short list winners

The votes are in and it’s official, the winner of April’s Chapelboro.com Short List for “The Best Place in Chapel Hill to Help Make Your Garden Grow” in the Chapel Hill – Carrboro area is Niche Gardens!

Niche Gardens Flowers

Niche GardenLocated at 1111 Dawson Road in Chapel Hill, Niche Gardens boasts a variety of flora that ranges from the ordinary to the unusual. Offering nursery-propagated wildflowers, perennials, ornamental grasses, trees and shrubs, there isn’t a chance to be disappointed. If beautiful flowers are what you desire, they have everything from the vibrantly orange and yellow Louisiana iris, known as “Cajun Sunrise Iris,” or the delicate and feminine Virginia Bluebells. Or if you’re interested in what plants can do for you, you’re still in for a treat as Niche Gardens has a selection of fruit, berry and nut bearing plants. No matter what type of botanist you are – yard gardener, rose enthusiast, edible landscaper or just a regular windowsill hobbyist – you’ll find a plethora of colors, smells and choices at Niche Gardens.

Hailing from the Piedmont area of North Carolina, Niche Gardens is well aware of the varying soil types in the area and is prepared to help amend any issues. You can even take the kids for an educational field trip to learn about different ecosystems from their on-site display gardens. There are wet and dry beds, a bog, a traditional medicine wheel and an open meadow.

Serving as a learning center as well as a hot bed for inspiration it ‘s not hard to understand how Niche Gardens won this month ‘s Short List. They don ‘t limit purchase to site only, as mail orders are also available. All of their plants, gardens and nursery are pesticide free, and you can be confident in your plant ‘s health. And remember, not only are they garden experts but they also promote the well being of butterflies, birds and natural wildlife.

Knowledgeable and equipped with a passion for all things chlorophyll-ed, Niche Gardens is operated by a tight knit staff who makes it their mission to provide service rain or shine Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All in all Niche Gardens is just that – a specialized nursery that focuses on quality, knowledge, health and now being Chapel Hill and Carrboro ‘s #1 choice for the best place to let your garden grow! Visit Niche Gardens at their website.

Also on the Short List

Dickinson Garden Center

dickinsonMost of Franklin Street consists of dining, apparel, sports and students; however, there is one location, Dickinson Garden Center, that offers something quite different: plants. A self proclaimed "little oasis of tranquility," Dickinson ‘s Garden Center finds customers are always satisfied with their selection of plants, gardening tools and necessities – not to mention their aquaculture section with fish and pond trappings. Sixty-one years of business has molded Dickinson Garden Center into a quintessential mom-and-pop nursery, managed by the current owner ‘s since 1973 when it was inherited by the original owner ‘s son.

Fifth Season Gardening

fifthseason“Promoting self-sufficiency and craftsmanship by connecting the community with both traditional and innovative new practices,” Fifth Season Gardening truly takes gardening from a pastime to a lifestyle. Offering hydroponics, organic gardening as well as agriculture, beer and wine making plant varieties, you can literally embody the farm-to-fork mentality in your very own kitchen. Fifth Season also has supplies for pickling, food preservation, cheese making and terrariums. Proud to be located in the “Paris of the Piedmont,” you can visit Fifth Season Gardening Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. through 5 p.m.

Get Rooted

getrootedGet Rooted is the rookie all-star of our list having been in operation for seven years in Orange County. Growing in leaps and bounds, Get Rooted ‘s facility has expanded in the last year, increasing their nursery space and inventory above previous volume. With now desire to slow down, they wish to continue offering their full spectrum, top quality plants. Get Rooted also has a tree showcase to help plant owners visualize what their little sapling will grow into!

Southern States

southernstatesFarmer owned since 1923, this Southern States franchise in Carrboro offers a dependable and reliable inventory for not only gardens but also for the home, farm, horse and livestock owner. Whether it ‘s feed for your lawn or a champion horse, Southern States has something for you. Staffed by a friendly, helpful and educated team you ‘ll be able to meet your needs at Southern States.