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Carolina Gardening

Wayside Gardens Garden Center

17 years ago

I have Monday off because of the holiday and was thinking of making the trek down to Hodges SC to see (and shop at)the Retail Garden Center at Wayside Gardens. Has anyone been there? Is it worth the trip from Charlotte? Are there any nurseries between Hodges and Charlotte that I shouldn't miss? Does anyone want to go along? Please let me know if you have comments or want to go!

Elizabeth

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Comments (6)

ardenada
17 years ago
Elizabeth,
I'm not saying anything bad about Wayside/Park's as I have spent a fortune there over the years.
But, the retail center is VERY disappointing, unless they are having a Special Sale or Event.
In my opinion, NOT worth the 3 hour drive.
The Clemson University Botanical Garden sale is coming up, and is DEFINATELY worth the drive.
Alan
hotroses
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Alan - I gathered from the defening silence that there are better places to spend my day off. And thanks for the heads up about the Clemson sale - I will check it out!
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There's a story behind Wayside now that might give one pause before you order from them. J&P roses/Wayside/Parks Seeds were all combined in a buyout in 2007. The people who did this deal ran the company/companies into the ground in a matter of 3 years time and J&P declared total bankruptcy last year. The only company that was bought up that I know of during the bankruptcy hearings was Parks Seeds. The people who bought Parks seeds promised that they would let Parks seeds remain in it's present location for a minimum of 3 years. So they are good to go for at least 3 years. No one has bought J&P and their remaining inventory was turned over to Weeks roses to sell. Then Weeks roses filed for chapter 11. So I don't know how that deal with J&P is going. Nowhere in all of this was Wayside mentioned, but looking at their roses in their catalog this year I see that they are only carrying J&P stock, so they may not have been bought up and still remain in bankruptcy with the leftover inventory for sale to satisfy creditors. But I don't know that for sure. The point is Parks Seeds is a safe bet, Wayside I don't know about. If I really had to have something and they were the only ones who carried it, I might still take a chance for 2011 spring orders.... Someone may have more information then I do, but that's what I understood had happened to these 3 companies last year...Maryl
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51% Off Wayside Gardens; Ends Friday 5/27
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Comments (7)
Why do you feel bad? You were passing on a deal, nothing wrong with that, and a lot of folks may really appreciate it (I'm sure there are lots of folks who read the board and never post). Plus, we make our own decisions regarding where we purchase - all you were doing was sharing information. And hey - if the Hilda Niblett weren't sold out, you bet I would take advantage of a sale! :0)
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Thanks everyone for trying help me. No it isn't a climber, blooms off and on through fall, don't think it's a hybrid tea, it's moderately fragrant, shrubby in form--about 3 to 4 feet tall. I agree the name makes no sense,(my memory could be wonky)....but it's definitely bright red, not yellow. Color is cherry red, no blue or pink overtones. It also seems to be pretty disease resistant--black spot is a huge problem here and I've never needed to spray it. Wanda
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As an outsider with no axe to grind, and no possibility of ever ordering from these places. Looking at the website on A-Z of perennials, it seems funny to list hardy Begonias under H and Hellebores under L (lenten rose). Call me picky but???? Their rare plant list, reads as a 15 item list of micropropagated factory grown plants, expensive too. Their general list reads like a wholesale clearing house, rather than a nursery where things are developed, propagated and grown on by them. I would suggest they buy in by the truckload and their sale is prompted by trying to clear out stock that wasn't sold this year. If these hellebores flowered and weren't sold, are they worth buying at half price?? On the other hand, this is a good time to plant hellebores, let them get their roots down while there is still a lot of warmth in the soil. If the pine knot strain has the plants as shown in the pictures, they are certainly worth the $9.95 in the sale, good clean colours, not the 15 variations on a muddy red spotted mix that the others look like! Cheers Greenmanplants
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Dibbit
17 years ago
I was waiting for someone with more knowledge to pipe up - but... I went with a friend about 5 years ago, shortly after I moved here, and wanted stuff to plant, NOW. It was an open day, so I got plants and seeds on sale, but I have to say that it wasn't anything special. Many of their display/trial gardens were growing veggies, which was interesting, but not enthralling. I would NOT bother to drive the 2 or so hours to get there again.

If you want a good public/show garden in the Charlotte area, try the Daniel Stowe Garden, to the east of Charlotte (I think). I've only been driven there once, and came from the west, so can't give you directions, but I thought it a very good exemplar of gardening in the South, with both the standard stalwarts and interesting, innovative, display plantings.
petalpusher101
17 years ago
Does anyone know when the Clemson sale is? Never been and I am very interested.
Angie
ardenada
17 years ago
http://www.clemson.edu/scbg/

Sorry, but it was last weekend.
We've been so busy with Dog Shows that time got away from me.
Attached is the link, so you can catch the spring sale.
Alan
ncgardner
17 years ago
I have found that a lot of the big mailorder catalogs garden centers are disappointing. The one exception is White Flower Farm. The cat. companies must put their concentration on the shipping instead of the gardens or stock on hand. I'm not sure why this is but it seems to be the case. For a real treat from Charlotte, come to the Raleigh Farmers Market (to buy not to see gardens). The plants are all raised in NC and are very health and the prices are incredable. $$$$ I nursery $10-$12. plant is from $5. to $6.50. Each week they have new plants and different stock. It's been going on for years and the quality if great. My friend from Richmond says it's like going to a candy store. You never know what they will have but I find something (too much) every week. They are open every day.

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