Spring Fever – Shopping Local Nurseries

Spring is in the air. We’ve had a lot of rain in the Sacramento region. As I write this article, the dark clouds are looming and another storm is on the horizon AND it’s so cold outside. We always need the rain but mentally, I think most of us are so ready for spring and sunshine! The daffodils are popping up everywhere and gracing us with their vibrant yellow and white blooms. The trees are showing off lovely pink blossoms. The birds are so excited when they get a bit of sunshine. We had a feathered visitor at our window last spring. He kept seeing his own reflection and thought it was another bird so he was literally trying to attack himself! Talk about ego. It happened for a while before he found himself some better habits but guess what? I saw our little friend again last week. Well, actually I heard him before I saw him. Poor guy. So spring is coming! She’s just taking her sweet time.

As time changes and the weather starts to shift, many of us are feeling the itch to be outside more. For many of us, the warmer temps signify ‘operation: backyard cleanup’. Around here we pretty much ignore our yard in the winter months and then we put in the time as the temps start to warm up more to get it looking and feeling like a desirable place to spend time again. This usually entails some major clean up, the addition of some new plants and maybe even some new decor like patio furniture, new pots, or even a fire pit. A backyard can be a beautiful extension of our homes during the warmer months.

In Northern California, we have pretty defined seasons and a mostly mild climate. Our extremes are windy + rainy winters and hot summers. The fall and spring months are the best with very comfortable temps. A lot of the local restaurants offer patio seating as being outside is so coveted. One of my favorite ways to give some new life to my front porch or backyard is with new plants. Indoor plants are always a great idea too!

Nurseries are one of my favorite places to visit. There is something so relaxing about walking around a beautiful garden oasis. It’s like therapy. I swear! A few of my favorite plants are succulents and ferns. Succulents are foolproof and ferns can be a bit more temperamental, they tend to wilt the hot sun and thrive in shadier spots. The options for plants is endless. Many will do great in pots whereas others tend to love being planted in the ground.

Let’s talk local nurseries, shall we? Of course, the big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes are always a great place to pick up some pretty new plants. When we first moved into our home almost 15 years ago, we sourced local nurseries for our landscaping. This was quite possibly when I discovered my love of small + local businesses.

A few of my favorite spots to shop for plants in Sacramento

I discovered The Plant Foundry in Oak Park last summer and I instantly fell in love. They have a great variety of succulents as well as so much fun garden decor. You can find them at 3500 Broadway in Sacramento. They are located across the street from Old Soul Coffee so be sure to grab a snack and iced coffee before you shop.

 

The Prickly Pear is a nursery with a purpose. I was lucky enough to meet Mona, the sweet owner of this unique business when I popped in a couple of Sundays back. The Prickly Pear is open to the public on Sundays but she does host various events during the week including pot n sips, team building events as well as giving back to the community. You can read more about that here. The nursery is located at 816 U Street in Sacramento.

Talini’s Nursery in East Sacramento has been around since 1976. They have everything that you need to kick off your spring garden including plants, trees, flowers, pots, tools, and seeds. I fell hard for the collection of cement pots. They definitely had the best selection of seeds with rows upon rows of options if you are a ‘start from seed’ kind of gardener. Talini’s is located at 5601 Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento.

  

I left the city limits a bit to find the next nursery. The Secret Garden is located right off of Highway 99 in Elk Grove but it was well worth the drive. This sweet nursery carries all of your garden needs but they specialize in succulents and low water plants. They also have a beautiful assortment of pots and garden decor. Are you more of an indoor plant person? They also had a great assortment of indoor plants. You can challenge your inner and outer green thumb at The Secret Garden. A little birdie also told me that they’d be having a big spring sale the last weekend of April. You can follow them on Facebook or sign up for their newsletter for more details. They are located at 8450 West Stockton Boulevard in Elk Grove.

Also nearby was Big Oak Nursery. This nursery had everything you would need to do a full yard refresh including fruit trees, bushes, annuals, perennials, fruits, and vegetables. You can also scoop up fresh eggs from the chickens that live at the nursery and honey from local hives. Big Oak Nursery grows their plants on-site. The nursery is located at 10071 Grant Line Road in Elk Grove.

Next up on my little journey was Village Nurseries. Village Nurseries is a dream spot for landscapers and architects as that is their specialty customer. You can find them at 6901 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento.

My last stop was at Matsuda’s Nursery. Matsuda’s has been around since 1957. They grow everything on their grounds and pride themselves on high-quality plants that will thrive and survive in your yard. You can find them at 10600 Florin Road in Sacramento.

  

Here are some other great nurseries worth checking out

High-Hand Nursery – 3750 Taylor Road in Loomis
They also have an amazing on-site cafe. The food is delicious. Reservations recommended.

Green Acres – multiple locations in Elk Grove/Sacramento/Folsom/Rocklin/Roseville

El Dorado Nursery – 3931 Durock Road in Shingle Springs

Bushnell Gardens – 5255 Douglas Boulevard in Granite Bay
They have a great home decor section and it’s a great spot to pick up fun gifts.

Social Tips

Check all of these spots via their websites and social media to see what events they might have on their calendar. Many offer classes on gardening, makers events and more!

Now tell me, do you have a green thumb?