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Friday, April 25, 2008

The Big Box Dilemma

Today I'm facing a huge dilemma. I'm headed off to Easton Pennsylvania to pick up my daughter at college. On the return trip we drive through Phillipsburg New Jersey, along a busy route 22 with lots of stores. I have one chance to stop at a store to look at plant material.

Try as I might, I couldn't find a listing for a top-notch nursery along this route so my choice is to stop at one of the big box stores. In alphabetical order I can choose between Home Depot, Lowes or Walmart.


With two teens in the car it will only be a stop long enough so they can grab some lunch as I run through the garden center.

Which one shall it be?

By the way, the Epimediums here are in full bloom. I wish I knew how to use this simple camera to capture their beauty. I'll try again over the weekend as I have more varieties. I'll also let you know what store I ended up at.

Road trip!

11 comments:

Jane O' said...

My personal favorite is Lowe's, They usually carry quality perennials and the annuals are healthy. Not a fan of Walmart's plants. Home Depot is good, but I like Lowe's and also Jimmy Johnson, their NASCAR driver :)

Anonymous said...

I know around here in northern California from what I have experienced Home Depot seems to stock more of a selection of plants. I have had a better experience with their plants. Some of that is due to the high turnover this allows for a fresh supply of plants.

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid I cant help you with your dilema as livingin the UK I have no idea what these stores are like. However I wanted to say that I think your pics are great

mr_subjunctive said...

I'd vote Lowes, because the one here is much better than any of the Home Depots I've ever seen (though the Lowes in Cedar Rapids was only so-so), and Wal-Mart is, you know, Wal-Mart. But really, if you've never been to any of them before, you may as well just flip a (three-sided) coin. Everything I've read about people's experiences with them on Garden Web suggest that every store is potentially good and potentially bad for reasons which have nothing to do with what chain it belongs to.

Gail said...

The epimediums are gorgeous...they glow.

That is a dilemma, I have recently found HD has more natives and surprising finds then either Wal-Mart or Lowes.

Gail

tina said...

Stop at them all! If you are only going to the garden center you can keep it short. My epimedium is blooming and I am SO pleased. My first year growing it in dry shade.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

That would be hard for me. I would want to check out all three. Our Lowes and HD both are great. I could fill up a basket no problem. WM sometimes is good and sometimes there is nothing to buy. If you are looking for something special try Lowes or HD.

Debbie said...

My vote would be for Lowes. I like it better than HD or WM.

Your Epimediums are gorgeous. Ours have a bit to go yet.

garden girl said...

I think it would be Lowes for me, only because I haven't been to one yet. Home Depot here is ok for plants if you get them soon after they come in. They don't take very good care of their plants, and they start to languish within a short time. Lowes is just starting to pop up in this area, and the closest one is still about 30 minutes away. I've been wanting to check it out, and will do that next time I'm in the area.

Unknown said...

I'd go for Lowe's or WM, I've never been too impressed with HD as a whole. I guess their garden centers are alright though. What a dilemma. If there are a couple that are close enough you might be able to run to both but kids seem to scarf their food rather fast so time may be an issue....

Unknown said...

My favorite "box" store is Menards, but seeing as how there aren't any of them out your way, I'd have to settle for another store.