favorite garden centers to visit in Tucson?

18 years ago

Hi, I am visiting Tucson on Saturday, Jan.21 and Sunday, Jan 22. Any suggestions for visiting garden centers or other plant related places?

I see that there is a seed research station in Tucson. Looking for heirloom tomotoes and peppers. (We live an hour from the Seed Saver's place in Decorah, IA--love it!!)

Also, I am interested in Cannas. Is this a good item to look for in Tucson? Any suggestions as to where to go to purchase them?

Thanks for your suggestions. ........SandiBluffs :)

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Comments (11)

quietyard
18 years ago
Hi SandiBluffs! I would recommend you visit the Mesquite Valley Growers located at 8005 E. Speedway when you visit here. It is a really large nursery and they should have Cannas. Because I live on the other end of town I do not get there often, but it is worth a visit. Also, you might try Harlows on 5620 E. Pima St. I believe the native seed search you mentioned is on 4th ave near the University, but I am not positive on that. The weather here has been near 80 and bone dry. It might be a nice change for you, but our plants our suffering. Hope, you enjoy your visit here. What are you growing this year in Iowa?
quietyard
18 years ago
Oops, I see from your member page that you are from Wisconsin, not Iowa, so I will change my question to ask what will you be growing in Wisconsin this year ?
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Seems like a difficult business to be in some days. :-) I did a quick search on amazon and came up with this link and another at the bottom of my post. http://www.amazon.com/Operate-Financially-Successful-Landscaping-Business/dp/1601382286/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1279400638&sr=1-1-fkmr2 I would say find a business that is successful and see if you can pick their brain. We seem to be seeing a lot of nurseries going out of business, isn't that true? I would think it's expensive especially if you have to keep greenhouses going. I know Lexington Gardens went out of business a few years ago, and you could see it coming for quite a few years. I was told by someone in management that the cost of fuel to run the greenhouse became outrageous. I know the owner was older and started to have health issues too. As a potential customer, I like that you are inclined toward natives and would love an organic direction as well. I travel a distance to make purchases that are in line with those two basic ideas. I drive 50mins to the NEWFS to buy native, mostly organically grown plant material. I drive the same distance to purchase organic vegetable starts in the spring, in years I don't start my own. I travel to Maine and combine a day trip to justify doing it, to purchase popular perennial and annual 'plugs' once a year in early spring, because so many nurseries that are close to me don't offer a plug size and have just about stopped offering the old '6 pack' size. I buy tiny shrubs from Bluestone Perennials because no one local offers that size and it makes it really affordable. I think a lot of people buy from them because of that and their frequent sales and great customer service. I was going to suggest that if you could model your business on one that didn't need heated greenhouses, you might be ahead of the game. Don't know if that is possible. It would certainly cut your costs, but limit what you offer. Anyway, maybe others can offer their own reasons why they shop at one place or another and what they are looking for in a nursery. Here is a link that might be useful: So you want to start a plant nursery
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ninaco
18 years ago
I would have to agree with Quietyard, Mesquite Valley is probably the best garden center to visit. I also recommend the Tucson Botanical Gardens on Alvernon. It's a lovely time of year to be visiting!
SandiBluffs
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi there, thanks for your responses. I am SO excited to visit Tucson. Been reading up on the area. The more I read, the longer I want to stay and experience everything!

Quietyard, I believe my daughter (whom I will be visiting) lives just down the street (1000 Speedway)from Mequite Valley Growers. She told me about a large garden center she has seen, but didn't know the name. Thanks so much.

Ninaco, The Tucson Botanical Gardens looks great and is on my list. Thanks for your suggestion :)

Have you all been to B&B Cactus Farm, Inc.? I have cold weather cactus growing in my yard, but don't have the names for them. Any thoughts on that?

In Wisconsin---

Veggies--I will be focusing on leafy vegetables this year-- (I have just learned how non-nutritious iceberg lettuce is.) Also, squash, pumpkins, gourds; heirloom tomatoes & peppers; heirloon garlic
Annuals-- nasturtiums, larkspur, 4:00s
Herbs--sweet cicely, borage

Thanks again for your help. I am looking forward to the beautiful weather!...............SandiB :)
birdlady_in_mesa
18 years ago
Hiya SandiB! Hope you have a lovely visit with your daughter and enjoy Tucson, it is a great city. If you go to our FAQ page, there is also a listing of the nurseries and places we have compiled as worth visiting. The best thing is it has addresses and phone numbers, which might be helpful. It is under where can I buy plants in AZ and there is one about where are great public gardens.

Enjoy your visit
Susie

Here is a link that might be useful: AZ Gardenweb FAQ page
mingtea
18 years ago
hi sandi,

i moved to tucson recently and haven't been visiting plant places for too long, but i agree with everyone about mesquite valley growers. also, if you like C&S, be sure to go to Plants for the Southwest (they are on stone & blacklidge and on the internet as "living stones nursery"). both the owners are extremely nice and knowledable, and their plants are excellent. i haven't been to miles to go nursery on the west side of town, but it's definitely on the list, and i've heard that Miles, the owner, is excellent as well. i wasn't impressed with B&B, though they have some interesting stuff. no one really came out and helped me there and it's quite a drive. you'd be better off going to the former two. also, if you are into landscape cacti, Bach's Cactus Nursery is supposedly good, too. (another one of those i've been too lazy to drive to.)
harlow gardens is okay but pricey. it's on pima. close to it (within a block or two on either side) are two other nurseries: catalina heights and terra designs (i know because i live in that neighborhood!). the former is very mom&pop style and the latter is fun if you're into landscape design.

good luck!
-ming
SandiBluffs
Original Author
18 years ago
Hey there, thanks for all your input! I checked out the FAQs. Lots of info there. I will check out some of the other nurseries on the net. I took some photos of my cactus today and hope to bring them to be identified.

mingtea, thanks for all your ideas. I will do a little more research. .............SB :)
jimdaz
18 years ago
I was in Tucson a few weeks ago, and was impressed with B and B. People there were very helpful, and they had nice plants at good prices. Plants of the Southwest also is a great place. Unique plants, and helpful people. I chatted with another customer who lives in Tucson. His choice was Plants of the Southwest. I will go back to both nurseries.
garnet150
18 years ago
If you're going to Botanical Gardens, keep an eye out for Native seeds search, on Alvernon. It is on the same side of the street (east) and further south than botanical gardens. I agree with the other poster, Harlow's is high, and I usually shop at Mesquite Valley Growers. Good luck.
SandiBluffs
Original Author
18 years ago
Hey everyone, thanks for all the ideas. I can't wait to go! SandiB :)
sue_in_alaska
18 years ago
Hi Sandibluff, Don't forget Tohono Chul Park near Oracle and Ina. It's also a wonderful place for lunch and a favorite place to go for Tucsonans. Bach's Cactus Nursery is a great place to fall in love with cactus if you haven't already. It's near Thornydale and Cortaro. sue

favorite garden centers to visit in Tucson?

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