Bert's Red Apple Market

I have been getting my annuals at the Red Apple for years and have found the quality to be every bit as good as City People's plants up street. I would say Red Apple is a lot cheaper, but they raised their prices so now it is only somewhat cheaper. However, if you are planning a huge amount of planting, this can make a difference. Red Apple also occasionally carries perennials, too. I do not recommend this Red Apple for regular old grocery shopping as it is horrendously expensive. Note: they are low on annuals now as the planting season has died down. They do have quite a few lavender, however. more

A good neighborhood market. It is close and convenient if you live in Madison Park. We get there quite often mainly for various important sundries (like ice cream!). It is a really happening spot, so parking is a bear, but it sure beats going to a depressing Safeway! more

Seriously, during the summer (when it is warmer and the beaches are drawing more people to The Park) Bert's Red Apple Market in Madison Park is the place! I used to live on 43rd Avenue East and I shopped regularly at Bert's. It never ceased to amaze me how cruisey it was, even before 8:00am. Singles (and some not-so-singles posing as singles...my personal experience) peering into shopping baskets, looking for something with which to start a conversation: "Is all that breakfast for one?" The florist got a lot of this action. How is easy it to meet a girl with buckets and buckets of flowers available? Men would see a woman they fancied, go outside and pluck a rose from any one of a hundred buckets and make his move: "This buds for you." These scenes reminded me of the great in-store pick-up line scene from My Blue Heaven: Vinnie: You know, it's dangerous for you to be here in the frozen food section. Shaldeen: Why is that? Vinnie: Because you could melt all this stuff. So great! more