Specialties
More than a nursery, the Hidden Forest is a complete shade plant forest experience that combines a renowned Nursery with 7.5 acres of Botanic Reserve gardens that act as a showcase for our plants and expertise. Continuing the tradition of past owners we specialize in rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, trees, dogwoods, Japanese maples, camellias, vines, unusual herbs and edibles and much more! As our vision unfolds we are adding medicinal herbs, flowering annuals to the nursery stock and educational plant, nature and wellness classes to support the botanical reserve (doesn't forest yoga sound cathartic?)
History
Established in 1964.
In 1964, Stewart and Audrey Barber created what was known as the Azalea Farm, growing and hybridizing Exbury Azaleas on what was previously cow pasture off the Gravenstein highway. When Polo de Lorenzo and Warren Smith purchased the nursery in 1976, it consisted of the gardens by the house and the nursery area. At the time, the rest of the property was overgrown with blackberry and weeds. Over the years, the weeds were cleared away and the rest of the acreage was planted to become the forest garden that exists today. After 50 years of dedication, in 2016 Polo retired and passed the business to Mike Boss who managed the property until we purchased the land and nursery in September 2024.
Meet the Business Owner: Wendy S.
We are a family of gardeners, beekeepers and a scientist (me!) with a passion for raising, processing and utilizing medicinal herbs grown in our home garden. After over 30 years working at a biotech company, and by a series of seemingly random events, I landed in the Hidden Forest one August afternoon while it was for sale. There's no way to describe what happened to me other than the land called me (yelled, really). I heard the message that the forest needed me as much as I needed it. Not being able to shake this feeling of 'destiny', I, with the partnership of my mom and encouragement of my two daughters, made an offer to purchase and two months later here we are! Everyday in the nursery I feel immense gratiture for having been shown my life's mission, and also who can beat an office literally in the trees! The future of Botanica is not only women run but also generational with my mom, myself and my girls all dedicated to the restoration of this one-of-a-kind botanical reserve.