North East PA, Praying For Sun

19 years ago

Hello Everyone,

I first found this forum in the fall, and have been using it as a gardening fix, while the winter consumed the outside. This is my first post. I was just wondering if there was anyone else local to North East PA (Bloomsburg) I'm fairly new to the area, and extremely new to having a yard. Tuesday was great, full sun all day, and 50ish weather/ I just purchased 5 scoops of mushroom compost, and was about to borrow a tiller from my father-in-law on Wednesday, but by the time I got out of work, it was a snowy slushy mess that covered everything :o(

It was such a tease, all ready to dive into adding over 600 sq ft of new gardens (going to bust up the yard around the new fence), and the sun hides away, and now the yard is soaked once more. Oh well guess IÂll have to wait with the rest of you.

Anyone local that has a favorite nursery? Favorite plants that grow well in this area?

So many questions, a side-effect of my intense spring-fever.

I best stop my post there is I'll be typing for hours.

Awaiting the Sun

~Nick

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Comments (9)

katob Z6ish, NE Pa
19 years ago
Hi Nick,
This snow is making me a little antsy for sun too. I'm down in Bloom for classes every week but I live up near Wilkes Barre. It seems like a nice town but I haven't heard of too many good nurseries around there... seems like good growing area though! Alot of farms etc.

Mushroom compost..... nice. I could use a few scoops of that too.
Today was better than I was expecting but keep praying for sun!
Kato
jes5020
19 years ago
Hi Nick and Kato,
I'm located in the Stillwater area on a 4ac rock infested property, no garden yet, still working on a yard but thinking about one for this year. Been considering raised beds because of the rock problem here, figure we have at least 2 weeks or so till we can get at it if we're lucky.
Joe
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bobntess
19 years ago
Hello,
I'm From Weatherly (below Hazleton) and was all ready for spring,as most of the snow was gone from the garden, then it happened again - 5" of wet snow to blanket everything again - what a mess! Just have to wait it out and tend to my 100 or so plants growing in the basement.
As far as nurseries go I haven't have alot of luck w/ Lowes, home depot, etc. I go to a very small local nursery where you can talk to someone who knows their plants. I seem to remember visiting a nursery close to Bloomsburg off of Rt. 11, but can't remember its name.
Don't know what kind of plants you like but I've had good luck w/ Alyssums, morning glories, forget-me-nots, pansies, Dahlias, and zinnias. I grow many more but these are some of the easiest ones and the alyssums, pansys, and morning glories self seed for the next year.
Its really easy to get carried away so have fun!
Joe, I would definately consider raised beds for your garden. That way you can have exactly the soil you want in a nice easily managed area.
Bob
nick_17815_pa
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi,
I know what you mean about the rocks Joe, I live only a couple minutes from the river, and my yard is filled with river rock. I don't let that stop me, the soil is really rich once you take the time to till it and remove the larger rocks. You should have seen the pile I made. I am finally making good use of the rocks this year, I'm using the rocks to build myself a raised bed. I have to cement the rocks together with a form I made, I have one wall done so far.
Last summer I found a neat nursery off Rt. 11 in Selinsgrove that is worth checking out, not sure when they'll have their spring flowers in.
As far as what plants do I plant, well just about anything, I plan to put in all the ones that you've mentioned. Just bought 4 clematis from Walmart, $4 great price I thought.
I want to have a little of everything, go figure :op
Anyone's forcythia out of dormancy yet?
Anyone have any different variety of forcythia?

Looks like the weather should shape up by Wednesday, can't wait til the yard dries up and we can dive into the gardens.

Praying For Sun
~Nick
hardrockkid
19 years ago
Hey -- up the road in Williamsport here.

I see forcythia buds. But interesting, I see you list yourself as Zone 5. I believe my area to be in Zone 6 -- by maps, some zipcode thing I tried somewhere, and because I don't think it usually gets below -10 here (hasn't in my 6 winters here). Is Bloomsburg colder than Williamsport? Maybe your elevation is a little higher.

There's one nursery I know of in your vicinity -- on 11, closer to Danville... about near the state hospital. Don't remember the name of the place. But they had good looking plants and reasonable prices as I recall... bought a nice rhody there last spring [which the deer ate this winter :( ]. They also had a lot of hardscaping stuff there -- belgian block and pavers and such.

And I think we all share your when-is-spring-really-coming angst!
mgood4u
19 years ago
60-65 degrees on Tues. and Wens. I hear--WHOA_HOOO!!!
nick_17815_pa
Original Author
19 years ago
HardrockKid, I think you may be right about my zone being 6, I quickly used one of those Hardiness zone zipcode search, and it showed Zone 5, Today I checked the Arbor Day site, and it did show Bloomsburg being Zone 6. I haven't really purchased anything that I needed to keep a close eye on zoning. Most of my plants are either Zone 3-8 items, and the rest are items that I pot back up in the fall like my cotton plant, and figs that I need to keep in the screened in porch (i winterize it with plastic) while it goes dormant.
I'm not sure which nursery is off Rt11, I'll have to take a drive by there soon. Has anyone put out any primroses yet? I purchased one a month ago that I've been keeping in my unheated room, then at Walmart I bought another two last week that were on sale for 50cents each, both have new leaves and buds coming up. I just think they'll be a lot safer once they're in the ground.

Spring Here We Come

~Nick
summer66 D
19 years ago
Hi everyone,

I live outside of Hazleton (Drums). It's so nice to meet people who aren't too far away and share gardening experiences. In reference to a nursery on rt. 11 near Bloomsburg, you may be talking about Seesholtz greenhouse. They are next to the Vo-Tech. There are usually a few tents set up along rt. 11 that sell various plants - veggies, shrubs, flowers (not the ones with the Easter and Mother's Day flowers). I think there is also another nursery just off rt. 11, but I haven't checked that one out yet. I like unusual plants, so I spend some time online trying to find nurseries that aren't too far to drive to. I prefer to see the plants in person and pick my own out. I will be going to a nursery near Allentown and two near Bath probably in about 2 weeks, and if you like, will post what I find after I get back.
nick_17815_pa
Original Author
19 years ago
Yes, Seesholtz is just up the road from me a bit. I haven't seen their selection yet this year, and only discovered them late in the season last yeard. Please post your findings, I'm alwats very eager to find new nurseries. Yes, I like to look through catalogs, but its so much better to see them, and pick out the exact ones you like. I found a really neat nursery last year off Rt. 11 in Selinsgove. Its between Lowes & the wall, its on the left going towards the mall. I can't think of the name offhand. I'm not sure when they start getting their plants in, but I'd assume it'll be very soon.

Loving The Sun, Wondering Where The Rain Went To
~Nick

North East PA, Praying For Sun

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katob Z6ish, NE Pa

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katob Z6ish, NE Pa

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