Seasons Garden Center

As summer officially arrives, I am reminded of my trip last Friday to Seasons Garden Center in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Nestled away in a forest cove, across the street from the Delaware River, a quaint and park-like garden center greets all who travel River Road from Washington Crossing to Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Bill Piestor, the Operations Manager was welcoming and curious about my interest in the shop. He told me that his son Dave has been the sole owner of Seasons Garden Center for the last eight years. The original owner was Mr. Polka, who still lives on an adjacent property behind the structure. Bill guided me through the intricate layout of perennials, annuals, nursery stock, and other popular garden items.



The Garden Center prides itself on its deer resistant shrubs and perennials that have proved beneficial in the popular deer havens of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Seasons is also a good choice if you are looking for container plantings, butterfly attracting plants and flowers and exotic nursery stock.
















The staff at Season’s Garden Center is friendly and helpful. Certified Master Gardener, Kelly Strycharz-Thompson is knowledgeable on a variety of plant subjects and writes a regular column in the “Washington Crossing Current.” This month you can read her article, “Blueberries: In-Season and Right in Your Own Back Yard.” The publication also includes coupons to apply to your blueberry, raspberry and blackberry plant purchases.


A drive down River Road must include a stop at Season’s Garden Center. Walking through the garden is inspiring, but inside the gift shop you will also find a nice collection of Guy Wolff Pottery. These beautiful, early English inspired flowerpots have gained popularity with Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey and will surely be a welcome gift for a special friend or garden lover.



You will find Season’s Garden Center at 1069 River Road in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. They are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Or call them at 215-493-4226. They offer an appealing collection of plants, flowers and gift items. I plan to return soon to stroll through the elegant garden areas stocked with seasonal delights!

Marrazzo's Manor Lane Florist

This evening I was led to Marrazzo’s Manor Lane Florist, located on Yardley Road in Yardley, Pennsylvania. Once again I have to thank my insider’s for their tips! Marrazzo’s Manor Lane Florist is so much more than a florist. A beautifully landscaped nursery and garden center, gift shop, landscaper and tractor/mower dealer, Marrazzo’s will surely excite every gardener’s palette.

When I entered the gift shop I was surprised of how much it resembled an elegant arts and crafts studio. Many types of professional arts and craftworks could be purchased at competitive prices. The two young women at the counter told me they were open to 8:00 p.m., so I would be free to browse and take pictures. I was intrigued at the depth of the gift shop and wandered off to an area in the back that sold new lawn tractors and other outdoor equipment.



When I made my way out of the gift shop, I was led through several nicely trellised walkways to the formal-like gardens. Many colorful, hanging baskets and garden planters were adequately placed throughout the garden area.



As I made my way closer to the sound of garden fountains, I realized that was not what I had heard. It was an entire area devoted to aquatic plants such as water lilies, lotus and other tropical and bog plants.



Marrazzo’s offers a fine selection of landscaping merchandise and has a team of experts to help you get the job done right. You can also find a good selection of indoor houseplants located just off the gift shop.




Visitors could spend most of their day browsing through the gift shop and florist area. They even sell gift cards and gift wrap! This worked out perfect for me since I was looking for a gift item and a card too.



The Marrazzo’s Manor Lane Florist delivers their floral creations to areas as far as New Hope, Pennsylvnia and as far as Princeton, New Jersey.



You can visit the Marrazzo’s family owned garden center at 1301 Yardley Road on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You won’t leave empty handed.

New York Times Article

Gardening is in the news today with the New York Times. Read the feature below and learn how gardeners can prosper in today's dwindling economy:

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Please visit your local garden center for details on how to start your own garden today!

Geerlings Garden, Gift and Patio Center

Geerlings Garden, Gift and Patio Center is located in Buckingham, Pennsylvania, about 6 miles west of New Hope, Pennsylvania. It is a 45 year-old family owned and operated business originating in Wrightstown, Pennsylvania. The Geerling family came directly from Holland and began selling flowers to the local farmers markets. Their business has grown tremendously since then and they not only sell flowers but they also sell vegetable bedding plants, nursery stock, houseplants, garden statuary, pottery and more.




According to the garden center manager at Geerlings, many people do not know the extent of services they offer. At the rear of the garden center a very large landscaping business has developed. They offer hardscaping, mulch, shrubs, garden ponds and fountains. Many people find it deceiving as they approach the center off of Route 413.



Inside there is a delightful gift shop where an array of home decorating accessories can be purchased. The selection of patio furniture includes some of the more stylish products usually found only in high-end patio stores. Visitors could spend a good deal of their day wandering through the abundant displays.


Geerlings is a one stop garden center offering planters, fertilizers, pesticides, gardening tools, gloves, other useful products that serious gardeners need to create their masterpieces. In addition there is a nice selection of houseplants including a variety of orchids, African violets, clematis, ivy, ferns, tropical foliage, and aloe.





Located on Route 413 in Buckingham, 2 and ½ miles south of Route 202, Geerlings is open year round, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. During the holidays they also sell live and artificial Christmas trees and poinsettias, grown directly on their farm.

SUBURBAN HOME AND GARDEN RESOURCE GUIDE

A home and garden magazine published in Bucks County, P.A., Suburban Home and Garden is a monthly publication that primarily serves as a resource for advertisers to showcase their products and services. In addition, they supplement their magazine with informative home decorating and gardening articles that are written by their staff writers. It is a beautiful, glossy, full-color, free publication mailed directly to homeowners. I recently talked with Editor-In-Chief Ms. Stephanie Arasim Portnoy, who offered further details on the magazine, it’s circulation, and future plans.


Q. When was Suburban Home and Garden conceived?
A. The magazine began in March 2006. It is an advertorial publication.

Q. When did you become Editor-In-Chief?
A. I started with the publication one year after they began.

Q. Who is your biggest competitor?
A. I know of some others, but not as competitors. They are Philadelphia House and Home, Bucks County House and Home and others.

Q. How is your publication marketed?
A. It is marketed to homeowners in Bucks County with incomes over $150,000 a year.

Q. What is the current circulation?
A. It is about 50,000.

Q. Who is your target audience?
A. Middle to high income, both male and female.

Q. Has the home mortgage crisis impacted you distribution?
A. No. I haven’t noticed it.

Q. What is the affiliation with Phillywired.com and South Jersey Magazine?
A. They are published by the same publisher, LLC. We are working on getting our own URL for Suburban Home and Garden.

Q. Where is it printed?
A. Out of Mechanicsburg, P.A.

Q. Will you add more garden center and landscape design info?
A. There is more in the South Jersey Magazine because there are more in that area.

Q. Town homes and Condo’s are a large part of Bucks County. Do you plan any feature articles specific to these structures?
A. The home remodeling articles apply to all types of homes, but town homes have their own grounds maintenance services.

Q. Can an individual subscribe to your publication?
A. Yes, they can send an email to stephanie@southjersey.com.