I used maps.google to search out nurseries not apparent to me since like you I'm in an area with few nurseries other than big box stores. I found an orchid hybridizer and a bromeliad nursery totally invisible otherwise.

Also whenever people here mention a good nursery in any location it goes in my notes so if I'm ever near the area ("near" can be flexible lol) it magically appears on our way. Really good nurseries are worth the side-trip.

You seem to want non-ordinary plants and will probably not be happy with run of the mill stuff but another idea is to haunt WalMart's garden center. Surprising what comes into mine occasionally such as mini-pots of succulents for $1 in dozens of varieties.

Is there a garden club in your area? Great place to meet and swap plants or buy at annual sales.

Denise

contact your local Extension Agency
ask for specialists in your area of interest
some counties have over 100 active Master Gardeners
they shop for plants somewhere!
and everyone who is involved in gardening loves to talk about plants
maybe they will share their sources with you

I do the same as Denise. I input a destination city on google maps and search "nurseries". As one moves out on the map, more are found. I also make note of nurseries cited here or elsewhere.

One I found that is certainly nearer to you than me is Just Fruits & Exotics (30 St. Frances St; Crawfordsville, FL 32327; (850) 926-5644), I found it via google maps. Google maps can't find Crawfordsville (I had searched Panama City), but put in the zip code and it works.

I loved walking through this nursery/garden. The lady there was so very nice and encouraged us to just enjoy the gardens. Next time we take a ride that way, I'll definitely stop again.

I feel your pain! When I lived in OH, I could spend entire Saturdays just driving from one plant place to another and still not get to them all. There is one place here in town that's owner-operated and she's been very helpful to order plants for me, but like you, I love to find fun plants by browsing. It's hard to wait for a week and I have to want at least 8 of something to be able to order. That might be an option from a local place if you know what you want up front.

I have heard of this place, but not had a chance to visit yet: The Gourd Garden Courtyard Shop, 850.534.0070, 66 Main Street, Rosemary Beach, FL

I also came across this website for Crestview Nurseries but haven't been. My Mom went there a few years ago but I don't think she was too impressed. There is a sign on the highway when you go through Crestview but their website has said "coming soon" for years. Has anyone been there to comment on this?

Every time I drive through Paxton, we go byTri-Cities Farm Center, but we are always in a hurry to get to the beach. So I haven't done more than slow down but the blooms catch my eye from the road. I don't know that it would be worth the drive just to go to this place, but if you combine it with a day at the state park (which has a spring-fed sand-bottom lake that's great to swim in - your kids would love it!,) it might not seem like a loss if they don't have anything you want. Might be worth calling them to ask a few questions to see if you think it's worth investigating.

I too haunt the Walmart and Lowes in my area. I actually just aquired my first 4 cacti on Wednesday from Lowes at half the normal price. Walmart has a nice selection on single succulents in little pots right now but they want over $6 for them and most are in really poor condition that I just can't justify spending that much. I need to check out the Kmart up the road as well. They had a surprisingly nice selection of succulents earlier this summer and I'm sure they're on sale right now. I have done the googlemaps search for my area and have come up with bubkiss! Thanks for the suggestions on that note because many of the places you all suggested are really not too far for me at all! I will have to add them to the list. As far as wanting non-ordinary plants that's debatable. I'm still really new at gardening so I don't really want something that's going to require a lot of work or a green house but I'm not apposed to trying if the plant is a good price if you know what I mean. There is a garden club here but it cost $$ to join and we just don't have a lot of that right now. My husband and I are both in the military (he's active I'm reserves) so we don't bring in much of a paycheck. Not to mention we're both in school full time and we have two young daughters. So, there isn't a whole lot of money or time to spare around our house. However, that's exactly why I'm beginning to love gardening so much! It's my ME time! It's my RELAX time. Most of all it my stress reliever! I've actually been . . . well to be completely honest, pretty much begging for handouts from others on this site because I do love gardening but money's so tight! I'm not proud of it! LOL My husband's grandmother has brought me a few plants (usually half dead and potted completely wrong), my German neighbor across the street has given me a few and Tom, from this website, sent me some Desert Rose seeds. My collection is very modest at the moment but with the generosity of others and some luck with sales I'll slowly build my collection! You all have created a monster here!

Conceal and camouflage. Remember your military training. Use grease paint for these nightly missions. And borrow the neighbors car. Do not use your own. Tape off shiny spots on shovel.

I have for many years knocked on doors and asked for a cutting if the plant was big enough. Many times walked off with more than I have planed.

Lowe's, Walmart and Kmart are selling off the C&S now and will not order more till spring. Order on line but some will not ship during the winter as plants freeze in transit.

Your not crazy just addicted like the rest of us. Good luck on school. Paula

Have you tried the GW trade forums? I've gotten tons of plants this way, only got screwed twice. Check the "rate and review" of your trade partner first.
Lori

Shoot me an email with your address and I'll send ya some goodies.

I'm way down south and I don't know how much of my stuff will grow in your area, but if you like roses, they will probly do well up there. And I have some little babies you could pot up - if you like roses.

I have a lot of gingers if you want to try and see if they'll take the cold. Also, do you like cannas?

Let me know and I'll be going through the "nursery" to see what else might not die that I could easily mail.

Susie

I feel your pain, but I ditto the Wal-Mart suggestion. Sometimes some pretty rare stuff comes in there. Look at Lowe's sales racks too. This time of year, they are clearing out the summer stuff, and you can get great buys.

If you'll send me your snailmail address also, I'll soon have a new harvest of Evening Fragrance datura seed, also iris and 4 o'clock seed and maybe even some small plants - will have to do a walkabout in the garden to see what's still looking good. You and I are close zone-wise so there should be few problems.

As for gardennig being a stress reliever, I've always said it was better and cheaper than a shrink! ;o)
corar1020@aol.com

Email me - I live in Panama City Beach and can tell you about a place I haunt PLUS we can take a trip an hour north of our area and go to ANOTHER great nursery. We could always drive to Niceville, which I understand has a wonderful nursery. Just email me!

WOW! You guys are so generous! I just can't get over how nice you all are to a newbie like me! Thank you so much!

Kayjones- I'm emailing you now!

kayjones, I would love to know about the places you shop, also. Care to tell us on here?

To CorpsmanCooper: It's been years since I went to Springfield Nursery, but when I went, I got the impression that it is geared to commercial landscapers. I went to Calos Nursery, too...just once. At least they have some interesting statuary. Certainly Walmart doesn't sell a huge concrete triceratops. :-)

I've ordered plants online with mixed results. I have two grape vines which grow vigorously and produce lots of grapes every year regardless of whether I care for them at all. But I have no idea what they are, since they are definitely NOT the ones I ordered. They do make tasty jelly, though. On the other hand, I also got my Dorsett Golden and Anna apple trees online, and they have been great. I've gotten other plants that did well, and others that were DOA or died quickly. (Some probably died to my mistakes.) Generally I have had good luck with seed orders. I've always had high germination rates and never had anything obviously mislabeled.

To Kayjones: I'd like to know about your local nursery haunt, too. With 4 kids (3 in school + a preschooler), going to out of town nurseries is a rare thing for me. I'm really interested in finding a good local place.

http://zengardenmarket.com/lotus.html
Lotus Cafe and Zen Garden at that URL (It's at P. C. Beach). Beautiful place to have lunch and check out the plants. Crawfordville is south of Tallahassee. Just Fruits and Exotics start shipping in October. They have an informative website. Tallahassee Native Nursery is fabulous. They have a website.

Hi, everyone! I've been gone for a week, visiting my new Grandson!

I planned to take Erin to the following nurseries. I know where a couple more are, but don't know the names - just how to get there! LOL

http://www.secretgardenrareplants.com

Zen Nursery, now known as Coo Bear's Nursery

Niceville Garden Center, Inc.

While not real real close to you IO loved Just Fruits and Exotics when my better half and I took a drive up there.