Last Sunday, we made our very first visit to the Manila Seedling. It is I think “the” Garden Center of Metro Manila.  It was recommended by two people: my aunt and my landlady.  It feels as though, everyone knows about this place except us.  To start with, we were a bit unsure how to get to it.  The last time I tried going there I totally missed it and didn’t try to find it again because I was in a hurry for another appointment.

Nevertheless I had a hint on where it was.  It is located in an “armpit” corner of Quezon Avenue and EDSA.  Yes it can be described that way because it is hidden in a narrow street parallel to Quezon Avenue.  We actually found the right direction accidentally when we thought we missed Quezon Avenue exit from EDSA. We instead ended up at North Avenue and found our way to Agham road and by instinct found that little street and turned right before reaching Quezon Avenue from Agham.

Basically, Manila Seedling is where clusters of garden and landscaping stores are found.  You can buy seedlings, fruit trees, potted herbs, flowers or flowering pots and all sorts of tools related to gardening.  We saw a couple of buildings owned by the Manila Seedling bank, however, one with the fruit trees didn’t have anyone available to help us. Also, the other building seemed unmanned as well.  We ended up in a bigger store next to it that offers Membership.  With this membership you get to avail of their promos and discounts.

Since we were buying a lot of pots on discount we decided to apply for membership because the membership of 200 would already pay for itself with all the discounts we are getting from the pots.   In the end we bought pots of Lemon Grass, Lavender, two kinds of Basil, among others.  We also bought some vegetable seeds and gardening tools.

It is best to go there early morning on a weekend so it’s much cooler and less pollution.  However, MrC still felt the pollution stick to his skin, you know that grimy feeling.  Well, at least the Garden was there to at least to provide a bit of oxygen amidst the thick cloud of smoke of EDSA.   With all this, I still thought the whole visit was well worth it and it was nice to stroll around and look at and admire plants on an otherwise lazy Sunday morning.   I will be back there soon to pickup a Banana Tree.