MANILA -- The pandemic seems to have turned everyone into budding plantitos and plantitas. With people stuck indoors, it seems like everyone is trying to bring the outdoors in by filling their homes with plants and turning to urban home gardening.

Whether you’re looking to adopt your first plant or just want to add new ones to your growing collection, here are some places you can shop for plants in Quezon City.

C.P. Garcia Avenue, Diliman

There are numerous plant and landscaping shops along C.P. Garcia right across the UP Stud Farm. Some stalls sell different kinds of pebbles and rocks boulders, while others offer landscaping, grottos, mini-waterfalls and gardening maintenance. You can find a good variety of ornamental plants, indoor and outdoor plants, hanging plants, herbs, succulents, pots, fertilizer, novelty pots and many other gardening supplies here.

If you happen to be in the area already, you can also swing by Maginhawa Street. Book a slot ahead of time at specialty grocery store Gourmet Gypsy, which recently added an outdoor section with a selection of potted herbs, edible greens, ornamentals, tools, and accessories like wooden planter boxes.

Quezon Memorial Circle

The Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC, the main park of the city, features a bustling urban park with several smaller gardens within its grounds including a flower garden, a tropical garden, and a demo urban farm. Since June, the nurseries and plant stalls have resumed operations selling orchids, ornamental and flowering plants, succulents, and herbs at affordable prices.

While the museums at the Circle (QCX, Quezon Memorial Shrine, and the Quezon Heritage House) are still closed to the public, visitors can combine their plant shopping experience with some exercise by biking, jogging or strolling around the park. Several food joints and stalls have also reopened at the park.

Farmer’s Garden

Farmers Garden in Cubao has long been a go-to hub among plant lovers in Cubao for their gardening and landscaping needs. The center offers a huge variety of flowers and plants, succulents, and fresh potted herbs. The garden shop is located right across the front of the main building where the fruit stands are bordering the main food market. Walk around to find what you like, because these shops all offer different live plants, gardening and pottery supplies.

White Plains

White Plains Avenue is well-known as one of the best places to go to for all sorts of gardening or planting needs. You can find everything garden-related in this green strip along one side of the road across some exclusive villages. Head to Niño’s Garden for flowering plants like orchids and hydrangeas, Roxas’ Garden for succulents, D Flora’s for landscaping needs, and Bulacan Garden for bonsai and landscaping essentials. If you can’t find what you're looking for, you can just easily check out the neighboring stores.

For sustainable and healthy meals, you can opt to stop by Earth Kitchen, a restaurant dedicated to support local farmers and indigenous communities around the Philippines. This restaurant located along the same strip as the plant shops is currently open for pickup and delivery.

Cedar Hills Garden Center

For those looking for a more secluded plant shopping adventure, head to Cedar Hills along Mother Ignacia Avenue. This well-curated garden center has everything you need for your garden from the soil, potting mix, shades, and ultraviolet nets. They sell a wide variety of ornamentals, potted herbs, and succulents which make great gifts. Brighten up your house with flowering hanging plants.

While you’re there, you can also grab some immunity-boosting cold-pressed detox juices and superfood smoothies. Hillside Café & Juice Bar within the same compound is currently open for takeout and delivery.