This may be the best plant nursery on or near South Hill. I haven't checked every single place in…read moreor near Spokane, so I can't assert that it's the best overall, but it's probably at or near the top. There are a lot of big box stores selling plants, and there are a lot of indies selling plants but only during the growing season, and I've tried to hit them all this year.
(I went to a place down on Perry I won't mention here except for comparison. That place was immaculate, and the salespeople were kind of frosty. I was never acknowledged or offered help. I left without buying anything, though I badly wanted to buy a rose plant they had.)
(1) There's a map at the entrance(s) telling you where stuff is. There are also maps throughout so you don't get too lost. There are also helpful signs everywhere, telling you what stuff is, and what plants need. If you stop and read, you'll leave with far more knowledge about plants and gardening. (There was another indie nursery I visited that was way at the edge of town that had nothing marked. I mean, I know what a tomato plant looks like, but there was no indication what kind of tomato would grow from that plant. Annoying.)
(2) This place is large, sort of maze-like and interesting. It would be easy to get lost here for a few hours. It's also fully staffed by mellow, intelligent and helpful staff people who seem to like their job and know what they're talking about. That was not my experience at any of the other indies, where people were cold and dismissive, or elitist, or didn't know much about anything or couldn't wait for these pesky customers to stop bothering them.
(3) The music playing inside the nursery was actually pretty cool. I heard Sinatra, Billie Holliday, several WWII-era compositions, some old-school musical numbers (pre-Andrew Lloyd Webber, which was awesome), and some opera. That place on Perry was playing Lite Rock - the kind that makes you want to gouge out your ear drums.
(4) Did I mention the plant selection and the prices? Uh, yeah. They had everything I had on my wish list, and some stuff I didn't know I wanted. Fruits, vegetables, every possible kind of flower, landscaping choices, trees, succulents, and some other stuff I can't categorize. I walked out of there for less than $20 with a big box of stuff, and kind of felt bad that I didn't buy more. Yes, big box stores are cheaper, and they have those guaranties (replacing a plant that dies), but these plants were far healthier and more responsibly sourced. My big box squash is dead, and the strawberry I got at another nursery is being a drama queen, but all the plants I got here are healthy, thriving, growing. They also stock plants from Monrovia, which I remember being THE expensive/trendy plants of choice in expensive/trendy Bay Area gardens. That's right - people had "designer" plants in their yards. I know. It made me roll my eyes, too.
I went on a bland and overcast weekday, so I have no idea how crazy-crowded it gets on the weekends. Still worth it.