There are very few activities that are more enjoyable on a sunny, spring day in Kansas than taking a drive in the country. The sprawling hillsides, the patchwork of plants peeking their heads up to reveal the colors of Mother Nature’s quilt, the dust billowing off a gravel path on a road less traveled, and that sense of discovery as you witness a eagle snatch up a field mice for his morning meal. It is a nice way to spend a day and an excellent place to buy plants. Visiting one of the fantastic garden nurseries just on the cusp of the Lawrence city limits can be a goldmine for the green thumb enthusiast in us all. While most area gardeners are well aware of the terrific nurseries within the city limits, all of whom have a great selection of flora and knowledgeable staffs. I thought it might be interesting to get in the car, roll the windows down, hit the open highway and discover what lies just beyond our own backyard.

I traveled east to Prairie Star Nursery, south to Vinland Valley Nursery, Clearfield Farms, Enright Gardens and Hamills Country Garden Nursery, and west to The Henry’s Plant Farm. I logged well over 100 miles. Tucked in the passenger seat was a trusty farm guide map but I still took plenty of wrong turns and in some cases (traveling north) I never did find the nursery I was looking for. What I did find are nursery owners who all have very specific niches in what they provide to patrons, so if you are looking for an unusual perennial, pre-made hanging baskets, colorful pots or annuals as far as the eye can see, this should aid in guiding your way.

Clearfield Farms

My first stop was Clearfield Farms. The drive is paved most of the way except for a short stint on gravel, however the turn off from the pavement to the gravel road is not clearly marked with a sign, so take a good map or have some directions and don’t expect signs to lead you there. There is a sign however right at the entrance reading “Clearfield Farms – Perennials & Herbs.” The scene is picturesque with an old, small barn as the retail space sporting very interesting sculptures and ornate pots. The accessories are on the pricey end but are not at all pedestrian and you certainly will not see them in your neighbor’s yard. Jess and Sammy the two nursery dogs will come right out and greet you as you disembark from the car. Sammy is generally wet having recently taken a dip in the small pond which separates the main house, where owners Barb and Larry Limberg live, from the nursery. There are gorgeous architectural elements with Japanese inspired pergolas that provide shade for much of the plants. The drive is worth it, the magical setting and the scenery alone are laudable of your time.

But the real reason to come to Clearfield Farms is the unique plants Larry has chosen and the wide array of certain flora he is attracted to. He explains, “We started the farm because I would get frustrated shopping for plants. Every place I’d go would have the same selection so I would turn to the garden catalogs which have great varieties but when you receive them the plants are so small, why it would take 20 years for it to grow into anything spectacular. There is a very high correlation with what we sell and what I love.”

For instance at Clearfield Farms you will find 33 different varieties of Lilac in 5 to 7 gallon pots, 18 types of Vibernum, 50 species of Clematis, 4 kinds of Hellebores, a diversity of 22 basil plants and a multitude of Hydrangeas. But you will not find one hosta or spirea. A 7 gallon lilac will set you back $35.00, most 1 gallon perennials are $7.99, while the cost is a bit more than some places, keep in mind that most places will not even carry many of these delightful finds. So, if you crave the unusual and unique or are particularly attracted to the same plants as Larry, Clearfield Farms is a must.

Enright Gardens

South on the paved road from Clearfield Farms and then turning east onto a gravel road, past the stop sign and at the crest of the hill is Enright Gardens. Once again, the main paved road does not have a sign so be on your toes and have a good map. Once you reach the apex of the hill, you will know you have arrived by the vastness of the production. Most of the buildings are a barn red color with white trim, except for the stunning, well-light, glass greenhouse. Enright is huge, it boasts 17 greenhouses, they display many of their annuals on giant flatbed trailers, the setting is spacious and I would venture to guess when I was there I saw no less than 20 employees busily filling trays with seeds or re-potting plants.

Sue and Steve Enright own the gardens. The two both came from farming backgrounds and in fact Sue’s family owned a nursery while she was growing up, so this large assembly has been years in the making. Enright Gardens does not have much in the way of unique plants or large shrubs and trees but what they do have is tried and true annuals and perennial favorites. When you walk into the massive greenhouse, a living arbor of impatiens is beginning to fatten, the smell of fresh soil is penetrable and Teddy, the mammoth Great Pyrenees dog will greet you with his tongue waging. The sounds of trickling water from fountains echoes in the colossal space and a row of large wagons awaits you to load up with earthen wonders.

The Enright’s grow and sell wholesale as well as retail which is one of the reasons their prices are so reasonable. A 5 ½” perennial runs anywhere from $7-$11 and that is expensive as it gets. There are no plants that will cost over $11. But keep in mind most of the flora is in 5 ½” pots or smaller. Enright Garden’s specializes in having an enormous amount of the basic annuals and perennials, so if you know you want standard fuchsia petunias lining a walkway there is no doubt you can find them at Enright.

Hamill Country Garden

Driving on Highway 59 just south past Baldwin Junction you will see a sign for Hamill Country Garden, turn west following the sign and it is as easy as that. Pam and Greg Hamill own and run this smaller-sized nursery. The large barn has cats scurrying in and out of a loose board entry; they are pouncing on one another and sunning themselves in the April glow. The greenhouse is old-fashioned looking with a miss match of materials used to construct it or repair it throughout the years; I like the look of it though something about it is appealing and beckons you to enter.

But, before I can enter the greenhouse I have to go exam the magnificent selection of brightly colored pots, bird bathes and saucers. The pots are glazed in lime green, chartreuse, lemon yellow, sky blue and plum purple. The shapes are different and playful sporting round, shallow bowls and taller cylindrical molds and I’m immediately upset with myself because I know I’ve got to purchase some, even though I made a vow not to buy anything on my nursery travels. I am weak and ultimately leave with a back seat full of a rainbow of pots.

Pam Hamill prides herself in her ability to make fabulous pot concoctions, she says, “It began in my mother’s clothing store with color, form and texture. Mixing plants is very similar only you are working with a living, changing medium.” While Hamill Country Garden does not have the largest selection around, Pam is ready and willing to aid in assisting you with the correct plants for your garden and pots. The prices range from a 3 1/2” perennial for $3.39, 1 gallon perennials are $8-10, and a 4 gallon rose will run $15. This is a terrific nursery for containers and the information you need to fill them up right.

Vinland Valley Nursery

I must admit, I shop at Vinland Valley quite frequently, mostly because it is large enough that I can find whatever I need. The prices are generally very competitive as a result of cutting out the middle man by growing and selling everything on the premises. Sometimes it is a little difficult to find help but that is understandable with such a large nursery that is family run. Vinland Valley has the “bones” that every garden needs, conifers, trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, just a litany of quality plants, in 25 gallons all the way down to 4-pack annuals. A 1 gallon perennial usually will run $7.95, a 4 ½” perennial is $3.29 and annuals are from $1.95-3.95.

This is a nursery; they are busy growing plants so they don’t fool around too much with the retail end. The barn is big and has some items like plastic outdoor rugs and some pots but for the most part this is a place to buy plants. Doug Davison, Vinland Valley owner, says, “I think we have the widest selection of all annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs of anyone else around.”

Wear your sturdy shoes, grab a big pull cart for all the goodies you’ll find and meander through the 13 or so greenhouses, there is something for everyone at Vinland Valley.

Prairie Star Nursery

Bart and Margit Hall own Prairie Star nursery, this is one of the smaller nurseries. It is tucked away east of town off of Edgerton Road, again there is no sign to signify you’ve hit the right place so take a map and keep your eyes peeled. Margit is a botanist and takes a great deal of pride in the fact that the plants you buy at Prairie Star will be proven to grow well in our area. As you amble out of the car don’t be surprised when 3 dogs, Osa, Cisco and Hoppy, come bounding your way. The mantra at Prairie Star is “Welcome to Spring” and the handful of employees will happily greet you this way.

Prairie Star may be on the tinier side as far as area nurseries go but they insist that you will not find better hanging baskets anywhere. Bart describes these creations, he says, “We call them living bouquets, we go for the size, beauty and complexity of a floral bouquet only these last for months, not days. In fact, we have people who come from over 13 states to purchase our hanging baskets.” The basket names are like a travel log on a stamped passport, there is the Rio basket which is brightly colored, the Salzburg basket made of red and whites which are common colors in Austria, Margit’s homeland. The flora surrounding the baskets above correspond in each greenhouse, so if you choose a orange lantana and pink petunia basket, the same flowers are below for individual purchase.

The prices at Prairie Star Nursery are competitive because the middle man is again eliminated from the mix allowing the grower to price accordingly. Most 1 gallon perennials will run $8.00, 6” annuals are $4.50 and hanging baskets run anywhere from $14-47. The farm is not as picturesque as some of the other nurseries but the employees are abundantly helpful and both owners are highly educated in horticulture.

The Henry’s Plant Farm

You will find The Henry’s Plant Farm by going toward Stull through the surrounding western countryside of Lawrence. The signs are pretty well marked so the chances of getting lost are slim. This is my choice for a great place for the entire family to have fun. I envision being able to pick and choose a wagon full of annuals and perennials here without my young son tugging at my pant legs. In fact, I think I will probably have to physically remove him from the gardens kicking and screaming because of the animals! The Henry’s Plant Farm is like a little petting zoo in a serene natural setting where you just know that the miniature donkey loves calling this place home. Marcia and Roy Henry, owners, explained that it is about sharing the farm experience and teaching young and old about our furry friends on the prairie.

They boast being the proud parents of an emu, pot-bellied pigs, horses, a bull, ducks, chickens, geese, sheep and the miniature donkey.

Marcia states, “We have the bread and butter like petunias and marigolds but we also have the unique and new plants. We try to be a bit different and create an experience that caters to the whole family.” When you visit the farm be sure to explore the more than 4 acres of theme gardens, to name a few would be: exotic garden, bog garden, train garden, cut flower garden, pizza garden, ABC garden and the grass garden.

The prices again are very reasonable and the family friendly atmosphere is worth the scenic, relatively short drive. Prices range from annuals in a 4 to 6 pack for under $2.00, 4 ½” perennials for $3.99, and 1 gallon plants range from $6.99-15.00. At the very least your kids will smell like pig, get dirty, sleep like logs that night and love every minute of it.

I hope this has been a useful guide to exploring outside our city limits. Remember that half the fun of any of these nurseries is taking the time to get there, spending a day with the family and hitting the Kansas back roads. Earmark an afternoon, take your time and have fun because gardening should always be an adventure.