My name is John Statham and I have a garden centre (details below) which operates out of my home in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. It is set in the middle of a pine forest, with the shade plants under the pines and the sun plants in what used to be the paddocks. The old horse barn is used to house pots and bulbs and other various items.
John’s Garden
4300 Concession 7
Uxbridge, ON, L9P 1R4
905-862-8175
johns_garden@hotmail.com
www.johnsgarden.ca (coming very soon – signed off on it Oct 18, 2012)
www.facebook.com/johnsgardeninuxbridge
@PerennialJohn
We are open to the public:
April – September: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00am – 5:00pm
October: Tuesday – Sunday from 8:00am – 5:00pm
November – December: Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00am – 5:00pm
Officially, we are zone 5 (Canadian) but I like to experiment with plants that aren’t supposed to grow here. I have a number of Zone 6 plants and even a Zone 7 grass, positioned for optimal drainage and where the snow gets blown in the winter for extra protection.
As a plant collector myself, the nursery has collections of various plants that I am fond of. We currently have large collections of Hostas (400 varieties with more coming), Daylilies (140 varieties), Grasses (one of my loves), Peonies (especially Itoh peonies), Hydrangea, Echinacea, Heuchera, and Clematis (which should grow to over 100 varieties for 2011). Our conifer collection should grow considerably for 2011.
I write a column for one of our local papers, “Can you dig it?” and it’s those columns that I post here.
Your pictures are beautiful. Can’t wait to visit you again in the Spring.
Hi John
I was looking around my area, Oshawa, for some Amaryllis bulbs to purchase for Christmas gifts. By the look of your articles you have some! What are your hours this time of year and what are the cost of the different sizes of bulbs….
Thanks for your response
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m open Tuesday – Sunday, 8:00am-5:00pm. I’ll probably close for the season on Sunday, Dec 19. Having said that, I’m afraid I’m out of Amaryllis bulbs.
John
Hi John..looking forward to seeing u again at our Millbrook Garden club meeting next Wednesday June 1 at St Thomas Church..its been awhile since Sheridan nurseries in Unionville. Hal Avery passed away May 9 and his wife Liz Avery is a good friend and member of the club. If u have a fern leafed peony and a Remember Me hosta could u please bring them next week. What is a ITOH peony? Is there a grass as beautiful as ribbon/zebra and if so please bring that too. Let me know and Sharleen said u were bringing plants to sell so this is just an advance order.Thanks a lot..phone Linda
Hello i’m just trying to figure out where you are located. Could you send me a map? I live just outside of Peterborough. Thank you Cindy Sweeting
Hello John,
I have a small pond that I would like to do some planting in and around.
When I’m canoeing around here the Cardinal flower is one of my favorates – was thinking of planting this and other wet loving plants. Do you carry seeds for this?
When do you open??
All the best on this wonderful spring day!
Mark
I am looking for a Pussy Willow tree/shrub (salix discolor) I believe, would you sell this?
Hi Sharon,
We usually have a few in tree form (S. caprea Pendula, S. repens Nitida) and a bunch of different willows in shrub form. I haven’t carried S. discolor in the past, but shouldn’t have a problem getting them in.
hey john. do you do mail order?? looking for some itoh peonies. brent klause, saskatoon
Hi Brent, Sorry, I don’t do mail order. John
John when will you open for this years season? We saw you at Canada blooms and would like to buy some blue Zebra plants, we drove up to Uxbridge and noticed your sign was down. Hope to hear from you. Thanks, Maggie
Hi there – We had set April 19th as the opening date, but we still have lots of snow so I’m thinking that might not be feasible. Hopefully it will be the following Friday, April 26. May 3 at the latest
Hi John, I am looking for a few specific hostas and I am wondering if you have any or all of them:
“Dick Ward” – “Blue Jay” – “Dragon Tails”
Thank you.
Hi Peter. I did have Dick Ward and Dragon Tails last year. I’ll have to check to see if we still do (not at home at the moment)
Thanks John. I appreeciate your speedy response
Hi John, my husband and I were looking for you at Canada blooms this year, sorry we didn’t see you, we were wondering whether you will have any blue Zebra plants this year, also, when will you be opening this spring?
Thanks.
Maggie
YOUR HIM ! … My wife and I came up last weekend. We had a discussion with you about some staff from another place. We told you about this guy we would go to because he knew EVERYTHING ! We nicknamed him “Perenial John”, that’s you and yes you did have more hair, too bad you can’t grow that !
We had a GREAT time at your garden center, it’s a BRILLIANT concept and is truly UNIQUE. We’ll be coming up this weekend to, looking forward to seeing you. Hopefully there be a cooler with water and pop.
C U L8R
Grant & Michelle
lol @ growing hair – looking forward to seeing you again.
John, I have recently mourned the death of my 30 yr old gas plant ( dictamnus albus?)… A pink one. It just seems to have expired for no apparent reason. Do you carry this plant, or can you acquire them? I would be thrilled if you did…
Hi there. I have them in stock. Saw a pink one blooming yesterday.
Fantastic. I’m at the cottage in Haliburton right now and I know they aren’t fond of moving. Would it be best to get it from you in September? ( if you have two, my brother-in-law, a botanist who started my original, may want one too. I will check.)
they’re container grown and can be planted at any time
Hi John and wonderful staff,
I was recommended to come to your wonderful nursery and I wandered about with a lovely landscaper (Sean) who told me all about the plants he loved. I came away with plants to start a new garden as we have moved to a tiny place in Markham with a backyard of grass. My 70 year old knees can only take so much digging (clay soil!), but I plan on coming every weekend to add more lovely plants to a prosperous (hopefully) backyard.
Please also note that I have a prosperous coffee business here (23 years) so I’ll bring you a lb. of our house blend and then maybe you might think to serve coffee while your customers wander.
See you on the weekend!
Pat Phillips,
the Coffee Loft,
905-471-4178
patanddoug@rogers.com
My new garden (last year) contains most of your perennials. Am looking forward to coming to you again this year! Love the atmosphere and how helpful you, as well as other customers are when wandering in the pine forest.
Do you have Christmas hostas?
We have Night Before Christmas, but not one called Christmas.
Hi john, do you have Athyrium Godzilla in stock?
HI there,
We have 34 left (out of 126 – we’ve had to restock twice)
We are recommending that if people want them, that they have them reserved as they’ve been selling so fast. I’ve now cleared the grower out of them so we won’t be able to restock after this
Do you have fruit or vegetable plants?
Yes – lots of veggies, some fruit now, more coming
Got your website through a friend. I am looking for a grower that deals with native species. In particular trilliums or more specific Painted trilliums. I am trying to reintroduce them to a forested area on a property I own and am working on. Is this something you have carried or ever grown.
Regards
Andrew Peake
I do carry a lot of natives, however, I have tried many times over the years to get the painted trilliums but always failed
Hello, John –
We have bought in Peterborough and while visiting the Ecological Garden there, in pursuit of tree inspiration, I asked the very knowledgeable young lady if she had any Beauty Bushes. Ours is spectacular! She had never heard of it. I searched and found a wonderful article describing its many features and was delighted to see they could be obtained at your garden centre, which I have always meant to visit. We live in North Pickering. Do you have any in stock?
We’re also considering a Serviceberry tree, a crabapple, pagoda dogwood, and a viburnum. As you can surmise, we’re going for native, tough, 4-season trees that will provide a screen and a attract birds, while tolerating the nastiness that climate change is throwing at us.
Peterborough is a very sandy soil, and can have tough winters and hot summers. Or unexpected winter thaws and wet springs. But then again, where doesn’t now?:-( Which is why we want tough.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Mary Delaney,
Brougham
Hi there – we’re out of beauty bush (Kolkwitzia) and serviceberry trees, but we do have crabapples, pagoda dogwood, viburnums – many more tough trees and shrubs – pure sand here so knowledgeable in that department
Hi,
We came to your garden last spring and enjoyed seeing all the beautiful plants you have. We were wondering if you have the Sunny Knock Out Hedge Rose available?
Thanks,
Adriana
clearly I need to look at the blog more often than I have – I carried Sunny Knock Out one year, but wasn’t terribly impressed so I haven’t had it since
Hi John,
My Itoh peony bloomed its first season! It was beautiful.
I wondered if you have Singing in the Rain Itoh peony this year?
Thank you,
Tina Code
clearly I need to look at the blog more often – I hope you called last year 🙂
Hi John. Do i have to buy wholesale? I’d just like some plants for my garden.
Anne
clearly I need to look at the blog more often – yes, you ca just buy a few plants – we are open for retail as well – although with new restrictions this year that I’ve just a post up about
I’m looking for birch branch or pole for my planters in front of my house for decorating . Do you have any?. Thanks
clearly I need to look at the blog more often – sorry about that
Hi John,
My daughter would like to grow some asparagus. Do you carry asparagus crowns so we can get some started in our garden? Thank you for any information you can offer.
Chris
we often have them started in pots, but not yet this year
Hi John,
How are you doing? Are you carry the fruit mulberry tree and figs plant this year? Last year I was too late to get one. Thanks!
MW
we only carry the mulberries in weeping form – still have one left from last year (didn’t sell out, so I’m not sure what happened there) – no figs this year
Looking for primrose for my beds
we still have a few primulas left
When might you open and when will you have vegetable plants for sale?
sorry for the delay – I haven’t looked at the blog for quite some time and have been overwhelmed this year – we do have vegetables, but are running low – hopefully you called
I’m hopeful that you have the following
– Aralia racemosa
– Amelanchier canadensis (tree form?)
– Lindera benzoin
Fingers crossed!
Thank you
yes to Amelanchier tree form, Aralia racemosa not usually, Lindera benzoin we usually get, but none at this time
just got in some Lindera benzoin
Hi john: do you have any perennial ferns?
yes we have lots of perennial ferns – I’ve just put a post up about ordering, etc
Do u have a burning bush ? Would it grow ok in this zone ?
no burning bush yet – but we will get them – perfectly hardy for our area
just got in some burning bush
Hi John, I am looking for stand by me clematis and etolie Rose clematis, do you have either of those for sale?
We recently got in Stand By Me – no Etoile Rose this year I’m afraid
May I order some shade and drought tolerant plants from you and flats of annuals?
hi there – sorry for the delay – I haven’t looked at the blog in years (not enough time) – I’ve just put a post up about how we are doing things with covid procedures
John do you still have in stock the perennial orchard
Larry
larryemo00@gmail.com
orchid? no, sorry – none this year
Hey John
Lorne McNeil here
I help John Kerstens lol after the McCutheon property
Do you have any tomato plants (Roma) in stock
I would like to make a day trip tomorrow ( Sunday) with my wife
sorry – haven’t been on the blog in years – we have tomato plants, but are open by appointment only – I’ve just put a post up here about it
Hi John, I have always loved coming to your garden centre, I feel immersed in Nature. Is it possible to come any other day than the public days,? I have a compromised immune system and cannot be around a lot of people?
Thanks,
Peg
Hi there – I’ve just put a post up about how we are working with Covid – I’m guessing this will work with you (we’ve had people in with other compromises, including a lung trasnplant)
Hi. Just wondering if you Ave in stick any of the following, ‘Baby Joe’ Dwarf Joe Pye Weed, milk weed ( orange in colour), Christmas fern and bee balm.
Yes to beebalm, not yet to milkweed and Joe Pye and Christmas – full list is published on the blog
got in some dwarf Joe Pye weed (Gateway, not Baby Joe)
Hello I was in earlier buying plants and I was looking for a witch hazel. I bought a lovely one last year and was told to request online. I also have a client interested in a magnolia. Could you please send me a price range , type and size. Thank you in advance as I know you are very busy!
We do actually have the witch hazels – wintered from last year – sorry about that – if you go the main page, there’s an updated availability there, that lists the magnolias we have
Do you sell red sentinel japanese maples
Have one that’s about 7 feet tall in a 10 gallon pot $290, another about 6′ 5gal $200
Do you have any vegetable plants?
We have tomatoes, collard greens, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkins – believe that’s all that’s left
Do you have a common fig?
We have 4 varieties left
Do you still have the three sized white containers.
The tall square ones?