Garden nurseries in Louisville?

[louroclou]

Missy's right... you dig a foot down anywhere and it's clay time, and the drainage issues that means. Nevertheless, the soil on top can be superb. The soil I inherited here in St. Matthews is great, and my mother's soil in the Highlands is black, rich, loamy, healthy stuff.

We had a world-class tour of private gardens earlier this year sponsored by the Garden Conservancy... some gardens to leave you breathless. People came from all over the East to see it. One of the gardens was featured in the New York Times.

Note that the front-page slide show on the GC website features a shot of Yew Dell. You really must check it out. They have a great garden sale in early summer every year.

Yes, see the Zoo's garden, and check out Bernheim Forest and the Jefferson Memorial Forest, but also just wander around neighborhoods - Cherokee Park area, Highlands, Old Louisville, Butchertown, and see what folks are doing. There are some amazing uses of small spaces. Go peeking back in most yards and if you get caught you're likely to make a friend: This is Louisville and we love to talk, and there's no group more willing to open up their arms than gardeners.

[native_newyorker]

thank you louroclou and missymom! I was also wondering when do you generally get the first frost and when do you start planting in the spring?

[louroclou]

Expect first frost around Columbus Day - though last year it was closer to Halloween. Last frost hits around Tax Day in April - and you are definitely safe to bring out house plants and put in new plants before Derby Day (the first Saturday in May). In Rochester we usually had first frost before September ended (and then a hot Indian Summer of a few days!). Few gardeners would plant anything new before Memorial Day. The extra month and a half or so of gardening here is a delight (but the deep heat isn't).

Louisville is spectacular in the spring - absolutely stunning: dogwood, red bud, forsythia, azalea, rhodies, tulips everywhere... You'll love it!

[missymomof3]

If I remember right last Halloween it was still pretty dang warm but I could be wrong

[louroclou]

I think you're right, Missy. We may have had one of those updownuppers. The almanacs say we had first frost at the end of October, but it was warm for Halloween.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by louroclou

I think you're right, Missy. We may have had one of those updownuppers. The almanacs say we had first frost at the end of October, but it was warm for Halloween.

We have had many warm halloweens. I remember one year I took my kids to the thing they have at KY Kingdom and my now 12 year old was dressed as one of the teletubbies. It was a warm costume and the blessed child about cooked in it it was so hot.

[Windwalker]

Fantastic photo, Missy! Thanks!

And thanks for this thread. I've just moved here and trying to figure out what to do where/when. The property we bought comes with some incredible hydrangeas.

I did stop at a nursery pretty far south down Dixie Highway and was impressed with their bushes. Can't remember the name, though.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by Windwalker

Fantastic photo, Missy! Thanks!

And thanks for this thread. I've just moved here and trying to figure out what to do where/when. The property we bought comes with some incredible hydrangeas.

I did stop at a nursery pretty far south down Dixie Highway and was impressed with their bushes. Can't remember the name, though.

It was probably Frank Otte

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by Windwalker

Fantastic photo, Missy! Thanks!

And thanks for this thread. I've just moved here and trying to figure out what to do where/when. The property we bought comes with some incredible hydrangeas.

I did stop at a nursery pretty far south down Dixie Highway and was impressed with their bushes. Can't remember the name, though.

Oh and you are welcome for the picture.