Gasper's

An upscale garden center in Richboro, Pennsylvania, Gasper’s offers a world of options for landscaping, living and gardening. Somewhat off the beaten path, a short ride from Newtown, customers can enjoy magnificent specimens of nursery stock, annuals and perennials, and a variety of koi. As I walked into the garden showroom I immediately heard the sounds of numerous garden fountains, both large and small. I especially liked the smaller options for condo and townhome living.

The greenhouse style entrance was the setting for small garden accents including birdhouses, aquatic merchandise and a variety of patio planters spilling over with beautiful geraniums, petunias and ivy.

Val, the garden center manager was favorable to me capturing my visit on my camera, so I continued to the outdoor garden area. I was astonished at the large quantity of fine nursery stock and diverse garden statuary. I honestly have never seen so many gargoyles in my life! In addition, Gasper’s had several garden ponds fully stocked with koi. They were graded and priced to sell according to size. Below you will see the medium sized koi.



Back inside the garden showroom I encountered an area devoted to birdhouses and birdbaths. Eventually, I entered the “Aquatics” area – which turned out to be a deluge of accessories for your home fountain and pond needs.


When I approached the register area where Val was working, I asked if he had any brochures or materials that I could read about. He graciously handed me their landscaping DVD that showcased their outstanding design concepts and expertise. Click here to see a preview of that DVD: http://www.gasper.net/dvd.asp

Gasper’s Garden and Landscape Design Center is located about 4 miles east of Newtown, Pennsylvania. The Garden center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is rare find and has everything you need to create a perfect outdoor garden!

Shady Brook Farm

An impromptu visit to Shady Brook Farms on Thursday became an enlightening experience after meeting family owner and farm manager Paul Fleming. He explained to me the history of Shady Brook dating back to 1913, when his Great, Great Grandfather of Andalusia, PA started the farm. Eventually the family purchased more land in 1965 in Middletown Township, PA and it has now grown to over 130 acres and they continue to grow. Today, in addition to the market specials, Shady Brook also offers pick your own specials on Strawberries, Raspberries, Peaches, Apples and Pumpkins. This weekend the strawberries are ready and waiting to be freshly picked!



When you visit the farm you will be welcomed with an oasis of beautiful hanging baskets, overflowing potted flower gardens, and landscaping accents. I walked into the market and was amazed at the abundance of fresh produce, the deli at the back of the building and to my surprise, a great new ice cream shop, “Uncle Dave’s Homemade Ice Cream”. The students who worked at the counter were eager to give away free samples of their freshly made flavors. I must say that the chocolate is “to die for.”



This is a great place to bring the whole family and enjoy all that Shady Brook has to offer…their website is up to date and presents a full listing of events and activities throughout the summer. There is also a winery and a bakery on the premises. Don’t miss this unbelievable family business that offers something for everyone!


Shady Brook Farm is located at 931 Stony Hill Road in Yardley, PA. They are open Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check out their website for current events: www.shadybrookfarm.com.

Fairless Hills Garden Center

My 2008 Garden Center Tour began with a tip from a knowledgeable insider. She suggested I visit the "Fairless Hills Garden Center” in Fairless Hills, PA. One of the easternmost communities of Bucks County, I decided to make this my first stop.

As they say, "never judge a book by its cover." The Fairless Hills Garden Center offers more variety and better prices than any garden center I’ve recently visited. The staff was helpful and friendly and open to my desire to record my visit through my camera lens. As I entered into the fenced in garden area, my senses were pleasantly awakened with a fragrant mixture of rosemary, anise, cilantro and other herbs offered at just $1.00 per 3” square pot or mix and match a tray of 18 for only $15.99. Despite the rain, there was a constant flow of new customers, grabbing one of the readily available large garden carts and strolling through the wide-open aisles of annuals and perennials. As I made my way past the herbs and vegetable plants, there was an area of sizeable, attractive pottery. The pots were perfect for planting an accent plant in and placing on a patio.




Once the rain started to come down in buckets I headed for the enclosed greenhouse area in the back. Here you can find more garden accessories than Blockbuster has DVD’s. Potting soil, mulch, containers, hanging baskets, brackets, statues, hoses, weed killers, flags, hooks, fertilizer, and more! Women especially will love the pink pastel garden hose. Beyond the accessory aisle, I walked into “landscaping heaven,” abundant with small shrubs, birdbaths, patio tomatoes, azaleas, rhododendrons, tropical foliage, other nursery stock. It was in this area that I discovered my find of the day; a beautiful window box overflowing with pink geraniums, ivy, and dracaena spikes for only $18.99!

Feeling pleased that I didn’t keep on driving down Lincoln Highway and having found such a bountiful garden center, I paid for my purchase and drove over to the Luk Oil station to fill my gas tank. Although it was not a bargain, they did offer full service, which is a rare experience in Pennsylvania.

The Fairless Hills Garden Center is a family owned business located at 636 E. Lincoln Highway (next to Wilson Meats) in Fairless Hills, PA. They are open 7 days a week, Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Log onto their website at: http://www.fhgardencenter.com (it could use some updating) or you can call them at: 215-428-2550.

Next stop: Gasper Garden Center in Richboro