3 of the best – discover unique garden centres in Jervis Bay
Garden centres, nurseries, market stalls featuring a wide variety of plants, hidden gems for natives and bonsais – Jervis Bay has an unfair share of the good green stuff. Here’s a few gems to explore where you can feed your indoor plant habit, adopt a venerable bonsai, or even buy bulk landscaping supplies.
Schutz Landscape and Garden Supplies, Tomerong
You can’t miss Schutz Landscape and Garden Supplies as you drive down Island Point Road thanks to the red double decker bus café, and the rusty, quirky old truck at the front gate. Within the property, the rustic theme is utterly charming from the selection of garden statuary to the quirky seating area around the Coffee on the Double café.
But my main reason for making regular visits to this sprawling nursery is their selection of indoor plants – from fine, drapey and feathery foliage to deep burgundy and silver hues that would dress up any room in the house.
The staff are very knowledgeable about their stock, which on this visit included a rare green velvet alocasia which retailed for over $100. They had a lush selection that would suit any budget and it takes a lot of restraint to leave with just one plant.
Schutz nursery also has a fantastic selection of shade-loving plants in a special covered area, and for locals they supply and deliver a range of soils, mulches, gravels and other big landscaping materials.
Open 7 days, Corner Island Point Road and Grange Road Tomerong
Sanctuary Point Garden Centre
Another well-stocked local nursery for indoor plants, Matt Connelly and the team at Sanctuary Point Garden Centre are also a fantastic source of advice for edibles – think veggie patches, herb gardens, fruit trees.
Among the rare and popular indoor plants on my visit was a delicate monstera with its lacey deep green leaves, and a selection of jewel orchids. Outside in the shade plant section, I can’t leave without a variegated rubber plant called Lime Splice that will be perfect on my back verandah.
The nursery takes delivery of veggie patch seedlings most Wednesdays and has a fantastic range, but they sell quickly. I pick two punnets of leeks (which I later regret as I spend what seems like hours planting out so many slim seedlings) and a variety of lettuces.
Open 7 days, 118 Macleans Point Rd, Sanctuary Point
Bonsai at the Bay
Mason Keene artfully coaxes his bonsai trees into shape at Bonsai on the Bay in Jervis Bay. Photo: U+
This one is truly the hidden gem of the lot. You need to call ahead – because it’s in the private property of Mason Keane, bonsai master at Bonsai on the Bay.
You can feel the serenity. The nursery and gardens are stunning. Some of the bonsai are many decades old, and perfectly encapsulate life in miniature.
Mason also offers bonsai ‘renovation’ services for anyone who doesn’t feel confident to groom their precious plant without expert help, and ‘babysitting’ for bonsai parents who don’t want to leave their little one to fend for itself for any extended period.
Open By Appointment
