive out to Rice Creek (I live about 30 miles away) and was very impressed. BEAUTIFUL set up-it was almost more like a 'garden' than a nursury. Amazing selection of daylilies-got to see some in 'person' that I'd only seen photos of... I went out there for a specific reason/plant and it was VERY hard NOT to get sidetracked. I purchased several varieties of Viola odorata - a plant I've not been able to find anywhere else except for a couple of on-line sources. I plant on going back in a few weeks to pick up a couple more 'hard to find' plants... Their plants are a bit 'spendy'...especially the more common ones, but they are HUGE and in GREAT SHAPE. They have a FANTASTIC selection of unusual plants that you can't find anywhere else locally. The people that work there are very pleasant, low-key and helpful. It was worth the time to drive out there and the plants I purchased were well worth the money. Even if I hadn't bought any plants, it's a BEAUTIFUL 'garden' to visit and look at all the different plants/flowers.

I live by Rice Creek. We have Sandy soil, as do they, so for obvious reasons I wanted to buy through them. I've had so so luck with their plants, compared to other nurseries (and plants from Home Depot & Franks). Their selection is amazing...plants you've never heard of to common ones. I've gotten a wonderful clematis from them, and an ornamental tree that seems to be doing well. Also, the daylillies seem to be doing wonderfully. I've not been happy with my grasses from them, or several of their more uncommon plants I've tried. One of the owners is very helpful and they have beautiful display gardens.

I'm lucky enough to live close enough to visit Rice Creek in person. The only sell plants that have proven to be hardy here in Zone 4. Not only do they trial, they also breed new plants and don't feature just the usual perennials that can be found anywhere else. The staff are friendly, knowledgable and have spent many years in the nursery business. I've always had good luck with the perennials, vines, and evergreens that I've purchased here.

The Rice Creek Gardens website states that they are restarting full mail order service in 2002. I checked the site because I did not receive a catalogue yet.

In 2002 is now offering Rock Garden Plants, Alpines, Dwarf Conifers, Perennials, 87 varieties of Peonies, Hardy Shrub Roses, Hardy Rhododendrons, Daylilies, Hosta, Primroses, and more on their on-line catalogue. I have been to the gardens, you will find plants there that you have never seen or heard of before! It is located in Minnesota, so you know that the plants are hardy.

I live close by this nursery, so have visited in person many times. Great place, nice people, and a super selection of wildflowers (especially the lady-slipper orchids - they've been nursing them along for a while now. I recommend them highly for any of you out there seeking prairie/woodland shade wildflowers.

Due to popular demand, Rice Creek Gardens has opened their mail order to many more plants including all of their small perennials, alpines, large perennials, daylilies (out of pot), peonies, shade plants, hostas (out of pot), primroses, most ferns, most grasses, all herbs, waterside plants, some flowering shrubs and trees, most conifers, and vines.

Rice Creek Gardens has many wonderful plants, but only peonies available for mail order.