I prefer Apple Valley Bachmans to any other nursery in the area. The reasons are simple - the selection of healthy vigorous plants, carefully chosen to be a perfect fit for our climate and extraordinary staff who really know what they are doing.
I am a former city dweller. I was born in a concrete jungle so far north, Minnesota feels like a tropical vacation to me. I spent my formative years in another concrete jungle. I dabbled in gardening - an inpatients planter thrived on my windowsill one year, raising my gardening confidence level to an all-times high. So naturally, when I moved to my sprawling estate in Minnesota 'burbs, I decided to put my talents to a good use. I'd plant a garden, the UofM Extension hasn't dreamt of!
Boy did I spend a lot of money in Gertens or Pahl's that year on plants that were either eaten by my furry neighbors or didn't survive the winter as they were Zone 5 plants.
Come next year, I had another fabulous idea. This time I was going to plant azaleas and rhododendrons. I did my research and this time went to Bachmans, it was closer than other nurseries and on the way home from kids's daycare.
As I walked into Bachmans nurseries I was immediately greeted my an associate who was clearly enjoying her job. She asked if I needed help, so I said - The UofM developed a new azalea hybrid for zones 3-4, do you sell those? Was I full of myself when I said that? Hell yeah, I did 3 weeks of research and knew EXACTLY what I needed!
So the sales associate (let's call her a garden fairy) nodded enthusiastically and said - let me ask you a few questions: tell me about yourself, are you a patient person? Do you have a lot of spare time? Ok, I guess I did look a little out of place decked out in a business suit with 2 preschoolers wrecking havoc on the store as we spoke. But then the garden fairy proceeded further asking about the purpose for my planting azaleas - hide a shed? Got it. How much sun does the spot have? Wind? Lots of wildlife? Do you want spring blooms or all-summer long blooms? (I was like, damn this fairy surely knows her azaleas)!!
So long story short, the fairy led me to hydrangeas. And with a genuine smile, not even batting an eye on my soaking wet kids who were trying to water the roses, said - these love shade and grow fast. They bloom for months. But what about azaleas I asked? Plant those when you retire.
Best part - those hydrangeas are perfect! I haven't done a thing to them since planting, except occasional soak, and they are doing great, growing like they are on steroids, blooming. And I feel like such an accomplished gardener. :))
There was that other time I decided to plant clematis. Same thing happened, and I was recommended the queen of clematis that a gardener like myself can't kill. It got eaten by rabbits 3 times, I forgot all about it after, never even watered it, and re-discovered it some time later noticing an odd pop of blue color in my yard - my clematis in full bloom!
So for all of you, aspiring gardeners, go to Bachmans in Apple Valley and trust their garden fairies. The UofM might not be blown away, but you will love your yard and feel good about yourself.
I will post pictures next summer :) read more