Say It Ain't So

Rhododendron viscosum from Meadowbrook NurseryAm I the last to know?  The owners closed Meadowbrook Nursery (We-Du.com) last fall due to health reasons.  

I discovered this news while browsing some favorite online plant sources this week, looking for inspiration and ideas for native shrubs.  We-Du.com was always a regular internet stop for my plant shopping.  I found the closing announcement when I landed on their homepage.

Meadowbrook Nursery supplied me with my first native summer-blooming azaleas more than 10 years ago. Much more pleasing than the showier Japanese azaleas that bloom in spring, the native white-flowering Rhododendron viscosum add fresh color and a sweet fragrance to my June borders. (Check out my post on these summer beauties here.)

It's always sad to see a favorite retailer go out of business. But this closing is especially sad.  They not only educated me on the beauty of native shrubs but provided me with wonderful plants that have matured and become part of the backbones of my Hamptons garden. Thank you Meadowbrook Nursery.  I wish you guys well and will miss you.

Their website is still up so I plan to study their plant collections thoroughly like good garden book for potential new native additions. Hopefully, I'll find a resource to fulfill this wish list.