We all want the growing season to go on forever. Agreed? So, when you’ve had it up to your eyeballs in mums and want plants that extend a spectacular garden over the long haul, visit these verdant garden centers. Striving for diversity, here are some highlights among the specialists and well-stocked generalists within the Fairfield/Litchfield County region. Now is the perfect time to make the rounds while fall planting is full speed ahead (great weather for transplanting too). Go forth with a full tank and plenty of fillable space in your back seat.
Shakespeare’s Garden, Brookfield
No longer a best-kept secret, the word is out about this country-road treasure. Two brothers followed their dream to convert a historic dairy farm into a nursery, with accoutrements galore—statuary, containers, vases, seasonal decorations—in the former milking parlor and a labyrinth of greenhouses off the sides. Selection is ample to keep your garden performing throughout the year. Most notably, houseplant geeks make the pilgrimage from afar to purchase a dizzying array of connoisseur tropicals from trendy aroids to rare orchids.
White Flower Farm, Morris
This legendary nursery is a walk in the park—with the option to try those tricks at home. Beyond the vast inventory of plants for sale, the landscape is part of the allure. A rose garden is festooned in shrub roses and climbers while the Great Dixter-inspired Lloyd Border pairs perennials, shrubs and annuals. There’s an all-white moon garden, kitchen garden and greenhouse chock-full of specimen tuberous begonias bouncing with blooms. Take a side trip to nearby Litchfield Hills Nursery stocked with perennials, herbs and the region’s finest array of tools.
Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery & Landscapes, Woodbury
Going native? Make a pilgrimage to this nursery conveniently organized by preferred growing conditions. Neatly potted locally native plants for every habitat (woodland shrubs, upland shrubs, wet meadow, sunny meadow, shade-loving, bog-preferring, etc.) are displayed in a series of sales areas weaving between mature in-ground plantings to share the splendor that can occur when the local talent is let loose to romp.
Oliver Nurseries, Fairfield
Plant geeks know where to go. With rare new intros as well as old faithfuls, Oliver specializes in shrubs and trees in a wide range of sizes, perennials beyond what your neighbor grows, a vast array of uncommon annuals, and the area’s most impressive inventory of alpines, including trough plants all staged in a beautifully designed space. They also offer a variety of tropical oddities to follow you indoors in autumn. Demos and lectures happen regularly to keep you up to speed.
Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, Greenwich
For three generations, this family has worked to cover all the full-service garden-center bases. Plenty of mums are on the premises, but that’s just the beginning. These fall planting advocates stock it all—from shrubs, trees and perennials (strong on the ornamental grasses) to combo containers pre-composed with compatible bedfellows. The nursery is expansive (tip: wear hiking boots). Houseplants are their forte, especially big statement specimens, plus they feature the largest pottery selection in the area.