A Trip to Select Horticulture Inc.
As a passionate gardener, it's always such a treat for me to visit a well-stocked nursery that deals in beautiful and unusual varieties of plants.
Last week, on Arbor Day in fact, I took some time from my busy schedule to stop in at Select Horticulture Inc. in Pound Ridge, New York and check on their current inventory. Select Horticulture Inc. offers an extensive collection of premium quality trees and shrubs including large sizes, unusual and rare specimens, with both stand-alone and mature espaliered options. I'm always searching for interesting specimens to add to my gardens, and I always find something at Select Horticulture Inc.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Select Horticulture Inc. has locations in Lancaster, Massachusetts and here in Westchester, New York right off route 137. It is owned by Scott Richard and Jim Freeborn who are often at the nurseries ready to answer any questions.
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- It was such a beautiful day and a perfect morning for a plants adventure. Here I am with Scott and my head gardener, Ryan McCallister.
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- The nursery has rows and rows of beautiful and well maintained specimens, which can be seen from the road.
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- Scott drove us around and showed us the spring inventory. Every row of trees and shrubs is neat, tidy, and every item properly identified.
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- There are lots of lush evergreen shrubs in all different sizes. It is nice to see such a well organized nursery.
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- Scott and Jim use gravel underneath many of their plantings to help keep the areas dry and easy to move through.
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- And every tree is connected to an extensive water irrigation system. There are multiple stakes in each root ball that connect to the water source. With warmer weather on the way, Scott’s team checks all the trees to make sure stakes are properly inserted.
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- Scott showed us this row of espaliered apple trees – each grafted with about six different apple varieties. Espalier refers to an ancient technique, resulting in trees that grow flat, either against a wall, or along a wire-strung framework. I was tempted to get one, or two, but I didn’t… this time.
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- Here’s a lovely Japanese maple getting transported for delivery to its new home.
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- In this row – Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Dark Alexandrina.’ This is a dark flowered saucer magnolia which has large fuzzy flower buds up to an inch long.
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- Hard to miss this row of giant columnar Carpinus betulus Frans Fontaine – a dense hornbeam with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Standing in front are Pinus Thunderheads, medium-sized evergreen conifers.
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- These are Styrax japonicus MS, or Japanese snowbells, compact, deciduous flowering trees with horizontal branching and rounded crowns.
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- These giant trees are loaded for delivery. These trees are very well-supported for transport. They should arrive at their destination in perfect condition.
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- I love these Ginkgo biloba Goldspire Obelisk trees. These feature narrow upright tower forms with flat tops. The distinctive bright green Ginkgo foliage turns golden-yellow in autumn. I decided to purchase a selection – wait and see where they’ll be planted.
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- Prunus avium Regina Cherry is a dark sweet cherry bred in Germany. The fruit is dark red with reddish flesh and a sweet tart flavor.
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- Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer is also known as a Callery ornamental pear. It is an upright-pyramidal tree that is much narrower than others of its kind. The glossy heart-shaped leaves turn deep purple in fall.
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- When selecting any new planting for a garden always be sure to consider the plant’s preferred hardiness zone, its care requirements, and the specimen’s size at maturity.
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- Here’s another specimen heading home – it was one of several evergreens.
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- Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan,’ is a flowering cherry cultivar. It was developed in the Edo period in Japan and is a deciduous tree that grows up to 30-feet tall. It blooms with clusters of large, double deep pink flowers in spring.
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- And of course, here’s a beautiful Picea orientalis ‘Skylands.’ Do you know why this is one of my favorite trees? Its name is “Skylands” after all – the same name as my beloved home in Maine. If you’re in search of good quality trees or shrubs, and live in or around Pound Ridge, New York, or Lancaster, Massachusetts, be sure to visit Select Horticulture Inc. You’ll learn a lot and most likely find something you love to take home. Thanks for the time, Scott – see you soon!
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