Visit to the Sooner Plant Farm

Angela England, amateur gardener and author, J Ray Photography

Posted by
Angela England
Nov 17, 2006

I was privileged to be able to visit the Sooner Plant Farm on my way home from visiting my parents, earlier this week. Brian took me for a walk around the grounds, despite the gusts of cold wind, and sprinkling rain that made it seem that winter had truly arrived.

Begun in 1999 with 50 varieties of trees, the Sooner Plant Farm has now grown into a great mail order nursery with over 500 perennial varieties, usually types you will not be able to find at your local garden center.

I found them via the Dave’s Garden website Garden Watchdog List because of their 100% positive customer ratings. When I asked Brian Chojnacki, the owner, what he attributed the high ratings to he said he felt that the fact he and his assistant, Teressa, handpick all the plants for customer orders, and pack the orders themselves is what makes the key difference. "We know if a customer were to come back with a complaint we can’t blame anyone else. We take the full responsibility for taking care of the customer".

While November might seem an odd time to tour a nursery, I enjoyed talking with Brian about plants that would provide some winter interest throughout the garden. In fact, I got to see in person some species and varieties I wasn’t familiar with at all and that’s always a lot of fun. Making a new discovery in the garden is great!

Some of my new favorites include; Euphorbia characias ‘Tazmanian Tiger’, whose picture does not do it justice and will grow even in fun sun with minimal burning of the white edges; Heuchera hybrid ‘Midnight Rose’, a gorgeous evergreen coral bell with bright pink specks and splotches throughout the deep maroon leaves; and an impressive collection of ground cover sedums that were turning gold, dark red and even purple.

If you are ever in Northeast Oklahoma stop by and go for a walk to see the beautiful varieties available. No matter what time of the year you'll find interesting landscaping, beautiful plants, and helpful folks to answer your questions.