High Hand Nursery: The Anal Retentive Place

I’ve been to many nurseries–in my home town, in the next town, in all the surrounding towns. I go to nurseries when I travel, nurseries when I’m on vacation, nurseries on Mother’s Day, on Father’s Day (I can always think of some ruse). Oh, and the plants in nurseries are so plump and full and lousy with blooms I just want to rub them all over my body. 

O.K., well maybe I going too far, but come on, you plant addicts, you know what I mean.

I was recently visiting a couple of good friends in the Sacramento area:

Friend #1

Friend #2

Friend #1 and #2 together at High Hand Nursery.

These two girlfriends, knowing that I have a fondness for greenery, took me to their favorite nursery in a little town called Loomis. Loomis was once the second largest fruit-shipping depot in Placer County.

The residents of Loomis show their concern for keeping a small-town feel by the great number of historic structures they have preserved.

High Hand Nursery is located in one of these structures. The place used to be High Hand Fruit Growers, one of the two main fruit packing and shipping plants in Loomis.

I like to refer to High Hand Nursery as the anal retentive nursery. Goodness, it was like Disneyland in a non-corporate way. There wasn’t a leaf out of place, heck, there wasn’t even a leaf on the ground. Maybe I should call it the happiest nursery on earth.

I had the urge to leave my shoes at the entrance to the nursery—it’s so clean.

My friends waited patiently while I wandered around with my jaw gaping open—it’s so gorgeous.

The potted plants for sale were artfully arranged among growing shrubs, bronze statues,




and old stoves—it’s the nursery where antique stoves and old trucks go to die and become planters.



The main fruit shipping building houses an art gallery—it’s so unexpected in a nursery.

There was an indoor nursery that any mother would be proud of—it’s so orderly.



We had lunch in the conservatory, smack dab in the middle of the nursery. And even though the food was just O.K., eating in an all-glass house under a Big Assed Fan in the middle of a lovely garden was heavenly—it’s such a great idea.

After lunch I took one last stroll around the nursery. One of the girlfriends finally came and got me. She took my hand and led me to the other’s idling car. She quickly shoved me in the back seat, jumped in the front while the other sped out of the parking lot slinging a wave of gravel onto another antique truck planter.
 
I watched through the back window as the High Hand Nursery sign grew smaller and smaller.

If you are in the Sacramento area I highly recommend a visit to High Hand Nursery.
High Hand Nursery is located at 3750 Taylor Rd, Loomis, CA 95650, (916) 652-2065

See ya there.

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Comments

[Pam/Digging]

That looks like a great place to while away a few hours. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Cindy~my romantic home]

Wow, that does look like an amazing place!!! I sure wish I could keep my small garden that neat and clean!

[chigiy]

pam,
It is quite a beautiful nursery. I had a great time there.

Cindy,
You wouldn't believe how clean it is. You could eat off the ground.

[Muum]

looks cool. I lived in Loomis for 3 months. Wish I'd seen this place.... :)

[chigiy]

Mumm,
Oh, it's too bad you missed it. Why were you in Loomis for 3 months?

[Elise]

High Hand Nursery also has a pretty darn good cafe. You need a reservation. The wait is long. Very popular.

[sending flower to Philippine]

Damn,that is a cool place.How i wish there is a place here like that.

-Ava

[robin nieto]

Took my staff of five on a whim ( spring fever) to lunch. We arrived early and were able to get a table on the outside of the convervatory across from the pizza ovens.Beautiful and alot of the food was really good, some so so. Wine list really needs serious help!

All in all a extremely delightful day would go again. Grounds are truly gorgeous....Robin and Staff