September/October 2018
Gems From the Emerald City By Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

The 2018 Garden Centers of America Summer Tour took place in and around Seattle, and there were many impressive IGCs. We’ll have highlights from additional stops in the next issue.

Sky Nursery

Shoreline, Washington

1. Houseplants are hot, and Sky Nursery created a façade inside the garden center to draw people into a large area dedicated to indoor plants. 2. Nectar Bar
is the hip name for Sky’s pollinator-friendly varieties, along with window-pane signs for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and more. 3. Other sign highlights included magnetic options for vegetables and easy-to-read bullet points for less common plants. 4. Outdoors, pallets gave height dimension to water gardening displays as well as shrubs, and 5. even an eyesore of a fire hydrant was turned into a garden.

Watson’s Greenhouse & Nursery

Puyallup, Washington

1. Using gutters to display trailing varieties garnered much attention from tour-goers, while outside the garden center, 2. this getaway became a prime photo op. 3. A display garden right alongside the parking lot showcased plants in the ground as well as in impressive containers.

Ravenna Gardens

Seattle, Washington

1. Ravenna Gardens is a small, urban oasis that maximized outdoor space with gorgeous displays and vertical merchandising. 2. Inside centered around a large cash wrap with great impulse purchases and a pergola and lights overhead, with color-coordinated gift item displays nearby. 3. Participation in “Village Playdays” with other area businesses brought parents and kids over to plant seeds in small pots.

McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery

Snohomish, Washington

1. McAuliffe’s mixed contemporary elements with the old vibe and feel of the dairy farm once on the property. 2. Immaculately kept hedges lined the entire nursery, making both an eye- catching entrance as well as a nice backdrop for trees and shrubs. 3. Every area, including the farthest corners, was spotless and meant to inspire.

BRANCHES GARDEN CENTER

Auburn, Washington

1. Tour-goers could not believe how Branches Garden Center successfully turned older hoop houses into a gift shop. 2. To sell more décor pieces, artwork from local artists was incorporated into nearly every display. 3. Hawaiian shirts went beyond normal logo wear and made employees spottable from yards away.