Avant Gardens = Avoid Gardens!

13 years ago

What a disappointment and waste of my time and gasoline! First (and last!) time I will go there. A forty minute drive for me (from Providence) was no problem. The display garden areas were very nice, with a lot of little gems tucked away. But not ONE person said a word to me. No offer to help, to ask if I was finding what I wanted, nor to see if I had any questions. Add to that the fact that there were no prices on anything, and most things were unlabeled, while a large percentage of plants were red-tagged "stock plant - not for sale" or tagged "sold". So I couldn't find any of those little gems that I could buy for my garden. There were groupings of things (cold frames?) covered in plastic so I don't know if anything under the covers were for sale. What's the point? Even when we were near the front entrance looking at the borders, someone (owner?) walked by on her way into the front house there and barely looked at us, let alone ask if we'd found anything or had any questions!

Later, I went to The Farmer's Daughter in Wakefield, RI. Now THERE is a nursery! Many unusual plants in addition to the more common but useful things we expect to see. Everything is labeled and priced, and there are people there who actually ASK you if you need help. Or at least say "Hello." The layout is wonderful and very organized. Display areas are everywhere and well tended.

Now, which place do you think I will go to again?

Comments (7)

relaxationworks
13 years ago
thanks so much for the warning and the good recommendation for Farmers Daughter
isabella__MA
13 years ago
My experience was not as neglectful, but I think it's a family business/personal residence. I'm more of a shrub person, so the inventory was not of much interst to me, but tons of perenials for the collector.

I had found there website and recommendations here, so I went by about 3 years ago.
Related Professionals
New Bedford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Beachwood Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · North New Hyde Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Prairie Ridge Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Burien Landscape Contractors · Fort Mill Landscape Contractors · Paso Robles Landscape Contractors · Seminole Landscape Contractors · Siloam Springs Landscape Contractors · Sugar Hill Landscape Contractors · Ankeny Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Oswego Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Palm Beach Gardens Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Saint Louis Park Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Statesville Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
bill_ri_z6b
Original Author
13 years ago
Isabella,
There were lots of perennial "gems" as I said in the display areas, and I would have loved to buy some. I just wasn't able to find them actually for sale for the various reasons I mentioned above. That's why a little help would have been nice. Live and learn........

If you love shrubs, have you been to Haskell's? Nice selection there, as well as the Farmer's Daughter and of course Briggs.
kpaquette
13 years ago
Wow I was just there last week and had the opposite experience. In fact I had to wait my turn, as they were busy. But the people in front of me as well as my self definitely got help. It sounds like it was an off day there.
isabella__MA
13 years ago
Bill,

Never been to either farmers delight or Haskells! I'll have to swing by some day. I do like Briggs, great plants and a nice play area for the kids.
diggingthedirt
13 years ago
A.G. is definitely a little different, not for everyone, and yes, it's a family business/personal residence. The owners are maybe a little odd, in the way of plant enthusiasts, and possibly not as business oriented as they might be, which probably loses them some customers - like Bill.

I go at least once a year, and usually seek out the owners for help with their unusual offerings.

Haskells is a great nursery, although it also has its down side. I haven't been to Farmers Daughter in several years, but maybe I'll add that to my next road trip - or maybe Sylvan Nursery in Westport, which isn't too far from New Bedford either.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
13 years ago
I've only dealt with them through mail order, and have only good things to say about that experience, including a personal reply to an email at one point. Their plants have thrived for me, even despite some neglect on my part due to an injury seriously delaying planting one year.