Bird’s English Garden & Nursery

Even if you don’t want to buy something – and their fruit tree sales cannot be beat – a friend and I like to visit Bird’s English Garden to enjoy the setting and all the garden art & furniture. The people are friendly, there is so much to see, and one can dream of installing all the metalwork arbors, benches and other artful delights. Danger, though – I am always tempted to buy more than I came for.
Vancouver WA resident

Great selection of plants. Fantastic customer service. Very knowledgeable staff. Definitely worth stopping in if you are driving by.

I have been driving by here every day on my way back to my new place, and it certainly beckons from I-​5. It is easy to get on and off the highway, and it is ideal for those afternoons when you’re just not quite ready to go home.
I was there in June, but the rain had already stopped and we were about to get a 90 – 100 degree stretch of weather, so I had no intention of buying any plants. Additionally, the place I am staying probably needs structural landscaping, and a plan before I really start putting things in the ground — the one thing I was looking to buy was a reusable soil pH test.
The selection was very charming to me, as I have never encountered gooseberry or currant anywhere before. Their blueberries were gorgeous and I almost bought one on the spot because all of their plants were so healthy and heavy with berries. It made me feel like they must be on their pH game because their hydrangea were also lush and diverse. Alas, no DIY kits.
Or were there? The customer service was so good that the customer ahead of me (I’d already declined help while I browsed) had a devoted, in-​depth experience with the friendly person (owner?) working there. I never got a chance to ask if I had missed the kits.
It is a nursery in the traditional sense, with many greenhouses for plants that need TLC or are growing. Like I said, it was late June, so it was rather the off season, but there was still a lot to look at. It looks like it has been there for a hundred years because of how grown in the trees are on the property (this is a good thing!) and the ambiance is very charming.
I would give five stars, but I was horrified that they sold ivy (I know, an English garden supply…) after all of the ivy I’ve removed from ecological restoration sites, and wondered what other invasives they may be selling. There were a few native species mixed in, but I would love to see a wider selection, and more low-​water species.
They have printed materials to take for free on many topics, and a little library of reference books to browse. Their selection of books for sale was also limited but great (I would own all of them if I could).
I can’t wait to go back in the high season to see the extent of what they do there. Absolutely recommend a stop, no matter what your gardening needs are — it is a place like no other.

After seven long months of typical Pacific Northwest weather, I was a little dumbfounded at the first break in the clouds (What? Sunshine? In the spring?), it was– dare I say– actually WARM.
I immediately overhauled our front garden and convinced my step mom we needed flowers, NOW!
So off we drove, meandering up 1 – 5 to a giant nursery we had seen in passing several times before.
We decided since they were the biggest, they must also be the best, and would most likely carry flax starts.
It was fairly easy to find, Bird’s English Garden & Nursery is right off the freeway– you can SEE it from the freeway.
The flower flats are kept in a shaded area attached to the main shop. All the plants were in good health.
This overwhelming property boasts 7 acres and 14 greenhouses!
In addition to a beautiful array of flowers, they have several varieties of trees & shrubs, as well as a small selection of herb and vegetable starts.
After roaming around aimlessly for awhile I was approached by a friendly man that I came to assume was Kevin Bird himself.
We shamelessly admitted to having no plan or knowledge of flowers and asked for any recommendations.
«Well, what are you looking for?»
«Something pretty.»
–And thus started a useful & informative tour of the flowers. He was real patient and answered all our questions; you can tell he enjoys what he does.
After the tour, my step mom and I snagged a wagon (taking place of the conventional shopping cart) and started filling it with two of everything. Eventually we narrowed it down to two of *most* everything.
And yes, they have flax! They are one of the only nurseries in the area carrying flax, as a matter of fact. He said it’s not a popular plant so they hardly ever have it, but we were in luck this year!
We ended up spending around $ 65 for a wagon full of flowers.
Seeds, tools, aprons, garden art, feeders, fertilizer, soil, fountains, statues– pretty much anything you want for a garden or landscaping– they have it.
Next time the sun decides to emerge from hibernation, I’ll be the first person speeding up 1 – 5 for my next wagon-​full of gardening fever, (Hey– I have one more garden to finish!).