I shop for plants all over the Bay Area but if I had to choose just one favorite full service nursery/garden center mine would be Sloat:

http://www.sloatgardens.com/

Between special orders (mostly diversifying the herbs and shrubs) and researching the best shrubs or trees for my planting conditions... they come through every time. I rely on less expensive garden centers for more commonly available plants but always mix things up with the offerings from Sloat.

I live in the East Bay, and am in love with the Berkeley Horticulture Nursery. The plant quality, the staff knowledge, and the tranquility of the atmosphere can't be beat. But the prices? Kind of steep.

As I'm not a millionaire, I get most of my filler plants from the Long's at 5100 Broadway, which has an amazing selection of healthy common plants.

Another East-Bay gardener here ... I second Beth's Broadway Long's nomination. When neighbors stop by to compliment our garden, they're always shocked to hear that we got a lot of the plants for a couple bucks apiece at plain-old Long's.

But one of my favorite plant shops is the Dry Garden in North Oakland -- really great array of succulents and other draught-resistant xeriscaping plants, both common and unusual. We also shop regularly at the East Bay Nursery on San Pablo in Berkeley (very good selection, helpful staff, reasonable prices) and the Ace Hardware Nursery on Grand in Oakland (surprisingly great selection). Berkeley Hort and Orchard Nursery in Lafeyette are great places to while away an afternoon looking at gorgeous plants in a lovely setting, but we tend to get ideas there and then buy plants elsewhere for a lot less.

P.S. An idea for all you last-minute holiday shoppers: We buy bonsai pots, tumbled stones, and an array of different succulents and pot them up as gifts for friends and relatives every year. It's cheap and super-easy, and even the black thumbs on our list manage to keep them alive for a few months.

In SF, Marin, East bay if you want a garden with lights, water features and drip irrigation (de rigeur in our long, dry summers) go to Urabn Farmer Store. Bay areas largest selection of outdoor lighting and pond and fountain supplies. Plus they have the technical expertise to help you design complex fountain and lighting systems and the help is free.

http://urbanfarmerstore.com/

I really like Flora Grubb in the city. It's at 21st and Guerrero and has a beautiful selection pots and larger plants, great for picking up design ideas.

Anyone out there know where i can get a tumbler type composter in the bay area?

We love Greenjeans in Marin, right off 101 in Mill Valley. The staff is helpful and friendly and the plants we have gotten there do really well. We even got birch trees a few years ago for the tiny patch of earth in front of our house. We bought 3 trees and were afraid it was overly ambitious. They are thriving, and make us really happy!