Shopping State Nursery
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This postcard reminder arrived last week. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Shopping State Nursery
I have to confess, just the thought of window shopping the George O. White State Nursery catalog is exciting. And a couple of years ago, they moved up the ordering window from November 1 to September 1, making daydreaming easier as one looks around the garden to imagine what can be planted where.
The George O. White Nursery was started by a US Forest Service employee in the 1930s to help replant Missouri’s overgrazed, over cut forests. The nursery is now managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, which offers their excess seedlings from replanting projects to the general public.
Their seeds are sourced from participating land management agencies that need plants for restoration projects or purchased from native seed companies.
Oops, two more native Rose Mallows that still need to get planted from last year’s order. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Now there are several good reasons to jump on that September 1 ordering window:
Sought-after plants - and those vary from year to year - disappear quickly. Serviceberry, Eastern Redbuds and Witch Hazel sold out quickly last year but that doesn’t mean you can’t get any. The trick is to order your plants early and pay for them within the 30 day payment window.
If you see something you want marked as sold out, place an order anyway. Many people order early but wait to pay. The nursery cancels those unpaid orders and moves on to the next person on the waiting list. I’ve picked up originally sold out plants because the person who ordered before me didn’t pay.
Their catalog - online and in print - is an excellent information source for what to plant for what purpose. Even if you don’t order from them now, get a copy of the catalog for your gardening library, they include a copy of the catalog if you get the monthly Missouri Conservationist Magazine. You can also request a copy and download a copy.
Now these will be seedlings so think about where you can plant these babies for best survival. They will be shipped next spring so we have plenty of time to daydream - I mean, plan!
