All of the many Colonial Williamsburg gardens and the colonial nursery on Duke Of Gloucester street.Just walk through the colonial area and you will see gardens at every turn. As for nurseries, the best ones are outside of town, about 5-15 miles. The Williamsburg Pottery on rt.60 W.,has the best collection of tropical plants in this part of Va.The other day I saw Canary Island, Coconut, and Traveler palms, 10ft. high Heliconias...a very large area of cactus...Papyrus, Hawaiian Ti, Bananas,Bird of Paradise,etc. All at very reasonable prices. On Rochambeau drive, there is The Ulster Gardener, a fantastic place owned by a family from Ireland. Their plants are top quality and also very reasonbly priced.

If you will be going via Richmond VA, a sidetrip to Lewis Ginter Gardens may be worthwhile. The place is relatively new, but has interesting layouts, wonderful peonies, a japanese garden, ponds -- and a good little restaurant for lunch.

I have not been there, but Maymont Gardens in Richmond is also supposed to be lovely; I understand it is more formal, with an Italianate garden.

Nearby is Sandy's Plants -- she normally sells her wide selection of perennials and woodies wholesale, but will also deal with individuals. You *need* the golf-carts she supplies to traverse her huge spread. I've gotten wonderful things there, beautifully grown, for better than reasonable prices.

LynnT

Here is a link that might be useful: Sandy's Plants