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A Nursery Visit is Good for the Soul

11/29/2015

6 Comments

 
​A Nursery Visit is Good for the Soul – We get to see the future
I love visiting plant nurseries because I know the potential they hold for the future of our environment.  Just like visiting a children’s nursery school, one learns the potential of our future people power. There are so many similarities between people and plants I am surprised that few people draw the connections between the two.  In fact, some people think that if you do draw these connections it’s almost sacrilegious.  But, I on the other hand believe that all living things have a far greater connection than we would like to admit because that would take humans off their pedestal and put them at the same level as everything else on the planet – including plants, rocks and other animals.  It would also mean that we would have to value other living things more and put humans in context with all other living organisms on earth.  The entire thought might be scary to some, but I believe we have to start thinking this way in order to solve many of the global problems that are happening today.  If you could for a few moments think of what a tree might see from where it is standing, or what moss is feeling as sits hugging the ground.
I took my graduate students on another journey to see how native plants are grown at the Collins Nursery.  http://collinsnursery.com/ There is a rich history to this nursery started by John Collins http://collinsnursery.com/john_f_collins the famous landscape architect.  The nursery is now in Glenside, a small town that is situated northwest of the City of Philadelphia.  Here in a castle on one of the highest points in the area, John Collins continued his work of growing native plants for landscapes.   John died in 2011 but now the nursery is in the able and loving hands of Diane Erich who was mentored by John for numerous years.  She greeted us when we arrived.  Mrs. Collins also welcomed us to the property that is opened by appointment only – with the exception of open days in the spring and fall. ​
Picture
My class with Diane Erich and Mrs. Collins.
​Diane took us on a tour of the nursery after we passed through a tall deer fence.  Diane talked about collecting seed at our Ambler Arboretum.  She also has many plants to gather seed from on the Collins property which is planted with a huge diversity of plants.  Diane is best known for her pawpaw (Asimina triloba) trees. 
Picture
A small grove of pawpaw holds tight to the remaining yellow leaves as other specimens stand fully naked.
Picture
​The castle built in the 1800s has many newer landscape features that John built that look like they were built with the home from its inception.  A double staircase of stone is brilliantly designed for easy access to side and back garden.  The old baptismal font found in one of the many antique stores in Glenside looks like it was made for the garden. 
After our wonderful tour and the discussion of seed propagation – it was time for the students to buy some of their first plants for their own properties. 

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Young plants are protected in their formative years from mice, rabbits and other small critters.
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Happy one year old pawpaw will find the perfect new homes for their future growth and fruit bearing.
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A trunk full of plants anxiously awaiting their arrival to their new home – the next generation.
6 Comments
Fancy Plants Nursery link
4/4/2019 05:01:37 am

keep up the informative posts!

Reply
Cooper B link
11/26/2020 09:44:47 pm

Great post thankss

Reply
Braden Bills link
12/2/2021 09:57:09 am

I want to get some nice plants for my yard. It makes sense that I would want to visit a plant nursery to ensure that I put everything together properly. That seems like a good way to ensure that I do things right.

Reply
John Carston link
1/11/2022 01:14:51 am

I like how you mentioned that it is important to connect with living things here on earth. My sister mentioned to me last night that she is planning to buy bare root fruit trees for her garden and asked if I have any idea where is the best place to buy them. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell her that it will be much better if we consult a trusted plant nursery store as they can answer all her inquiries.

Reply
Bharatvarsh Nature Farms link
5/27/2022 03:40:30 am

Just discovered this blog through Bing, what a way to brighten up my year!
<a href="https://bharatvarshnaturefarms.com/nursery/">Plant nursery near me in Nagpur | Bharathvarsh Nature Farms</a>

Reply
Mia Evans link
1/25/2023 05:52:05 am

I find it interesting to know that there are tree nurseries with a history because of the journey it took to achieve them. Personally, I wanted to get wholesale tree nursery services for the piece of land I bought in Hobart. That property will be like a cabin in the woods vibe which is why I want it to have lots of plants in the future that we can relax in once the house structure is done as well.

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