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View from Violet BarnThe 'Violet Barn' sits high atop the Bristol Hills, overlooking Canandaigua Lake and the Naples Valley.

Come and visit us!  Besides seeing all of the beautiful plants here at the 'Violet Barn', spend a day touring the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York.  Besides the beautiful scenery, the area is home to a number of wineries, artisans, and gardens.  For more information, visit www.naplesvalleyny.com or www.visitfingerlakes.com for area attractions, restaurants, shopping, and lodging.

At left:  A view of Canandaigua Lake
        Looking north from our greenhouse


What's at the 'Violet Barn':  Everything shown on this site, plus more!

  • We grow many varieties not listed in catalog
  • A diverse selection of other gesneriads
  • A selection of orchids and other houseplants
  • Over 30,000 plants on display!
  • Growing supplies and "expert" advice

When we're open:  12-5 p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday, year-round
            Other times, by appointment.  Wheelchair accessible.
           
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days
            Closed on Sundays and Mondays to prepare for shipping!

Tours are welcome!  For larger groups, please call ahead.

Garden clubs.  We no longer have time to travel to give lectures and programs to most clubs.  However, we do have meeting space available at the shop--should your club want to hold a meeting at "our" place (after business hours), we may be able to accommodate you (and give a program).  Cost is free (we assume you'll buy plants).  Call us for details.

When's the best time to visit?  Anytime, we're open year-round.
That said, be best time is when we're least busy with shows and shipping, this means December through March (also, the plants all like it cooler).  At this time almost everything can be seen grown-out and in bloom.  But don't worry, we always have lots of plants, even when we're most busy!

International (Canadian) visitors.  We can provide a phytosanitary certificate that will allow you to take plants home with you without  difficulty.  Let us know the date of your visit, and approximately how many plants (of what kinds of plants) you might take home.  Provide us with a VISA or MC account to pay for the $15 fee.  The inspector visits every 3-4 weeks, and written phytos are valid for 2 weeks after issue, so give us warning far enough in advance of your visit.  You may do all of this via the "orderform" on this site--just state "will pick up at shop, please write phyto" on the form.

Have a "shopping list"?  If there are specific varieties that you are looking for, you may want to pre-order them before your visit.  Sometimes "high demand" plants are set-aside for our mail-order customers and aren't available to shop visitors.  So that you're not disappointed, you might want to have us set aside "must have" plants in anticipation of your visit--place an online order and state "to be picked up at shop on this date".


Location:  Violet Barn at 7209 County Road 12 (corner Griesa Hill)--the "high" road into Naples!

Directions from East or West or North:
       
NYS Thruway (I-90), take exit 44
        Rte. 332 south into Canandaigua
        Rte. 21 south, right turn onto Rte. 64 at junction (at T)
        Go 200 yards, turn left onto County Rd. 12 (we're 3 miles from the corner)

Directions from South:
       
From Rte. 17 (I-86), take I-390 north to Cohocton exit (exit 2)
        Follow signs to Naples (Rte. 415 to Rte. 371 north)
        Rte. 21 north into village of Naples
        Exiting village, bear left, up "big hill"  (we're 3 miles from the bottom of the hill)

Not driving?  "Click here" for directions via air, train, or bus.


The 'Violet Barn' staff:
       
Dr. Ralph (Rob) and Olive Ma Robinson, owners
        Grower:  Matt Johnson
        Plant caretakers:  Corinna Borden, Laura Baughman, and Amanda Wolfanger
        Part-time staff: Mike Churley, Wendy Pulver, and Elly Pulver
        Lucille ("Goose") Robinson, greeter
        "Gus-gus" and "Dee-dee" Robinson, assistant greeters


Because of our busy schedule, not all correspondence can be promptly answered.  We are, however, more than happy to answer any questions made by phone during normal business hours.

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