When my colleague, Brent Green would visit me during a weekend, he would insist on visiting the Farmer’s Market, downtown on Sunday Morning. This tradition continues from when we were in college and would occasionally go to the San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market on Thursday nights. Farmer’s Markets are a good source of quality produce, often organic, as well as some more exotic groceries. One of Brent’s favorite vendors, however, markets unusual herb plants in small containers. He and I both have acquired herbs ranging from common to unusual at very reasonable prices.

Although vendors which specialize in container grown plants do not stock the range of material available in nurseries or garden centers, they often specialize in items that are very unique and rare. For example, Brent has purchased small plants (2 inch pots) of grapefruit mint, lemon grass and lemon verbena from his favorite vendor. Lemon grass and lemon verbena might be available in nurseries, but are normally found only in larger containers. I have not seen grapefruit mint anywhere else and do not expect to.

Although some of the vendors are affiliated with specialty wholesale nurseries, many are horticultural enthusiasts who grow only enough to sell at their specific markets. Of course, these are the sort of enthusiasts who grow some of the most unusual varieties, simply for the pleasure of growing them.

For example, Chi-Tao Yuan at the Mountain View and Saratoga Farmers’ Markets does not operate a nursery, but grows many more cultivars of Japanese maples than nurseries which specialize in them. He does not promote many of the commonly available cultivars, but may be the only source for some of the very rare and exotic.

Another very interesting vendor which has recently appeared in Sunnyvale and Campbell is Black Bird Hill Nursery which specializes in roses, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and unusual hydrangeas. Although the range of species is limited, the range of cultivars of the several specialty species is much more extensive than what would be available in even the most abundantly stocked retail nurseries. However, as a strictly wholesale establishment, Black Bird Hill Nursery limits retail sales to the Farmers’ Markets.

I have compiled a brief list of some of the local Farmers’ Markets. Those interested in visiting the markets should be aware that the Cupertino market does not operate in December and that the Willow Glen market operates only from April through November. From July through September, the Sunnyvale market will operate additional hours on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as well as regularly scheduled hours on Saturdays.

The Campbell market which is located on Campbell Avenue between Central Avenue and Second Street as well as the Mountain View market which is located at 100 Castro Street at West Evelyn Avenue are on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Cupertino market in the Vallco mall is on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. The Los Gatos market is on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Montebello Way at the Town Plaza. The Saratoga market which is located at Saratoga High School as well as the Sunnyvale market which is located on Murphy Avenue between Evelyn Avenue and Washington Avenue are on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. The Willow Glen market is on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon and is located on Minnesota Avenue at Lincoln Avenue.