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About
the Nursery and Heirloom Plants
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Welcome to Perennial Pleasures Nursery
and Tea Garden |
Perennial Pleasures Nursery is a retail and mail-order nursery located in East Hardwick, Vermont, a beautiful part of the state known as the North East Kingdom. The nursery, greenhouse and display gardens are sited on the sunny fields behind our family home, an 1840s brick house at the edge of the village. We grow over 900 varieties of flowers, herbs and shrubs, specializing in heirloom and medicinal plants, and have a special fondness for phlox. An eclectic gift shop, specializing in summer hats, is located in the old wooden extension, and a seasonal tea-room serves English Cream Teas and light lunches in the display garden or conservatory.
The nursery and gift shop are open from early May to mid-September, 10-5 Tuesday through Sunday. The Tea Garden Café is open from 11:30 to 4:00, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. We are closed on Mondays. For schedule and holidays, see Calendar & Events below.
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About the Nursery, Display Gardens and Greenhouse |
Rachel Kane established the nursery in 1980 for the purpose of collecting and growing heirloom flowering plants and herbs from the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th century. While this aspect remains the specialty, we also grow a respectable number of perennials of a more recent vintage, a rather good selection of culinary and medicinal herbs, and one of the largest collections of phlox to be found anywhere in the country. In the shrub yard we offer a selection of hardy flowering shrubs, including many native species, and old-fashioned favorites like fragrant mockorange and lilacs. Currently we have about 900 varieties of plants at the nursery, all listed on the Nursery Plant List. Most of our plants are field grown and proven hardy in our rigorous Zone 3 location.
There are nearly three acres of specialty display gardens and nursery beds which visitors are welcome to wander through during regular business hours. The gardens include an English-style hedged herb garden, primrose garden, heather beds and shade gardens. A large lawn, bounded by a rustic pergola and phlox borders, is set up for summertime croquet, which visitors are welcome to play.
In the greenhouse, the focus is on antique, fragrant and rarely seen annuals, such as nicotiana, china asters, phlox and heliotrope, although we are also carrying a selection of Proven Winners in 2009. There is always a good selection of culinary and medicinal herbs, such as sweet marjoram, basil, chamomile, cilantro, spilanthes and ashwaganda. In the spring we have a smattering of vegetable starts, such as heirloom tomatoes and hot peppers. No chemical pesticides are used in the greenhouse.
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Perennial Pleasures Nursery Plants |
Our
Nursery Plants:
Our perennials are generally field grown and good-sized, with well-developed root systems. They are typically two years old or more when potted up. They are produced using organic farming methods, and are fed with organic fertilizers, manure or compost. This, in our experience, makes for the healthiest plants. We rarely use naturally based pesticides, but never chemical ones. Many customers have attested to the vigor of our stock, and I think this is because we do not coddle our plants, nor do we over stimulate them with massive doses of fertilizers. We pot them up in the fall or spring, but if we don't have what you're looking for already potted, we're happy to dig one out of the garden for you if possible! |
Our
Mail Order Plants:
In 2010 we are primarily mail-ordering phlox, although we will likely be adding to the list for next year. For mail-order, please be sure to choose from the Mail-Order Plant List, not the Nursery Plant List. We ship plants in April –June, and again in September-October. While in past years we have most often sent bare-root field divisions, we are gradually making the transition to pots. The pot sizes are indicated at the top of the Mail-Order Plant List. If you are keen to order plants which are not in the Mail-Order Plant List, please do feel free to ask, as we may be able to send them. For more information, and for plants available for shipping, please see our Mail-Order Plant List page.
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Our
Seeds:
Most of the seed we sell is grown and harvested by hand here at the nursery. Our own seed is not treated with fungicide, although those we obtain from outside sources may have been. All packets contain a generous amount of seed, usually well over 100, unless noted otherwise (again, in the printed catalog). NOTE: We are not shipping seeds in 2010, but they are available in the shop.
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Hardiness
and Winter Mulching:
When selecting plants you may presume that any stock we grow is hardy to Zone 3. We do not use winter mulch on any of our plants. However, if your garden hasn't the benefit of regular snow cover, you may want to apply loose winter mulch. In this case, cover the garden with a loose material such as straw, marsh hay, pine needles or evergreen boughs – any material which will not pack down. Apply this mulch after the ground has frozen, and be sure to remove it in early spring. The mulch will keep the ground a little warmer, but its primary use is to prevent the soil from freezing and thawing, which is what causes the most damage to plants.
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Custom Growing & Consultation
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| We will custom grow plants for large orders and institutions, including plants which we do not normally carry. Please inquire. |
Garden Consultation:
Rachel loves to offer solutions to thorny landscape problems! Or perhaps you just need to know what you’ve got out there. She can come to your home, or you can bring your photos and notes to her here at the nursery. Please contact Rachel. |
Wedding Flowers:
Specializing in naturalistic arrangements for weddings and other special events, using Garden Flowers and Wild Flowers from the fields. Please contact Rachel to see her portfolio.
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The Tea Garden Café and Gift Shop |
The Tea
Garden:
English Cream Teas are served afternoons in the garden or small conservatory from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The hours are 11:30-4:00 daily except Mondays. The menu features scones, cucumber sandwiches, savory plates and cakes, and a wide variety of teas and cold drinks. Reservations for tea are recommended. For more information, please see our Tea Garden page. |
The Gift Shop:
Our little gift shop is packed full with useful and decorative items. Naturally we sell tea, teapots, cozies and tea related items. Books on gardening or herbalism, our own flower seeds, and concrete birdbaths and statuary will appeal to gardeners. We have locally made items such as pottery, quilted pillows, quilts and handmade soaps. This year Judith has introduced her new line of colorful quilted coats. Also jewelry, ironware, imported gifts and much more. Summer hats are a shop specialty, ranging from crushable sun hats for the garden, to stylish beach hats, to elegant wedding hats, to showy numbers for Red Hat Society ladies, and to flower and feather-bedecked toppers for an over-the-top tea party.
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2010 Calendar & Holidays |
| The nursery and gift shop are open from early May to mid-September, 10-5 Tuesday through Sunday. The Tea Garden Café is open from 11:30 to 4:00, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Both are closed on Mondays. |
May 1, Saturday – Nursery and gift shop open for the season.
May 9, Sunday –Mother’s Day Tea.
May 22, Saturday – Tea Room opens for the regular season.
May 24, Memorial Day Monday - Nursery and shop are open 10 to 2. Tea Garden is closed.
June 20, Sunday - Father’s Day Tea
July 4, Sunday - Nursery and Tea Garden open all day.
September 5, Sunday – Last open day for Tea Garden.
September 6, Labor Day Monday: Nursery and Tea Garden closed
September 19, Sunday – Last open day for Nursery and Shop.
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2010 Events |
Free Garden Skills Workshops –Sunday mornings at 10:30. From mid-June to mid-August. Let’s have a fun and relaxing time together talking plants! Rachel has set this time aside to answer any questions you care to bring in, or show you a new gardening technique. We can talk about seed saving, plant propagation, plant and weed id, aphids, edibles – you name it. No charge, but please phone us first, by the day before if possible, to let us know you’re coming 802-472-5104.
Free Sunday Garden Tours at 12:00. From mid-June to mid-August. Tours last 30-45 minutes. No charge, but please phone us first, by the day before if possible, to let us know you’re coming.
Mother’s Day Tea, May 9, 11-4:00. There will be a special menu for the day, and complimentary nosegays for every mother. Reservations required.
Painting in the Garden with Judith. Judith is also an oil painter, and has taught painting. This series of classes takes place in May/June, out in the gardens, taking advantage of the wealth of flowers and views. The class may repeat later in the summer. Meeting time will be determined by the class. Past students testify to how much they’ve learned! Classes are limited in size, as Judith likes to keep them small. Call Judith to reserve your place 802-472-5512.
Father’s Day Tea, June 20, 11:30-4:00. Croquet will be set up on the lawn, and complimentary boutonnieres for fathers. Reservations recommended.
Phlox Fest, Our 8th Annual, Sunday, August 1 to Sunday, August 15. Two full weeks! Daily garden tours at 11:00. Phlox Cutflower Display. Doorprizes. See the Phlox Page for details.
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| Garden Walk on Sunday August 8th, led by Dr. Leonard Perry, long-time Extension Agent and a host of WCAX’s ‘Across the Fence’. Leonard is an extremely knowledgeable horticulturalist, and a fan of Phlox, and we are very pleased to welcome him back! |
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Directions and Map to PPN |
PPN is located at the edge of East Hardwick village, in northeastern Vermont. It is about 30 miles north of Montpelier, about 22 miles west of St Johnsbury and about 25 miles east of Stowe.
From Montpelier: About 40 minutes. Take Route 2 north to East Montpelier, and then turn north on Route 14. Stay on 14 to Hardwick, and then take Route 15 east, towards St Johnsbury. In about 3 miles, turn north on Route 16, and then follow the local directions below.
From Stowe/Morrisville: Take Route 100 north to Route 15. Follow Route 15 east through Hardwick. In about 3 miles, turn north on Route 16, and then follow the local directions below. Allow 30 minutes from Morrisville, and 45 minutes from Stowe.
From St Johnsbury: About 30 minutes. Take Route 2 west to West Danville, where you turn onto Route 15 west. Follow Rte 15 through Walden, and turn north on Route 16, towards Barton. Then follow the local directions below.
From the north on Route 16: East Hardwick is the next village to the south after Greensboro Bend. Following the road sign for East Hardwick, turn right onto Main St, and continue straight down the hill. Cross the bridge and go straight up the next hill. Our brick house is the first house on the left.
 Local Directions from Route 15 to the Nursery: Turn north onto Route 16. In just over 1 mile, you will see our highway sign on the right. Take the next left onto Cedar St., which shortly brings you into the village, and you will be facing a stop sign at the T-junction. Turn left onto Main St. (down the hill), cross the bridge and then go straight up the hill (as opposed to following the main road to the right, which leads to Greensboro). Our brick house, the only such house in the village, is a short distance up, and the first house on the left. The address is Brick House Rd, but the road sign is misleading, for it points in the wrong direction. Be sure to follow our PPN signs! |
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