Welcome to the area McPat!

I live in Amelia, OH, just outside the easternmost loop of I-275 and about the same distance south as Florence, KY.

Things here in Greater Cinti are humid, humid, and did I say humid? in the summertime. Look for plants that do well in heat and humidity.

Natorp has a garden center on SR 42 in Florence - should be very close for you! They also have a HUGE store in Mason, OH that (I would think) has anything you are looking for that would be hardy in our area. Sorry, no experience on Kousa dogwoods, but I've seen photos and they are beautiful! I'm sure that you won't have any trouble finding one.

I'd also like to know if there are any spring plant events!

Laura

I used to live in Cincinnati (Bethel area) and it is definitely humid (I now live in Louisville after 9 years in Tucson, AZ)! My MIL used to work for Groby's Garden Center in Dayton and I still think it's one of the best places. If you don't mind the hour drive, it's worth it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Groby's in Dayton, OH

Hi McPat,

I live in Norwood (pretty much the center of Cincinnati).

I've been to Greenfield Plant Farm, they have a pretty good selection, along with the aforementioned Natorp's. It's a little out of the way for you...but a good weekend trip :)

http://www.greenfieldplantfarm.com/

I've posted a link to some area some Florence-area nurseries, haven't been to them, but maybe worth a shot.

Eric

Here is a link that might be useful: Florence Area Nurseries

Thank you so much for the welcomes, Laura, Fairygirl and Eric.

And especially thank you for the info.

Natorp on 42 is pretty close to me. That's great. And 5 of the list Eric sent are also nearby. So I have lots of options. Do folks recommend Natorp?

This is the downside of moving after 20+ years somewhere else, where I didn't even have to think about where to go (g). Now I'm flying blind.

The trip to Dayton wouldn't be bad, since my sister and b-i-l live in that area. OTOH, my sister is the real gardener in the family, so I suspect if I'm looking at plants up there, I'll be going where she wants!

I tend to be a survival-of-the-fittest gardener. I had shade, shade, shade in Va. -- and humidity, humidity, humidity (so I'm prepared for No.Ky.) I loved my yellow epimedium, corydallis, wood poppy, and fern-leaf correopsis -- part of my ongoing crusade to find things that bloomed yellow in the shade. I hope they'll grow here, too.

I'll have shade in the back and sun in the front. So I'm also hoping to grow some roses (2 bushes already here and I've ordered 2 from Antique Rose Emporium.) And daisies. I really want daises.

Anybody have success with these in this area?

Do you do anything in particular to the soil? (I was used to very acidic soil and I hear this area isn't acidic -- true?)

Full of questions!

McPat

Welcome McPat!

Daisies grow quite well here in central KY as do peonies, daylilies which all three thrive very well on little care. At my place they have to because with over 1400 daylilies they root hog or die.

If you get as far as Lexington there are several nurseries there if you're interested. Also several daylily nurseries in Central KY.

Janet

Groby's in Dayton went out of business several years ago.

Hi again McPat,

Daisies do well here as mentioned. I have a "Becky" Shasta daisy that I like. Good to hear about the roses, last year I really started getting into the antique old garden roses and the Antique Rose Emporium is a great vendor. Also look at Ashdown Roses.

What roses did you order? We are lucky enough to be in a zone where we can grow the roses that need cold, but can also grow some of the Southern roses.

I've never had our soil tested, but I've heard that the clay in this area is usually on the alkaline side, a soil test is probably in order to be sure.

Eric

Not sure what you're referring to as "plant events" but there's the Cincinnati Civic Garden Center Spring sale in late April or early May, The Cincinnati Flower show in late April at Coney Island, Boone County Arboretum has a Spring Sale in May(you should find info on all these using Google)And the Cincinnati Home and Garden show at the convention center downtown in early March.

Kousa dogwood do well in your area and I would recommend a site that provides afternoon shade and routinely moist soil. They will tolerate some drought conditions, but they don't like that situation.

Here's some nurseries and garden centers in the Cincinnati area I have been to and recommend
Natorps is good and the KY facility will have about everything the Ohio one has.
Lakeview GC & Nursery on Rt 127 north of I-275.
White Oak GC at 3579 Blue Rock Road.
Delhi GC on Northwood near Tri-County Mall.
Sharon Nursery out by Kings Island and along I-71.
There's a couple greenhouses on Gray St along the northeast side of Spring Grove Cemetery. Rahn's is one of them. And be sure to drive through the cemetery while you're there. Go in the spring(mid-May) when the pink dogwoods are blooming.
More Specialty Plants on Mckeever Rd. Take Rt 32 east form the east side of Cincinnati out past Williamsburg, go across a river and McKeever is the next right. They have a lot of unusual plants.
There used to be a Franks Store on Rt 18 across from the Florence Mall that always had decent plants, but they may not be in business anymore

and here's a place I forgot about that has nice plants, etc plus some interesting things for kids and they have a great time there in the fall prior to Halloween with hayrides and all sorts of stuff going on. It's a fun place even if you don't buy any plants.
Burger Farm Garden Center
7849 Main Street (ST. RT. 32)
Newtown, Ohio 45244

Ah, yes, Janet, love the things the thrive on little care. When it comes to plants, my eyes are always bigger than my later tolerance for babying them.

Thanks for all the good

Eric, I ordered Graham Thomas and Renee d'Or.

I'd had Renee d'Or, Felicia and Perle d'Or from Antique Rose Emporium in No. Va. in mostly shade. They mostly climbed up the side of a deck. They got some sun as they reached up to the deck, but it was really tough conditions for roses and they did remarkably well. I did have to fight black spot, but that was pretty much a given in No. Va. summers.

I think you'll enjoy your Antique Rose selections. And thank you for the rec on Ashdown -- always good to hear places that have worked for other folks.

What a great run-down Mrgpag -- thank you so much. I'll have to share these with my sister the plant maven, too. She particularly likes things that are uncommon (vs. my need for easy-to-care for )

I've received catalogs from Antique Rose Emporium, Wayside Gardens, and epimedium specialist and Brecks ... getting the itch, despite the snow and cold.

McPat

I'm just venturing into trying Tea roses (Lady Hillingdon) and Chinas (Hermosa), these were recommended as hardier members of the their classes that could make in zone 6. I've also got another hybrid musk (like Felicia), Jeri Jennings.

Good luck.

Eric

I am also from nky. I have 3 that I shop from. Beaten's on Frogtown Road, Florence Nursery, and Natorp's. Beaten's has many different varities, Florence Nursery get tropical hibiscus and Natorp's has the common. I would recommend any. I also do some shopping at Lowe's garden.

If I can help you with anything let me know.

Beth