Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 10: A Field Trip to Broken Arrow

August 3, 2017

We visit one of the Northeast’s best places for unique and amazing plants

You’ve heard us talk about our favorite place to buy plants before, so today we’re taking you to Broken Arrow Nursery with us! Located in Hamden, Connecticut, this small retail garden center/grower specializes in trees and shrubs you’ve never heard of—much less seen—before. We’ll scour their HUGE catalog to highlight some of these interesting offerings before heading to the nursery to shop, and then we’ll check in with nurseryman-extraordinaire, Andy Brand to see if the plants in our cart are awesome or…awful.  

Expert: Andy Brand, nursery manager for Broken Arrow Nursery.

Our first thought when seeing this plant: How can this possibly be a birch tree? But it is! ‘Trost Dwarf’ European white birch (Betula pendula 'Trost Dwarf') has incredible texture and is the type of plant that will impress even the most plant-savvy gardener.

Danielle usually doesn’t break out into a spontaneous dance, but when she read the plant tag for ‘Twinkle Toes’ Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Twinkle Toes') she couldn’t help herself.

The closest Steve will probably ever come to being a fearless martial arts master is by standing next to his new Dragon Warrior™ Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'sPg-3-005').

What’s better than visiting your favorite nursery and finding all sorts of new treasures? Well, having the man in charge of that nursery tell you tips and tricks about each of those treasures. Here, Broken Arrow Nursery manager Andy Brand tells Steve how not to kill his recent purchases.  

X
View Comments

Comments

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
The Best Plants for Areas with Extreme Heat

From temperature extremes to shifting rainfall patterns, communities coast to coast are experiencing the increasing impacts of climate change. In many areas summers are hotter and drier, making gardeners more…
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants
Episode 165: Not Your Typical Ground Covers

The best ground covers are multi-purpose workhorses, suppressing weeds, preventing soil erosion, and adding another level of interest to garden beds. Naturally, we’d prefer them not to be invasive, and…
Design
How to Create an Urban Oasis with Containers: Expert Tips and Ideas

For those of us who garden in small spaces, container gardening strikes an ideal balance between structure and flexibility. Potted plants can be rearranged as often as necessary, which makes…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Design

Establishing a Naturalistic Garden in Fallow, Compacted Fields | Garden Story with Donald Pell
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 165: Not Your Typical Ground Covers
Design

Rock Gardening Basics with Panayoti Kelaidis