Oh, dear, should I even get started?

I like to support local businesses, and a local nursery, Hollybrook Farms, in Wall, has always been my "go to" place, and well-deserved.
Molzon's in Lincroft is on my way home from work .. and they are into organics. That's a big plus in my book.
Rare Find Nursery in Jackson has a great selection and their staff really know their stuff. (And they have a great "Dog Days Sale" in August.)
Well-Sweep Herb Farm up in Port Murray is worth a trip now and then; also has some hard-to-find plants, and Cy, the owner, is a such a wealth of old-time herb lore he should be designated a national treasure. There is a large herb garden to stroll through and their gift shop is ... well, dangerous ;-) Wish I lived close enough to take some of their classes.
Dearborn in Holmdel, Sickles in Little Silver, Cicconi's in Jackson ... often come through for certain items I'm seeking.
Mustn't forget Brock Farms in Colts Neck; large selection of everything for the garden, plus koi and pond supplies (for which I also go to Waterworld in Farmingdale) and water garden plants.
A two-hour drive for me, but worth a day trip every now and then is Matterhorn Nursery in Spring Valley, NY. Yes, one can easily spend a good part of a day there.
I'm sure I'm leaving out some very worthy establishments - there are a few in the area that I'll have to check out, based on recommendations from fellow gardeners, but there's just so much available time.

Not really a garden center, but Rutgers Gardens has some wonderful plants at their annual plant sale, and proceeds help support the gardens. Our Master Gardeners Spring Garden Days in Monmouth County is also a great source of plants and information.

I've also had some good luck at our Home Depot and Lowe's, but I do try to get the plants soon after arrival. That being said, I picked up a tree peony 'Feng Dan' on clearance several years ago at HD, and it's doing beautifully.

Then there are the specialty nurseries, like Peony's Envy. Owner Kathleen Gagan grows an amazing variety of peonies (woodland, tree, herbaceous and intersectional) on her property in Bernardsville.

The asters I bought at Hortulus Farm Garden & Nursery, just past New Hope, PA, are amazing this fall! One of the plants is 3-4 feet wide and full of blooms. They also had Sheffield Daisies, another fall bloomer, which I hadn't seen anywhere else.

I hope you're not sorry you asked.

agardenstateofmind, you sure do get around! I'm in Bergen County and find some of the mom and pop nurseries are going out of business due to the big box stores. I've found some surprisingly interesting things at Lowes though. My favorite is Willow Run in Cresskill. Also frequent Metropolitan Plant in Fort Lee but some staff there not too helpful. I went to Peony's Envy this year and was surprised to see how well peonies were growing in mostly shady conditions. Live and learn. One of these days I will make the trip to Rare Find.

Thinking of checking out Peony Envy this year. I am trying peonies for the first time this year (i get the roots tomorrow... squeee) but am curious how a full garden looks

I am not too far from Jackson, I may check out rare find and some of the stores around there, I tend to go around mercer county into Middlesex county, and looking for some fun places to go look

I'll confess, I've been gardening on this property since 1978 (we purchased late summer 1977, but I wanted to "wait a year and see if anything comes up" ... nothing came up.) and I work in a horticultural park - not out in the gardens :-( but planning programs, sometimes teaching them, as well as events and bus trips to other gardens of interest.

I also have PAD - Plant Acquisition Disorder. There are plants I see that I just have to have (next on my list is monarda punctata). The advice to plant in 3's, 5's or drifts? I get it, but my lot is 50'x150' so, realistically, it's not going to happen. I prefer to think of my yard/gardens as a little jewelry box chock full of lovely things from interesting costume jewelry to a few precious gems (even if they're only precious to me) that take turns showing their stuff as Mother Nature sifts through the contents with her seasons.

Woodland peonies and tree peonies like some shade, especially in the afternoon. I've found that my herbaceous peonies will get by in half-day sun, but I know they'd form larger clumps and more flowers if they were in full sun. So far, neither of my two new intersectional peonies has bloomed; not sure if it's lack of sunlight or lack of maturity.

Enterprincess, I hope your peony roots arrived today and in good condition. Looks like we're in for a spell of milder weather for you to get them planted. You know planting depth is crucial, right? Get that part right and once established, they will ask for little and reward you with beautiful blossoms. Enjoy!

Knead told 2 inches below soil level. They came in, 1 red, 1 white and 3 pinks, roots range in size bu haven't opened the bags yet cause I can't plant till tomorrow and don't want them drying (little new to this and nervous... Ok paranoid lol)