Recently we were out shopping for some tomato plants for our summer vegetable garden.

We headed to Merrifield Garden Center and found a great selection of vegetable plants.

Rows of Tomato Plants Water Serpent Sculpture in Water Lilly Pond

Of course, there was time to roam around the almost magical garden center and check out their other plants and displays.

The above photograph shows a water serpent sculpture in the center of one of their water lily ponds.

Not only do they sell water lilies but also fish to stock that fish pond.

Bog Plants

I have never seen a water bog, so I thought it was interesting to look at their selection of bog plants.

When I visit this garden center there is always some new to see.

The quiet serenity of plants puts one into a peaceful zone.

Rows of Planters on Yellow Rack Planters Filled with Colorful Plants

The above two photographs shows an assortment of planters full of colorful plants and flowers.

The photograph on the right shows a Woodford Iowa Yard Hydrant located at Merrifield Garden Center.

This is an old design which still works well to give water in even sub-zero temperatures.

The Woodford Iowa Yard Hydrant is surrounded by a riot of red and purple blooms.

I used one of these on the “farm” to water the flower garden.

Woodford Iowa Yard Hydrant Assortment of Trees and Plants Tree and Pink Azalea Bushes

At the entrance to the garden center there was this unusual looking plant, see photograph on the right.

The tag stated it was a Flaming Silver Andromeda plant.

The blooms for this plant are the showy white clusters.  Flaming Silver Andromeda plants bloom in late April.

The new growth can be seen as the brilliant red color near the top of the bush.

Flaming Silver Andromeda Plant White Garden Arch

As I was leaving the garden center, I noticed about five excited boy scouts and their parents being given a tour by a Merrifield Garden employee.  I guess the boys were going for a scout gardening badge.

I hope that tour helps to foster a life-time love of plants and gardening for those boy scouts.

A Special Thank You to Daniel in Customer Service of Merrifield Garden Center for allowing me to share my photographs of their wonderful store on my blog.

Waterfall at Merrifield Garden Center