We will be opening for the 2024 Season on April 26th. If you live in the area you may have seen some activity here already. Lots of local residents and organizations placed orders over the winter months and are here picking them up in advance of opening day. If you have landscape projects in your future be sure to reach out to discuss your plant needs. We are happy to work with you to get you varieties, sizes and quantities of items that you need.

During the month of May we will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11-5 and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-7 pm. When schedules allow we also open by appointment during the week and we schedule periodic weekday "pop up" openings when we have inventory in stock and are here to greet you. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram Pages for pop up announcements and other details.

As many of you already know, inventory at the Emporium is ever changing, just like the New England weather. We do not have a live online inventory or ordering system. In the Amazon era we know this can be frustrating to some, but, view it with an entirely different spin. Our vibe is the Emporium of yesteryear where you would drive somewhere, explore the offerings and enjoy the experience along the way. In the process you discover things you never even knew you needed until you saw them. Stop by often and join in the fun! And, here is what you can be assured of;

• We stock an enormous variety of straight species Northeast Native Plants including perennials, grasses, ferns, shrubs and even trees.
• We carry an array of unusual, dramatic designer flowering annuals selected for their uncanny ability to draw butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard from miles away!
• We offer a wide selection of certified organic herb plants, including many hard to find and medicinal varieties as well as a handful of great organic vegetable plant options.
• We can provide full trays of deep root plugs (seedlings) by special order only for large landscaping projects. A reminder that we will not be offering individual plug seedlings this season.
• We even have complementary products including Earth Care Farms Compost, peat free Organic Mechanics Potting Soil, Buckwheat Hulls Mulch and upcycled rain barrels along with garden gifts including fabulous hanging baskets.
• We never use pesticides of any kind here on site and holes in leaves and hitchhiking caterpillars are offered at no extra charge :-)!

The lists linked below will give you an idea of the types of plants that will be available from opening through the end of June. Even more varieties will become available during the summer months for fall planting season. We often sell out of popular items quickly (but do restock weekly throughout the entire season).

Not everything on the lists will be available all the time. Some things not listed at all, especially rare and unusual finds, are very likely to magically appear! Visiting often and strolling around is your best way to see what's new and exciting. You can also always reach out to us to find out whether we have the particular things you are looking for or to place a special order in advance.

Please note that while we are opening our "doors" on April 26th with lots in stock, the end of April is very early for most native plants. Many plants are just breaking dormancy and hundreds of varieties are not ready yet at all. For example, there won't be milkweed or cardinal flowers for a weeks yet. Peak availability for native plants (especially perennials and grasses) is from mid-late May through early July and then again from mid-August through the end of September. Peak time for our annual flowering plant availability is from Mother's Day through Memorial Day weekends.

Mark your calendars!

You won't want to miss this one.

There are many experts in the eco-friendly garden circle but our favorite by far is Nancy Lawson, the Humane Gardner. Her values track squarely with ours, but even more, her sage advice centered in compassion and practicality has worked - time and again! We are delighted that she will be speaking virtually to a New England audience on a topic that is often top of mind - "Gardening Amount Hungry Mammals". Hosted by Grow Native Massachusetts, the virtual event is scheduled for May 8th from 7-8:30pm, Click on the image below for more information and to register. We also recommend a great read linked below titled "Gardening for Deer" - yup, you read that right it says "for deer". Check it out, we promise you will find some helpful tips along with a great perspective. Linked within the article is a helpful resource handout as well.

Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium is a super small, hyperlocal, roadside stand located in Swansea, MA directly on the border of Barrington, RI. We are focused using native plants as a tool for building resilient landscapes that nurture life and improve communities. Offering great native plants, prickly pear cactus, magic dirt, unusual pollinator friendly annuals, organic herb and vegetable plants, lots of solicited and unsolicited advice & random curiosities designed to get your yard really buzzing. You can read all about us on our website, including the story of where the name Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch came from. And be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for garden tips, helpful resources, inspirations and to make more connections.