Gifts & gardening sold with seaside charm
Clay Garden and Gifts opened in 2012 after a downturn in the economy and an oil spill closed the previous nursery that had been located in the same spot. Husband-and-wife team Anna-Lisa and Jason Daniel merged their talents and professions (he in horticulture, and she in interior design) and opened Clay.
Over the years, Anna-Lisa said they believe that God is ever shaping and molding the company.
“In 2020, right as COVID restrictions were beginning, we took on partners,” she said. “This was a blessing because partners were able to help us make decisions regarding unchartered territory. With partners, we were also able to make capital improvements, including adding pavers throughout the garden and a new permanent outdoor sales kiosk. We opened a wholesale plant division for our landscape customers and purchased the lot next to our nursery where we would eventually move four historic cottages to expand our offerings.”
A Cottage Collection
These cottages, formerly comprising a motel called Seagrove Cottages, were renovated and opened to its customers last year, each housing different product categories. The garden cottage offers a large selection of chemicals, tools, seeds, birding and windchimes, while the outdoor living cottage contains outdoor furniture and accessories, including pillows and rugs, lighting, citronella candles, and outdoor tableware.
The front cottage is the new home to 1920 & Co., a local community floral business acquired last year.
“It was a great fit for us,” Anna-Lisa said. “We shared a lot of the same customer base and were both involved in a lot of the same community events and charities. We were continually being asked to offer fresh flowers to our business by our second-home customers and tourists. We do not offer events and weddings at this time, but plan to expand our fresh stems.”
To complement their cut flowers, Clay sells a variety of glass and ceramic vases, as well as “a line of local pottery that has been made for us with our logo.”
Rounding out its offerings, Clay’s gift shop — housed in an old cottage that had been transplanted on site in the 1970s — stocks planters, jewelry, candles, terrariums, books, vases, and local art.
She said plans are in the works to add a butterfly garden space outdoors, as well as to use a fourth cottage — not currently open — for educational and artistic classes.
Products that Can Take the Heat
Located on East Scenic Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Anna-Lisa said they’re always on the lookout for new products for their customers that will withstand their harsh Gulf Coast weather.
“Hot temperatures, high humidity and salt air can be brutal on outdoor living and garden items. We carry resin wicker furniture, powder-coated stainless steel lanterns and outdoor candles, all-copper rain chains, resin baskets, teak wood tables and benches. And although we live in a beach vacation area, we try to remain true to themes that are native to our coast and landscape.
Anna-Lisa said Clay is best-known for its large selection of outdoor container garden options. “We try to have a wide selection in various price points of terra cotta, glazed, cast and powder coated planters. Most of these planters can be turned into water features so we carry pumps and basins for this.
She said they also stock native plants for required landscapes and a good selection of annuals and perennials for container gardening.
Photos courtesy of Clay Garden and Gifts.
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