Local flowers ready Spring is in full bloom at the Palestine Garden Center By Jennifer Sheridan Reporter@palestineherald.com
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ocal blooms are ready for spring planting at the Palestine Garden Garden Center. The local nursery is owned by Larry Baker, who started as a delivery driver transporting plants in East Texas and over years learned about bedding plants and growing shrubs.Then the Bakers, Larry and his wife Barbara, opened the store in 1997 with just bedded plants. Now the business has grown to selling shrubs, trees and plants native to East Texas. A variety of ferns and perennials are available along with the city’s staple, the dogwood tree. Baker also has bedding plants and hanging baskets. The company offers to meet customers’ requests of finding plants that are not native to the area as well, Baker said. The store is the only one in the area. With a small staff dedicated to quality service and care of the plants, it’s a full-time job meeting the requests of customers, Baker said. Baker’s product doesn’t stop with just trees and plants for landscaping. He also sells vegetables and tomatoes and fruit trees to local farmers. The store’s specialty is knockout roses.
Baker says the flower is in high demand every year. Although he does not do any landscaping outside of his own home, he offers tips to help improve buyers’ green thumb and ensure the plant’s stability in its new garden. Baker said he has been asked to teach classes, but does not have the time especially during growing season. If he doesn’t know the answer, he refers the customers to experts at the Anderson County Extension Agency. Baker said heavy rain from last year made many plants died early causing customers to already come in for replacement perennial plants. He expects business to continue to pick up through April as customers come in to buy new foliage to add to their gardens. Customers are loyal to the garden center. Gina and Bob Gingerich have been buying from the store for years because of the selection offered and the life span of the plants. Gina’s knockout roses from the center are the statement pieces of her garden, she said. The garden center is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store is located at 1919 Crockett Road. For more information, call 903-7235200.
Published March 31, 2016