Gethsemane Gardens

Meet my two new friends Josephine and Napoleon, hostess and host of Gethsemane Gardens, one of my very favorite nurseries.  Gethsemane Gardens specializes in Hellebores and woodland plants.  They also carry lots of winter bloomers which is such a treat this time of year.

I discovered Gethsemane several years ago when I was shopping for a birthday present for Mom.  Mom is difficult to shop for and when I find out about something she wants, I try to beat her to it.  In this case, it was a white fruited Nandina.  I called every nursery in town and was referred to Gethsemane Gardens.  At the time, my oldest son was only 7 or 8 and really wasn't interested in going shopping at a "flower store".  He soon changed his mind.

 We were greeted by the owner, a hard worker, always in the middle of raking, planting, and tending the nursery.  I asked her about the white fruited Nandina  and she offered to take us out to the green house several acres away ~ via a golf cart.  My sons eyes grew big, wow, a golf cart ride.  The rest is history.

I love a real working nursery.  Not one with big trucks that back in and deliver perfectly pruned and fertilized plants grown in optimal conditions.  No, this is the real deal.  Real people.  Real work.  Every day.  There is something to be said for that, and that is why I return year after year.

 

The nursery is located off of a country road on a plot of land just perfect for a woodland garden.  A walk through the glade is much like an Alice in Wonderland experience, complete with little tea sets and magical creatures.

  

  

  

The hellebores were just beginning to emerge above the foliage.

  

  

Next we entered the greenhouse filled with fragrant Daphne and more Hellebores.

  

  

  

  

  

Oh, did I mention the fresh eggs for sale in the garage?  Honor system, just leave the money in the refrigerator door.

Above is a plate that I painted several years ago.  I saw one like it in Tiffany and Co. and made one for myself at one of those "paint your own" pottery places.  It reminds me of my favorite nursery.  The working one, with chickens and bunnies, and little tea sets tucked into the forest full of Hellebores.

Thank you Josephine and Napoleon. 

I am sharing this with A Southern Daydreamer.