Resources
LOCAL AREA NURSERIES
Acer Gardens: 447 Winthrop Rd., Deep River; 860-526-9056; acergardens.com
Ballek’s Garden Center: 90 Maple Ave., East Haddam; 860-873-8878; balleksgardencenter.com
Broken Arrow Nursery: 13 Broken Arrow Rd., Hamden; 203-288-1026; brokenarrownursery.com
Cricket Hill Garden: 670 Walnut Hill Rd., Thomaston; 860-283-1042; treepeony.com
Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery: 212 Grassy Hill Rd., Woodbury; 203-263-6626; earthtonesnatives.com
Garden Sales: 308 Oakland St., Manchester; 860-649-9406; gardensalesllc.com
Grove Garden Center: 341 E. Main St., Clinton; 860-669-6757; grovegardencenter.com
Lavender Pond Farm: 318 Roast Meat Hill Rd., Killingworth; 203-350-0367; lavenderpondfarm.com
Madison Earth Care: 1250 Durham Rd.; 203-421-4358; madisonearthcare.com
Madison Flower Shop & Garden Center: 376 Durham Rd.; 203-245-4851; madisonflowershop.com
Maynard Greenhouses: 87 Ingham Hill Rd., Old Saybrook; 860-388-3300; maynardgreenhouse.com
Native Plant Nursery: 2940 Redding Rd., Fairfield; 203-658-7475; anativeplantnursery.com
Natureworks: 518 Forest Rd., Northford; 203-484-2748; naturework.com
Oliver Nursery: 1159 Bronson Rd., Fairfield; 203-259-5609; olivernurseries.com
Riggio’s Garden Center, Inc.: 136 Westbrook Rd., Essex; 860-767-0126; riggiosgardencenter.com
Running Brook Farms: 219 CT-80, Killingworth; 860-663-5522; runningbrookfarms.com
Shady Hill Nursery: 628 Summer Hill Rd.; 203-421-1133; shadyhill.com
Shoreline Gardens, LLC: 31A CT-145, Clinton; 860-669-0765; facebook.com/Shoreline-Gardens-103396337751/
Van Wilgen’s Garden Center: 51 Valley Rd., North Branford; 203-488-2110; vanwilgens.com
Vaiuso Farms, Inc.: 75 Hosley Ave., Branford; 203-433-7972; vaiusofarms.com
Village Greene Gardens: 800 Boston Post Rd., Guilford; 203-453-1818; hockingsllc.com
White Flower Farm: 167 Litchfield Rd., Morris; 800-503-9624; whiteflowerfarm.com
Wicked Tulips Flower Farm: 90 Brown Ave., Johnston, RI 02919; 401-297-3700; wickedtulips.com
NATIVE TREES & SHRUBS
For plants that are hardy, adapted to the climate, and often just as ornamental as many introduced species, go native! Below is a list of northeast natives, excluding introduced species that have naturalized. See DJG Native Plant Walk for other native shrubs.
Acer rubrum & saccharum, Red Swamp Maple & Sugar Maple
Amelanchier canadensis & laevis, Shadblow & Allegheny Serviceberry
Andromeda polifolia, Bog Rosemary
Azalea arborescens & vaseyi, Sweet Azalea & Roseshell Azalea
Betula nigra, River Birch
Chamaecyparis thyoides, Eastern White Cedar
Clethra alnifolia, Summersweet
Cornus alternifolia, Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood
Cornus mas, Cornelian Cherry
Hamamelis vernalis, Vernal Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana, Common Witch Hazel
Ilex glabra, Inkberry
Juniperus virginiana, Eastern Red Cedar
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweet Gum Tree
Myrica pennsylvanica, Northern Bayberry
Nyssa sylvatica, Black Tupelo
Pachysandra procumbens, Allegheny Spurge
Pinus strobus, Eastern White Pine
Quercus alba, White Oak
Quercus palustris, Pin Oak
Rhus aromatic, Fragrant Sumac
Rhus glabra, Smooth Sumac
Ribes alpinum, Alpine Currant
Sambucus canadensis, Elderberry
Thuja occidentalis pyramidalis, Pyramidal Arborvitae
Tsuga canadensis, Canadian Hemlock
Vaccinium corymbosum, Highbush Blueberry
Viburnum lentago, Nannyberry Viburnum
Viburnum prunifolium, Blackhaw Viburnum
POLLINATOR PATHWAY
The Madison Pollinatore Pathway Project works to preserve, protect and develop pollinator habitats throughout town. By joining the Pollinator Pathway Project, residents can help extend connections from their own properties to land-trust sites, town and state gardens and other private properties.
For more information: pollinator-pathway.org/madison
PUBLIC GARDENS TO TOUR (Connecticut)
Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens: Contains 93 acres of parkland, gardens, landscapes, and hiking trails that focus on the regional plants, ecology, and character of Southwestern New England. 151 Brookdale Rd., Stamford; 203-322-6971.
Colorblends House & Spring Garden: An intimate garden set around a restored 1903 Colonial Revival mansion that is a collaboration between Bridgeport-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs and distinguished Dutch garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet. 893 Clinton Ave., Bridgeport; 888-847-8637; colorblendspringgarden.com.
Connecticut College Arboretum: A 750-acre arboretum with botanical gardens, founded in 1931, and located on the campus of Connecticut College. The arboretum includes multiple trails to view landscaped areas, botanical gardens, native plant collections, and more than 200 species of trees. 270 Mohegan Ave., New London; 860-439-5020.
Elizabeth Park: A 102-acre city park on the National Register of Historic Places, it includes extensive rose gardens and the Connecticut State Herb Garden. 1561 Asylum Ave., West Hartford; 860-231-9443.
Florence Griswold Museum and Gardens: The Florence Griswold Museum is located on 12 scenic acres along the Lieutenant River, and features a beautiful landscape and old-fashioned historic gardens. 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme; 860-434-5542.
Harkness Memorial State Park: A 230-acre Connecticut state park and botanical garden located on Long Island Sound. Landscape designer was Beatrix Jones Farrand. Great Neck Rd., Waterford; 860-443-5725.
Highstead Foundation: Formerly Highstead Arboretum, founded in 1982. 127 Lonetown Rd., West Redding; 203-938-8809.
Hollister House Garden: 300 Nettleton Hollow Rd., Washington; 860-868-2200.
Marsh Botanical Garden: Consists of an arboretum, gardens, and greenhouses on the Yale University campus. 265 Mansfield St., New Haven; 203-432-6320.
PUBLIC GARDENS TO TOUR (Out of State)
Bedrock Gardens: 45 High Rd., Lee, NH; bedrockgardens.org
Chanticleer Gardens: 78 Church Rd., Wayne, PA; chanticleergarden.org
Donald Kendall Sculpture Gardens: 700 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY; pepsico.com/sculpture-gardens (Open most weekends April–October, call first to confirm 914-253-3150)
Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Annual Tour (Beacon Hill GC): 10 Charles St., Boston, MA; beaconhillgardenclub.org (Open third Thursday in May, see website)
The High Line: 820 Washington St., New York, NY; thehighline.org
Longhouse Reserve: 133 Hands Creek Rd., East Hampton Long Island, NY; longhouse.org
Longwood Gardens: 1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square, PA; longwoodgardens.org
Massachusetts Horticulture Society: 900 Washington St., Wellesley, MA; masshort.org
The Mount: 2 Plunkett St., Lenox, MA; edithwharton.org
Mt. Holyoke College Botanic Garden: South Hadley, MA; mtholyoke.edu/botanic
New York Botanical Garden: 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY; nybg.org
Sakonnet Garden Open Day: 510 West Main Rd., Little Compton, RI;
sakonnetgarden.com (Only open one weekend in May, see website for details)
Storm King Sculpture Gardens: 1 Museum Rd., Windsor, NY; stormking.org
Tower Hill Botanical Gardens: 11 French Dr., Boylston, MA; massbotanicgardens.org/tower-hill
Wave Hill: West 249th St. & Independence Ave., Bronx, NY; wavehill.org
SUSTAINABLE SEED RESOURCES
Mother Earth rates the following as the top 15 sustainable seed companies due to consistently high germination rates, detailed variety descriptions, growing advice, and making the Safe Seed Pledge (written commitment to sell only non-Genetically Modified seeds or public declaration that they will not knowingly sell GM seeds):
| Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (MO) | |
| Botanical Interests (CO) | |
| Burpee Seeds and Plants (PA) | |
| The Cook’s Garden (PA) | |
| Fedco Seeds (ME) | |
| Ferry-Morse Seed Company (KY) | |
| High Mowing Organic Seeds (VT) | |
| Johnny’s Selected Seeds (ME) | |
| Nichols Garden Nursery (OR) | |
| Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply (CA) | |
| Renee’s Garden Seeds (CA) | |
| Seeds of Change (CA) | |
| Seed Savers Exchange (IA) | |
| Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (VA) | |
| Territorial Seed Company (OR) |
Online Seed & Plant Directory: Find a directory of more than 100 mail-order seed and plant companies at motherearthnews.com/directories/seed-and-plant-directory.aspx.
Organic Seeds Off the Rack: Find organic and heirloom seeds from Burpee, Ferry-Morse, Cook’s Garden, and others, at big box stores, garden centers, and health food stores. Gift and gourmet shops may carry Renee’s Garden seeds. Food co-ops and independently owned health food stores, such as Southern Exposure, often have displays from regional seed companies. (Each company’s website includes a store locator button.) Some companies, such as Renee’s, Botanical Interests, John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden Seeds, Seeds of Change, and others, offer school fundraiser programs.
CONNECTICUT’S SEED LIBRARIES
For borrowing a few seeds, check out:
Bethlehem Public Library: 32 Main St. South, Bethlehem; 203-266-7792
Brainerd Memorial Library: 920 Saybrook Rd., Haddam; 860-345-2204
Comstock Ferre & Co. and Heirloom Market: 263 Main St., Wethersfield; 860-257-2790
Fairfield Public Library: 1147 Fairfield Woods Rd., Fairfield; 203-255-7307
Minor Memorial Library: 23 South St., Roxbury; 860-350-2181
New Canaan Seed Library & Exchange: 151 Main St., New Canaan; 203-594-5000
Scoville Memorial Library: 38 Main St., Salisbury; 860-435-2838
Westport Public Library: 20 Jesup Rd., Westport; 203-291-4800