Bird's Nest Nursery
This week's featured farmers'-market stall
Erika Janik
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Bored of aimless browsing at Madison's popular farmers markets? In Stand By Your Stand, Decider heads out to find their best and strangest offerings, and tips on how to use them. This week, we visit Bird's Nest Nursery.
The source: Belleville, Wis.
Wares: Houseplants, herbs, perennials, bedding plants, fresh cut herbs, flower bouquets, and vegetables in season (tomatoes, peppers, corn, cucumbers, gourds, beets, pumpkins, rhubarb). Not a bird's nest in sight, despite the name.
Best deal: A four-pack of pansies for $2.50.
Weirdest item: Sempervivum, also known as houseleeks or liveforever, are compact, succulent evergreen perennials resembling an artichoke that has spread its leaves. As the nickname liveforever suggests, these plants are very resistant to difficult growth conditions.
Serving suggestion: Co-owner Jennifer Gillette is always on the lookout for unusual flowers, especially annuals. She suggests that in the summer months, a bouquet a week is the key to happiness.
Find it at: Dane County Farmers' Market, Saturdays 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Capitol Square.
