Southern New Jersey nursery recommendation?

[MrFancyPlants]

I'll be taking a trip to southern new Jersey soon and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Nurseries to stop by. I've wanted a pitch pine for a long time and did some searching, but most of the nurseries specify "for Wholesale only."

Thank you,
David

 

[CWTurner]

S Jersey

David,

I don't have a specific nursery to recommend, but last weekend I was returning to Philly from the Jersey Shore and there's a stretch of Route 322 starting around Route 50 up through Route 73 and I must have seen a couple dozen interesting stunted pines that were along the right-of-way. These were likely from the continued cutting back from road maintenance. Don't know if they're pitch pine, but it is Pine Barren country.

Of course I was going 60 MPH, but they certainly caught my, and my wife's, eye. It might be worth talking to a couple landowners if you're by that way. It's on my to-do list.

And there's a great farmer's market nearby:
http://mrgreenjeansnj.com/

Happy hunting.

Craig

P.S. Speaking of Pine Barrens, John McPhee has a great book on the Barrens. I've had it on cassette from my local library and it would be awesome to listen to that while tooling through the area.

 

[jeanluc83]

I decided to grow my own. It has been a surprisingly rewarding experience that I will likely continue in the coming years.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Unfortunately, all of the possibilities growing up from the right of way contributes to my stress driving through the area as I wouldn't know where to start to get permission to collect, or even if it is possible. I will also try to check out mrgreenjeans on the way back. Thanks.

I wouldn't rule out starting from seed, and I am glad someone is, as I think there is much potential with the species. I am curious where you sourced your seeds and if the dwarfed nature of the pine barren pines is caused by nurture and/or nature (i.e. environment and/or genetics).

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Well I stopped by mistergreenjeans and another nursery not too far from AC, but no luck with the rigida or pitch pine. I saw some black, whites and red and even a few strobus sports, but nothing jumped out at me. One kid working the AC one said that I could borrow a shovel if I could find one elsewhere on the property, but I saw mostly deciduous in the near by forest. I think there hadn't been a burn in the area in a while, so not the right conditions for the little guys to sprout up. I should have offered him finders fee if he could secure permission for me on private land for next time I was in the area.