Growing Family at

The southwest corner of 40th Avenue and Sheyenne Street in West Fargo is a hub of activity.

Jodi Kallias and her husband Brett started SheyWest in 2020. For Jodi, this place was about to bloom into a lifelong project from the heart. Raised by a family of entrepreneurs, Jodi thought she would try to do the 9 to 5, weekends free life as an architect. But when Jodi became involved with Brett’s landscaping business in 2010, she found a beautiful calling. Twelve years later, Jodi and Brett have a growing family and growing company.

SheyWest is a sunny expanse with shade in the right places including several greenhouses. Most weekends, local musicians perform live and there’s usually a fun food vendor or snow cone truck on the premises during the summer. Indoor retail spaces are dedicated to home décor, seeds, house plants and more.

Outside is where the magic happens this time of year. Jodi and her staff take pride in helping customers develop a “plant palette.” A plant palette builds a landscape using the color and shape of the leaves and flowers and their blooming cycle. Plants that “talk to each other,” as Jodi says, make a more attractive garden space. Jodi assembled an example of a plant palette, pictured here. She started with a summer blooming maroon leafed coral bell and ended with a boxwood that will provide yearround color. In the mix are two varieties of sedum, a bright red dianthus and switchgrass. The palette relies on a grayish tint to the foliage, with maroons running through most of the plants. Staggered bloom times ensure flowers through most of the season.

August and September are good months to plant if the plantings are adequately watered. There is still plenty of time for trees, shrubs and perennials to establish a hardy root system before the cold returns. The cooler temperatures in the fall help with root establishment and the rewards will appear in the spring.

SheyWest features a variety of family friendly activities. The Little Sprouts program that takes beginning gardeners from seed to harvest, is just wrapping up. Similar classes are offered year-round.

On September 16–18, SheyWest will hold their 2nd Annual Apple Smash celebrating the fall season. For more information, visit their Facebook page @sheywestnd. Open 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon – 5 p.m. on Sundays. [ aw ]