Now that it’s officially warm, we can start manifesting the perfect garden—whether it’s growing herbs, veggies, or flowers in a giant backyard plot or small containers on a balcony. It’s time to put on our gardening clogs and head to our favorite nurseries. We picked 15 that provide superb customer service skills, reliable expertise about planting in your zone, and the ability to help you choose the right products for your gardening style.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, these delightful shops have everything you need to upgrade your greenery game.

BRU-MAR GARDENS
Bru-Mar’s motto is that gardening is good for the soul. Located two miles west of the Chesapeake Bay, founders Bruce Martin and Martin Perkins offer 500 varieties of trees and shrubs and over 1,000 types of annuals and perennials. All year-round, you’ll have access to many services like plant diagnostics and property design. Staff members are up to date on the latest botany trends and are always willing to provide tips and tricks to gardeners of any level. 1009 Bay Ridge Rd., Annapolis

FRITZ FARM & NURSERY
This homey space near Bel Air has multiple greenhouses to satisfy all your seasonal needs. Wendel Fritz began the business 43 years ago and it now includes almost 60 acres of fresh evergreens, brilliant perennials, and deciduous shrubs. The personable staff members offer one-on-one care and special accommodations for gardens of all shapes and sizes. With such an exquisite space, you’ll want to bring the whole family along to discover the vibrant foliage and even visit the lively animals on the farm. 1001 Hollingsworth Rd., Joppa

GREEN FIELDS NURSERY
One of Baltimore City’s most recognizable gardening businesses has been around for more than 100 years. It’s a sea of green in the most unlikely spot—the highly trafficked corner of Falls Road and Northern Parkway. Here you’ll find a massive array of premium annuals and perennials along with fertilizers, mulches, and other necessary soil amendments. With two large showrooms and an extensive team of loyal botany experts, the greenhouse has everything you need to spruce up your yard. 5424 Falls Rd., Baltimore

HERRING RUN NURSERY
This nonprofit organic plant nursery is part of Blue Water Baltimore, which fights for clean water, climate change awareness, and other environmental issues for the community. Located in the Mount Pleasant Golf Course, you’ll be able to choose from over 250 species of trees, shrubs, vines, and wildflowers that are locally sourced and native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Be sure to stop by the pollinator garden to see how well native plants do in the right environment. All proceeds from Herring Run purchases go directly to Blue Water’s mission of creating a greener and cleaner Baltimore. 6131 Hillen Rd., Baltimore

HOMESTEAD GARDENS
Immerse yourself in wonder and become a horticulture master at this quirky destination, now celebrating 50 years in Anne Arundel County. Discover cultivated houseplants, nurtured bulbs, and other lush greeneries to fill your garden. There’s even a farm and pet team for those interested in felines, flocks, and other livestock favorites. If you’re looking to expand your agricultural knowledge, sign up for workshops about seed starting, container gardening, and biodiversity planting methods. 522 Ritchie Hwy., Severna Park; 743 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville

KINGSDENE NURSERY
This gem in northern Baltimore County is known for its expansive five acres and countless bulbs of all types. What began as a tiny outlet in 1977 has now expanded to an ever-changing selection of nursery stock—and they’re always looking to add more. Here you’ll find hanging baskets of peonies, hostas, and other hardy perennials to spruce up your space and beautify the community. With a team of certified professional horticulturists who are ready to answer all of your questions, this spot is perfect for beginner plant parents. 16435 York Rd., Monkton

KOLLAR NURSERY
Delight and beauty await at this stunning spot that’s truly worth the trek up to the Pennsylvania state line. This whimsical nursery combines diverse native plants and eclectic noninvasive species grown in-house for wetlands, fields, and forests. Owners Stan and Sharon Kollar share a passion for supporting wildlife, carrying organic seeds that are ideal for rain gardens, bioswales, and other parts of your backyard oasis. Make sure to stop by their solar house or take a look at the natural art by local artists they often highlight. 5200 West Heaps Rd., Pylesville

LAUREN’S GARDEN SERVICE
Whether you’re seeking award-winning installation or do-it-yourself guidance, this Howard County favorite is led by a passionate expert in the industry. Lauren Turner, a trained horticulturist with over 20 years of experience, specializes in eco-friendly and socially conscious products. With recycled materials, natural fertilizers, and permaculture practices, this spot is perfect for those who are environmentally conscious and love to shop locally. Choose from a variety of native perennials, shrubs, and trees to create lush hardscapes, relaxing rain gardens, and more. 13554 Triadelphia Rd., Ellicott City

MARYLAND FLOWER & FOLIAGE CO.
Twelve acres of colorful flora await you at this state-of-the-art facility in Baltimore County, first established in 1980. The two main greenhouses are filled with a fantastic selection of classic vegetable seeds like squash and peppers and fragrant herbs such as chocolate mint and coriander. Or, you can add beauty to your patio with the nursery’s varieties of dahlias and supertunia. With seasonal specialties and a knowledgeable staff providing efficient service, the possibilities are truly endless. 10403 Vincent Farm Ln., White Marsh

POOR BOY’S GARDEN CENTER
Since 1985, friends Terry Gerahty and Mike Tyson (no, not that Mike Tyson) have grown Poor Boy’s into a full-service nursery stocked with the latest and greatest organic plant material, water garden plants, premium tools, and locally sourced vegetation. But perhaps their stand-out sellers are their seeds, including 100 types of herbs to add some fragrance and freshness to your soil. They even have a diagnostics and analysis team who offer insightful solutions for all planting predicaments. 7721 Old Harford Rd., Parkville

RICHARDSON FARMS
What began as a humble farmers market in the early 1930s is now a unique, one-stop shop for all of your grocery needs year-round. Richardson Farms harvests 400 acres of produce each year, creating delicious farm-to-table meals and specialty menus every week. But this is not just a tasty farm stand; there’s also a greenhouse stocked with evergreen plants straight from the farm, like bonsai azaleas, dragon fruit beefsteak tomatoes, and everything in between. You’ll also find an impressive lineup of pots, compost, mulch, and decorations for any garden lover to purchase. 5900 Ebenezer Rd., White Marsh

SUN NURSERIES
Soak up the sunshine at this fun shop owned by the Rosenbaum family, who has been cultivating greenery for over 45 years. Their growing area spans 100 acres and houses over 2,500 types of local vegetation, ready to fulfill any plant lover’s dream. You’ll find everything from luscious fruit trees and noninvasive bamboo to dwarf conifers and colorful Japanese maples. Looking for advice? The experts at the retail center and on the design team can give you all sorts of tips and tricks, including which plants need to be staked and the best times to prune your fruit trees. 14790 Bushy Park Rd., Woodbine

VALLEY VIEW FARMS
Here in this gorgeous green jungle, there’s no such thing as too many plants. New fruit trees, cole crops, and other seedlings arrive weekly at this locally owned and operated destination, just north of Baltimore. What started as a small produce stand more than half a century ago has transformed into one of the largest garden centers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Along with the vast range of vegetation, you’ll have access to seminars, diagnostic services, and water testing in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Don’t forget to swing by the water garden department to find water lilies, fish, and other aquatic accessories. 11035 York Rd., Cockeysville

WALTHER GARDENS
Explore these beautifully historic gardens in the neighborhood of Moravia-Walther, now run by the owners of the Margaret Cleveland in Bolton Hill. This cozy spot seamlessly blends personalized shopping opportunities with culinary pop-ups, veggie-growing demonstrations, and live music events. Shop for plants, herbs, and flowers of all kinds. There’s something about being here that makes every purchase feel enchanting. And be sure to visit “The Peggy,” the oldest snowball stand in the country, to savor a sweet treat during your trip. 4725 Walther Ave., Baltimore

WHITE HOUSE NURSERY
White House Nursery has been caring for the community and its ecology for five generations. With 30 acres of farmland, the outlet store houses all kinds of fantastic, homegrown foliage for your garden no matter the season. They offer versatile seeds, like cold-weather vegetables, allowing you to replant, refresh, and watch your flora rebloom. Take a seat at the koi fish ponds, pop by the irrigated mum field, and see agriculture at work during your visit. Be on the lookout for free events, classes, and demonstrations to engage nature lovers of all ages. 17422 Falls Rd., Upperco

At 10 months old, our kid is doing everything he can to walk. And with only 10 months of parenting a previously sedentary baby under our belts, my husband and I are freaking out.

Lou recently plowed headfirst into a hot pink metallic piggy bank (that isn’t even his—it’s mine because I have no taste when I impulse-buy). He sustained a nasty gash to the forehead, which led to the first “does he need stitches?” conversation. After much deliberation, we decided a few Steri-Strips and a dose of Tylenol would suffice. We tucked him into bed and took a moment to survey his little kingdom.

“His room,” my husband said, gesturing to all the crap in his nursery “needs to look a lot less like this, and a lot more like a dojo.”

And so began the undoing of Lou’s thoughtfully appointed nursery.

As items are removed, we’ve marveled at the complete idiots we were a year ago. Like all parents, we got really into the creation of his nursery. Paint colors were deliberated over and cribs were given brutal analyses and pitted against one another in consumer-testing battles. We bought books with actual paper pages to fill his bookshelves, believing that he would respect and lovingly handle them. His B-list stuffed animals were tucked away in the closet, lest they clutter the visual calm we’d created for our child.

And for many months, we actually lived in this fantasy world. Infants have no idea where or what they are, and therefore can’t get into much trouble. As Lou got a little bigger and stronger, he’d occasionally manage to roll over or scoot a few inches, which caused total elation on our part and zero clutter on his. But in the past month, he’s gone from an adorable, gentle scoot to a crazed, rapid crawl and his room has got to keep up.

To illustrate the undoing that must be done, I’ve included a few images. Parents of toddlers: you are welcome to laugh. Your homes are already stripped of your design preferences and are now primary-colored monuments to play-learning and locked toilets. Parents of perfect, milky, inactive newborns (or soon-to-be parents who are spending quiet moments in your Pinterest-worthy nurseries): you no longer live in a home for grown-ups. That kid is going to take off one day and either break your stuff or break himself.

Almost all of these issues
have been addressed. The piggy bank that
broke Lou’s fall turned out to actually have money in it, so we cashed out and
invested in some child-proofing gear and a huge, hideous, amazing indoor fence
area which we filled with soft floor tiles, a ball pit, and all those
previously hidden stuffed animals.