Online Nurseries 2001 - Weird Dude's Plant Zoo
Weird Dude's Plant Zoo has a truly eclectic mix of plants, ranging from alpines to tropicals. There's something for most every climate, but a particular emphasis on unusual plants and plants for warmer areas. Their list is full of plants I haven't bumped into before...as well as many I know of and want to grow.
Weird Dude's Plant Zoo, just outside Staunton, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, is owned and operated by the Dude himself, Marty Harper, and his partner, the Dudette, Debbie Gartzke. Both have years of experience in growing plants, and both are multi-taskers of the highest order.
Marty is "co-owner, greenhouse manager, head grower, gardener, electrician, plumber, carpenter, and janitorial assistant, spends his free time going insane about what he's going to do the next day.", while Debbie has no free time and is the "head accountant, paperwork organizer, greenhouse plastic patcher, garden mulcher, Farmer's Market and plant show salesperson, Ryder truck driver, Webmaster, photographer, gardener, Weird Dude's main squeeze, and full-time lawyer in her spare time"...and she has no free time.
These are hands-on growers; you can find out more about them and their four-legged companions on the web site - hit the 'About Us' link.
The site is easy to navigate, providing two ways to see their listings, as well as a good search engine. There are informative descriptions for all entries and many have photos. Quite a number of plants are offered in both quart and gallon sizes and, if you live near enough to visit, you can arrange to pick up even larger sizes at the nursery. You can order online or via phone, fax or snail mail.
Don't miss Weird Dude's Philosophy on Growing Plants page. He not only talks about that hard to grasp "sun" or "shade" concept but he tells you how to push your zone and grow plants that aren't supposed to be hardy for you.
And the plants! Well, I had a great deal of difficulty narrowing down my list here, and I know you will too.
That Tropical Paradise Look
Gardeners in the deep south can achieve that coveted tropical look with ease, but for us in cold winter climates, it takes a tad more effort. Weird Dude has a slew of plants to help us out.
Angel Trumpets - or Brugs
I've gotten hooked on Brugmansias. These are incredible plants of the Solanaceae family, hailing from the cool, damp mountain areas South America's Andes range. They can become thirty foot trees in their native habitat. While they prefer cool temperatures, they will tolerate heat and humidity. They actually prefer light or afternoon shade in hot climates.
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