Field Trip: Shady Lane Family Greenhouse

Shady Lane Family Greenhouse
Nathan and Doris Yoder
159 Shady Lane
Free Union, VA 22904
Phone - 434.985.2533
E-mail - nathanjyoder1@juno.com
Hours - Monday through Saturday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through July.

Annuals, hanging baskets, vegetable plants, herbs
Homemade pies, bread, cookies
Free range eggs
Organic produce

Annual Spring Event: Today and Saturday, April 28th - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Door prizes, refreshments and free gifts for the first ten customers.

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Gardeners in our area need to know that we have a gem of a greenhouse tucked away in Free Union. I took a few hours off of work this morning to make my first trip to Shady Lane Family Greenhouse and am already thinking about getting back there next weekend. In fact, I just called my husband and invited him along. That makes it a date.

Mental wish list and budget? What mental wish list and budget?! Mine was officially tossed to the wind once I stepped inside Shady Lane. And I was better for it.

The Yoder's greenhouse is filled to the brim with annuals, veggies, herbs, incredible container plantings and hanging baskets. Highlights, for me, were the lobelia plants, snapdragons, sweet alyssum in several shades of pale pink, purple bacopa, lime green sweet potato vine and helichrysum. I am trying out two new tomato varieties - Patio (a cherry tomato) and Old German (a long-standing favorite of Mr. Yoder's), as well as King Arthur sweet peppers. I also picked up some basil, chives, lemon balm and parsley. All very affordable.

What I'm thinking about going back for . . . orange black-eyed susan vine, heliotrope, pale pink bacopa, various melon and squash plants and fan flowers. Fellow visitors were mooning over the geraniums, lantana, petunias, patio planters and the extensive tomato selection.

Know that the drive alone should be enjoyed as part of the excursion. Make a morning of it. I'm really glad I did.

Directions: Take Barracks Road out of Charlottesville for 4 miles. Right on 601 (Free Union Road). Go 12 miles to a stop sign. Right on 810 - go 1 mile. Left on 628 - go 1 mile. Right on 614. Left on Shady Lane to The Greenhouse.