Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouse & Garden Center

Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouse & Garden Center

“We are always looking for a balance between being a true garden center and plant-centric retailer and all the other parts that make us such a unique place to visit.”

Year founded:

Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouse & Garden Center was established in 1925-26. David Lohmann has been the owner for the last 26 years.

Tell us about your garden center.

As one of the mid-Atlantic’s oldest greenhouses, we pride ourselves on our history and our selection. Featuring over 5 acres of trees, shrubs and plants, if it grows in Western Loudoun County, we likely have it. Our selection continues with a fully stocked garden shop with everything from tools and soils to pots and gifts. We are an old-school greenhouse and are very community oriented. If you
visit us in person or on social media, you will see the real stars of our show — our five English Labs who roam the greenhouse, greet our customers and require a head pat before making a purchase. We also have nine tropical birds that we have rescued that love to entertain our customers.

Speaking of social media, we lure our customers in with “in your face” pictures of our offerings complemented with witty captions.

What is your garden center known for?

We are known for being an organic greenhouse that specializes in only selling and growing USDA Zone- appropriate flowers, shrubs and trees. We are also known for the rare and exotic plants that we carry. Currently, we have over 900 varieties of perennials, over 100 varieties of trees, 200 varieties of shrubs and countless annuals.

While there are other options in our area — both national and local brands — we consider ourselves experts in what we grow and sell. Because we grow our items in-house, we know it will survive in our area, compared to some greenhouses that ship their products into the area, which often leads to disappointed customers.

How do you help your customers succeed?

We may grow the plants, but it’s really the community that gets to enjoy them long term. For example, when a tree is planted in a customer’s yard, they watch that tree grow, they share it with their family and friends — it becomes almost like an extended family heirloom. Our staff is well-versed in helping a customer find a plant or tree that works specifically for their individual home, not just selling them something to fill in an empty space.

How do you set your store apart from the big boxes?

Our knowledge and our people. People can purchase things at a big-box store any day of the week, but they are lacking the educational component, which often leads to a disappointed customer. When you come here, we are happy to talk to our customers because ultimately a customer who is successful in their gardening endeavors will become a lifetime customer.