Best of Boston

One visit to Mahoney’s and even urban gardeners will be hard-pressed to leave without a basket of bleeding heart, a container of lavender, or some climbing clematis. The garden center is a lush oasis of greenery extending as far as the eye can see—all of it healthy and guaranteed to grow for at least a month after you buy it. The nursery-cum-greenhouse is a rare find in a town where cheap florists are spreading like weeds. No wonder it attracts swarms of horticultural fanatics who come for annuals, perennials, gardening accessories, and everything from potting soil to pruners.