For some of us, feeling good about the holidays can be tough. You don't want to contribute to the 4.4 pounds of garbage a person makes every day. You want to live in a sustainable way. Luckily, if you really want to go green for the holidays, you’re living in the right place. Give the gift that truly keeps on giving — plants.
When I moved here from New York City, the novelty of putting things in the ground to grow had me exploring area nurseries. Then when my partner and I bought a new house last spring, of all the lovely things we received, the plants were my faves. Plus, every time I look at that plant growing in the corner, I'm reminded of the giver (thanks, Uncle Tommy).
To make your holiday season a little easier, I've put together the lowdown on area nurseries to help you get a feel for how you might use them to tackle your list. No, it’s not totally comprehensive. (Heck, I wrote this for the complaint comments that will tell me about more nurseries to check out.) So have at it.
PINELLAS
Willow Tree Nursery
4401 49th St. N., St. Pete. 727-522-2594.
Why go here
This place is extremely well-organized, and it has a massive selection. The front area offers loads of small plants and pots and other gift-y type items, like gardeners' gloves, that make it easy to dash in and out. Great parking, wide lanes and well-marked prices make it ideal for idea shopping. The prices are easy, too.
The vibe
It’s always a little bit busy but there's never really a wait because the place is so huge you're not tripping over other patrons, and there always seem to be plenty of people around to help you out. Most can answer basic gardening questions, but the seasoned gardeners tend to be in the cash register area. They'll talk to you about the care and feeding of your purchases and past purchases.
All Seasons
101 Pasadena Ave. S., St. Pete. 727-360-7522.
Why go here
Personal attention is the watchword here. I was interested in a Staghorn fern, but they didn’t have any. By the next day, the clerk I'd spoken to found one and called me to come get it. The "clipping" was huge and about a third of the price of what I’d seen elsewhere (I didn't tell them I was writing this story).
The vibe
Tight and tiny, but I wasn’t the only shopper there. Initially I thought there wasn’t going to be enough here to include on the list, but there was more tucked away than it seemed at first. You may prefer that it's not so overwhelming as some of the larger centers, and that it's easier to get more attention.
Dolins Garden Center
801 62nd Ave. N., St. Pete. 727-525-3434.
Why go here
This place is massive and the prices were great. But for the most part, they leave you alone (this is preferable to another place I went, not on this list, where a creepy guy on a tractor followed me around). The big bonus here is that I was able to find everything on my list. If you know just what you want, this place is for you.
The vibe
You'll probably have to wait if you need some help, and even then you might not get it. But there are so many people shopping there at any given time, you can usually get some advice from a fellow gardener.
HILLSBOROUGH
Fancy Free
Fancy Free Nursery, 1502 N. Florida Ave. 813-260-0217.
Why go here
If all you ever wanted to do was surround yourself with beautiful things, I suggest heading here ASAP. Rather than garden gnomes and spades, this shop carries accessory items like hand-woven rugs and textiles. This is the place to go if you have a lot of money to drop and want to have something gorgeous created for your recipient.
The vibe
I was the only customer and it seems they're not built for big crowds. It's not the smallest nursery I've been to around town, but it's the smallest one that made this list. Also, despite the clerk telling me she wanted me to love growing things and not shopping, when I showed more interest in buying dirt and plants instead of the carefully curated potted plantings she'd made, I felt a definite chill.
Treemart Inc.
12505 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-972-4006.
Why go here
This is the place to go if you're looking for mature trees and shrubs, which at first made me think it might not be a good inclusion for this list. But they still had a huge selection of smaller plants as well as a fairly robust selection of garden accessories that make it a possible one-stop shop.
The vibe
This place was crawling with heavy machinery at midday on a Friday. It's staffed with experienced landscapers who can help you figure out everything from problems in your irrigation system to which plants will grow best in shade. But getting overwhelmed is a possibility — it's enormous.
Hummingbird Garden
10305 Henderson Rd., Tampa. 813-264-1643.
Why go here
You go here to throw a party. There are plenty of plants and even garden items, but the real focus seems to be on using the beautiful grounds as a backdrop for an event. The parking is ample and it's abutted by a horse farm. Also, if you're in the area, they offer a nice array of well-priced organic fruits and veggies.
The vibe
Once again, I was the only person shopping. Though this place could handle a crowd, I didn't sense they get many. It feels a bit tucked away, which is perfect if you're hosting a party.
Lisa L. Kirchner is the author of the critically acclaimed Hello American Lady Creature: What I Learned as a Woman in Qatar. Her work has appeared in book anthologies, magazines & newspapers including The Washington Post and salon.com. Celebrity interviews include: Amy Sedaris, Xavier Dolan and John Sayles. At one time she was simultaneously the dating columnist for an alternative newsweekly, bridal editor for a society rag and the religion reporter for a gay and lesbian newspaper. More at lisalkirchner.com.
This article appears in Nov 16-23, 2017.