Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market

08/06/2026

August 21 and 22 get involved and count your pollinators!

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census returns to Alabama Aug. 21 and 22. This two-day event gives anyone the opportunity to become a citizen scientist and observe, count and celebrate pollinators. This is an enriching activity that people can do in just 15 minutes, either alone or with others.

Bethany O’Rear, an Alabama Extension home horticulture agent at Auburn University, said by being involved, everyone can learn a lot and enjoy the little things in nature.

“Participants will get as much from the census as the researchers do, if not more,” O’Rear said. “This is especially true if this is someone’s first time participating.”

Learn more about the census and how you can participate here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6634

08/01/2026

When the Cat’s Whiskers bloom they’re the cat’s meow! 🐱
We have just a few of these unusual and hard to find annuals in stock now. Given a spot in filtered sun and supplied with consistent moisture, they’ll bloom their heads off through our summer heat. Kris did a video on these fun plants - it’s on our Oak Street Garden Shop YouTube channel if you’d like more info!

07/25/2026

Sharing a creation we made today from fallen limbs covered with resurrection fern. Our customer asked if we could find some way to use them in a container for him. We sure could, we love projects like this! He cut a large limb into pieces and we used two of them in this rustic bowl that can be used outside, planting companion plants ajuga and carex with it. A bit of lichen, moss, pinecones, and a couple fun pods complete the piece. Now he can put it in a shady spot in his garden and enjoy the resurrection ferns close up!

07/23/2026

Our newest project in the pollinator garden! Barrett helped research and create the mud patch that native mason bees will use in the bee house. The paper tubes create a nesting place where the bees lay their eggs, then seal the opening with mud from the mud patch. The bee house will be completed with more tubes and a screen to protect them. Please don’t disturb this spot, we’re hoping for visitors!

07/22/2026

You can’t get much more heat tolerant a plant than gomphrena. Seriously. If you’re looking for a tough as nails plant for hot, sunny spots, this is it. We have some, including the tallest beauty, Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’, in stock now!

07/20/2026

Summer vibes…

07/14/2026

It’s time for a native plant of the week! This week we spotlight a 30’ vine native to the Southeast that attaches by rootlets and has fragrant white blooms held 1-2 feet from the climbing surface or tree.

Hydrangea barbara, or as it used to be called, Decumaria barbara, or woodvamp, blooms on new growth so is best pruned in late winter if necessary, and prefers dappled light to bloom best. Interestingly, if it’s left to clamber on the ground rather than climbing, it will not bloom.

Unlike most vines it also maintains its glossy leaves from the ground to the top, and the large, dark green leaves create a beautiful backdrop for the blooms. Because of this feature it can also be used on a wooden fence as a living privacy screen.

This is one vine that’s also great for moist to wet gardens with seasonal flooding, and is a host vine for many pollinators as well.

Sound like something you might like? We have some in stock now!

07/08/2026

A few shots in the greenhouse and out in the nursery… it’s summer, and everything is beautiful!

07/04/2026

More Floral Fireworks for our 250th Birthday! Enjoy!

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July! Here are our
“Floral Fireworks 2026”