A Surprise in Des Moines!

We met a friend from Seattle in Des Moines, WA for lunch on a Saturday a few weeks ago. On the way to the restaurant, we kept seeing these signs.  On the way out, we decided to follow them.  What could it hurt, right?

Established in 1907, Zenith Holland Gardens is the oldest continually operating business in Des Moines.  They specialize in quality plants ranging from hardy perennials to culinary herbs, colorful annuals, sedums, ground covers and hanging baskets.  The gardens house eleven greenhouses on just over an acre of land.

While they are primarily a wholesale nursery, they are open to the public every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through September and the website says that they'll be open Fridays from September on.  There was also talk about beginning Christmas sales in November so I wonder what they carry then?   

Winter pansies just getting started.

You can view their retail price lists to see what is currently available here.  I'm a fan of  fancy leafed geraniums!  

Let us say together the words that Danger taught us,  "There is always an Agave!"  In this case lots of agaves!

There were only two varieties but in such numbers.  

Cassia didymobotrya was new to me and the larger print on the tag read "Popcorn Cassia"  I learned  later from this post  that the crushed leaves smell like buttered popcorn.  The tag listed the hardiness as zone 10 or 11 so I  didn't get one.  

All sorts of interesting perennials.  Zenith Holland is about plants.  You won't find garden do dads,  yard art, pots, glow in the dark solar powered glass orbs, etc. here but what you will find is lots and lots of plants (difficult to contain the delight.)  I'm looking forward to my next visit!

This is a wonderful place definitely worth adding to one's list of regular stops!  It's proximity to Furney's nursery is nice because you can easily visit them both in the same afternoon.  

I was interested in some of the interesting ferns they were growing but didn't see them on the retail price list.  The folks there were very friendly but I didn't want to bother them with price inquiries.

Aren't they cute?

This one, whose name I forgot to write down, was especially sweet looking.  Perhaps I'll have to go back on Friday.

If the nursery was this full near the end of August when most retailers are putting  their perennials on sale, imagine what it must be like in the spring!  To borrow a line from California's former governor, I'll be back!