It's Time for a Field Trip - Off to Bowood Farms!

Over the next several months, I will be taking field trips to nurseries near and far.  My most recent field trip, on one of our 100+ degree days was to Bowood Farms.  Pull up a chair and let me tell you why you‘ll want to hop in the car and visit, too!

My friend, George, had never been to Bowood Farms in the Central West End.  Since I haven’t been in over a year, it was as good excuse as any hop in the car and travel eastward.  We weren’t looking for anything in particular, and what we found just blew us both away!

I do have two suggestions.  The first is this: if you have a dirty SUV and your friend has a really nice, clean, four-door luxury car, offer to drive.  The mess we made of his previously clean car was downright pitiful.  The second is to bring lots of quarters.  Parking is on the street and you will spend way more time in the shop than you put money in the meter.

We spent over 2 hours there; on a previous visit a friend of mine got a ticket.  I’m just saying- a word to the wise!

Our first stop was the outdoor nursery.  They have so many unusual trees, shrubs and roses it’s hard to know where to start.  If you’re in the market for a ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ Magnolia, go to Bowood.  They have the nicest ones I’ve seen anywhere.  Since we weren’t in the market for any trees, and the fact we couldn’t fit it in the car if we tried, we went indoors.

There were racks of the most unusual peppers I have ever seen flanking the front doors.  They would be stunning in containers, mixed with herbs.  Unusual houseplants and succulents filled the racks along two of the walls indoors.  We were eying a stunning Dracena and a Ficus, keeping both in the back of our minds as we made our way around the shop. 

I was amazed at the variety of terra cotta, ceramic and fiberglass containers.  You can spend as little as 99 cents, or as much as a few hundred dollars.  Organic fertilizers, high-end potting soils, seeds, sprinklers, colorful vases, books, garden tools and even Bat Guano can be purchased here.  Truly one-stop shopping!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the restaurant inside Bowood farms.  It’s called “Café Osage” and the food is marvelous.  I have had lunch there many times; the menu is adjusted to the season and everything is super fresh.  We arrived after breakfast but before lunch or we would have eaten there.

As we made our way through the shop, I was seeing Bowood from the eyes of a first time shopper.  George was amazed and a little stupefied at the sheer amount of merchandise they pack into one place.  I told him “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” and we went outdoors. 

Hundreds of herbs greeted us at the first turn.  I spied a healthy Camellia ‘April Dawn’ as I rounded the corner.  It was only $34 and absolutely huge!  The April series can tolerate St. Louis winters as long as it’s grown in a semi-shaded, protected location.  I am seriously thinking about going back and getting it.  Bowood also had some beautiful fig trees.  In fact, one of them had a fig that was just about ready to be picked.

We entered yet another building and were blown away by a large selection of trees grown as bonsai.  They came in assorted sizes with low, brightly colored ceramic containers.  They were inexpensive and would be the perfect hostess gift.  Grab it and go!  We pressed onward to more rooms.

George has been looking for an outdoor fountain and Bowood didn’t disappoint.  Whatever your style, they’ve got it.  From large, Italian stone stunners, to contemporary granite, to classic urns, they’re all there.  The price points were anywhere from about $500 to a few thousand dollars.  Each one made its own statement.

After two hours of shopping, we were back indoors; it was time to make a decision.  George vacillated over which Dracena and Ficus was healthiest.  The salesperson joined in the discussion and the decision was made.  I got one of the Campo de’ Fiori pots that happened to be on sale and George surprised me and purchased a Campo de’ Fiori urn I have been drooling over since we arrived. 

All we had to do is to shove everything into the car and go.  We made a real mess of the car, and were on our way back.

In closing, I can’t say enough good things about Bowood Farms.  The merchandise is fresh and beautiful, the sale staff helpful, but willing to let you putter without following you around.  Oh, and another plus; they have a water cooler by the pots.  After 2 hours in the heat, we downed a few cups each of cool, refreshing water.