Suburban Lawn and Garden mulch wheelbarrows

November/December 2022
Touring the IGCs of KC By Teresa McPherson

Attendees of the Garden Center Group Fall Event in September toured garden centers in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.

Here are some snapshots of what caught our eye at the Garden Center Group Fall Event tour of garden centers in and around Kansas City, Missouri.

Family Tree Nursery

Family Tree Nursery opened in Overland Park, Kansas, more than 50 years ago. A second location was opened in Shawnee, Kansas, in 1981.

Uniforms Family Tree Nursery Kansas City
Staff can be spotted in a variety of uniforms — and the T-shirts that are also sold in the store (bottom right).
Botanically inspired Café Equinox operates inside the Shawnee location, with plenty of seating in the greenhouse
Botanically inspired Café Equinox operates inside the Shawnee location.
Botanically inspired Café Equinox operates inside the Shawnee location, with plenty of seating in the greenhouse.
Plenty of seating in the greenhouse for Café Equinox customers or garden center visitors.
The Potting Bench is a station where they’ll also drill a drainage hole in the bottom of a planter that doesn’t have one before you purchase it.
The Potting Bench is a station where they’ll also drill a drainage hole in the bottom of a planter that doesn’t have one before you purchase it.
Family Tree Nursery Forgot to grab a cart when you came in? Find one behind the Potting Bench.
Forgot to grab a cart when you came in? Find one behind the Potting Bench.

Suburban Lawn & Garden

Opened in 1965, the Overland Park, Kansas, location is the Suburban Lawn & Garden flagship garden center. The 40-acre Kansas City, Missouri, location opened in 1990.

Suburban Lawn and Garden mulch wheelbarrows
Cute little wheelbarrows offer a clever way to display mulch. Suburban processes and recycles Kansas City’s organic plant waste, turning it into compost and mulch instead.
“Green Industry” sign at Suburban Lawn & Garden
The “Green Industry” sign at Suburban Lawn & Garden is a subtle way to note the site’s contractors’ entrance.

 

Suburban Lawn & Garden checkout
A bright and airy checkout also serves as a spot for seasonal impulse buys.
Suburban Lawn & Garden gazebo
A gazebo at the Overland Park location provides a spot for customers and staff to grab a shade break.

Colonial Gardens

Formerly Colonial Nursery, owner Tory Schwope says he bought the property in 2016 intending to “reinvent the retail nursery business by introducing events, entertainment, food and local agriculture to the traditional garden center business model.”

Colonial Gardens vestibule space for merchandising
Colonial Gardens uses vestibule space for merchandising, even cleverly housing wind chimes where they’re sure to catch a breeze.
Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs, Missouri interior
This display uses natural light to draw the eye — and the customer.
Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs, Missouri display 1
A rack of pottery serves as a wall to create a cozy reading nook.
Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs, Missouri play area
The 80-acre property includes a play area across the street.
Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs, Missouri sign
Signage reminds customers about the proper ways of planting — and the QR code links to their YouTube video on tree planting.

For an enhanced reading experience, view this article in our digital edition.

Teresa McPherson

Teresa McPherson is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].