Plantsellers

garden industry

Did you know the lawn and garden industry in the United States is a $35.208 billion industry?*


It's true! Above, a crowd of shoppers add to those billions on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in May at Lowe's Garden Center in Springfield, Missouri.cool ? Compare that $35.208 billion to the $10 billion generated by the U.S. CD industry. Holy petunia, does that mean gardeners are


Whatever the figures, gardening is nowhere any livelier than in our part of the U.S. Our generous 190-day growing season means we can grow a wonderful range of plants. We also have an amazing array of plantsellers (more than 70 inside the Springfield city limits alone). Also--and are you ready for this?--Springfield ranks third in the nation in per capita expenditures for lawn and garden supplies and services, right behind Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon**

*National Gardening Association

** 2005 Missouri University Extension Annual Report


Here are some of our area growers and plantsellers. No, these aren't advertisements, just sellers we encountered who we thought you might like knowing.



mike-and-paula-sherwood-jpg.jpg Blackberry Lane Gardens
Mike and Paula Sherwood grow ornamental plants and certified organic vegetables and berries on 13 acres at Crane, Missouri. As if that weren't enough, they have gorgeous hanging baskets, too. We like what they're doing and think you will, too. For more, come on in....

Blackberry Lane Gardens


don__and__sandy_jpg.jpg Bob Town Blossoms
Don and Sandy Bauer and their son Ben grow some superb plant stock at their Bob Town Blossoms operation near Halfway. Don readily admits he's not a horticulturist. "I just know enough to be dangerous."

Bob Town Blossoms


campbells_01_jpg.jpg Campbell's Fresh Market
Mike & Lana (pronounced "lai-na") Campbell of Campbell's Fresh Market grow a terrific bounty of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables on 65 acres near Clever, Missouri. They bring other goodies to market, too. Have a look.


Campbell's Fresh Market


the-gate-jpg.jpg Carson's Nurseries
Carson's Nurseries, one of Springfield, Missouri's oldest nursery operations, is doing well with a new owner and a new look. Come in and enjoy...

Carson's Nurseries


erica_and_bruce_jpg.jpg C.F. Meadows
Erica and Bruce Holland grow mushrooms for restaurants, markets, and home cookery, too, at their C.F. Meadows operation in Norwood. What's more, they can teach you how to grow your own.

more on C.F. Meadows


d-and-k-flowers-etc-jpg.jpg D&K Flowers Etc.
D&K Flowers is one of those roadside plant stands that can turn up some novel gardening surprises. For a look, come on in.

D&K Flowers Etc.


earth_mother.jpg Earth Mother Gardens
Earth Mother Gardens owners Lynda and Jim Franco no longer sell at the Greater Springfield Farmers' Market, but we have to keep them on the website because their contributions to Ozarks gardening have been too creative and too valuable to let go. Their specialty has been herb, spice, and ornamental plants with a big emphasis on "native." The herbs include the basic culinary and medicinal favorites, plus many harder-to-find species and varieties. Expect to find here many of the most interesting, most useful, most worthwhile plants to be found in the Ozarks. Enjoy.


Earth Mother Gardens


evelyn-s-flowers.jpg Evelyn's Flowers
Evelyn Beersman shares a laugh with a friend at the Greater Springfield Farmer's Market. Evelyn and husband Henry are Evelyn's Flowers, a delight especially for iris lovers.

Evelyn's Flowers


fassnight_creek_farm.jpg Fassnight Creek Farm
Fassnight Creek Farm is quite a story--a working 14-acre farm at 1366 S. Fort in Springfield, right in the heart of the city. And what that farm produces is worth knowing.

Fassnight Creek Farm


hamilton_farms_sign_jpg.jpg Hamilton Farms
Hamilton Farms in Hurley grew an especially engaging mix of plants, thanks to owner Jack Hamilton, who sold at the Battlefield Mall Farmer's Market in Springfield, Missouri. Jack has sold the business now and the firm no longer sells at the market, but we're keeping Jack's info because it's worthwhile.   

more on Hamilton Farms


james-river-fb-page-jpg.jpg James River Farmers Market
We're excited. The Ozarks region has yet another new farmers market. It's the James River Farmers Market, and it promises to be a dandy. While we usually list individual plantsellers in this section, until spring we're giving you this preview of the market and its vendors. We think you'll like it, but why don't you decide for yourself by taking a closer look.. 

The James River Farmers Market


jones-farm-sign-jpg.jpg Jones Farm
Ted and Ginny Jones on their farm north of Springfield, Missouri, grow a solid range of produce for sale at the Farmers Market. And they throw in a few extras worth seeing, as well. Have a look.  

Jones Farm


leo_and_laura.jpg Leo and Laura White
Leo and Laura White grow over 300 varieties of hosta, 90 varieties of tomatoes, 40 varieties of peppers, and some ornamentals. They do it all on a double lot at their Springfield, Missouri, home. "It's controlled mania," says Leo.

more on the Whites


good-market-day-jpg.jpg Martin's Greenhouse
The Mennonite Community near Jericho Springs, Missouri, grew bedding plants and produce as beautiful as any you'll ever see. They brought it to the Greater Springfield Farmers' Market in Springfield, Missouri, much to the delight of many customers. The original growers have moved and founded a new community in California, but they will be remembered, and we plan to add more information soon on the new Jericho Springs growing activities. So, watch this space.




roland_netzer_jpg.jpg Netzer Farms
Netzer Farms owner-grower Roland Netzer grows organic tomatoes, green beans, peppers, onions, and potatoes on 5 acres northwest of Springfield, MO. Roland, known throughout the region, is also a past president of the Greater Springfield Farmers Market, where he sells his produce.

Netzer Farms details


ozark-cottage-gardens.jpg Ozark Cottage Gardens
The gent in the yellow ballcap is David Smashey, an easygoing, extremely knowledgable gent who for a time grew some remarkable plants in his Ozark Cottage Gardens near Bolivar, Missouri. We're told that David is no longer in the plant business, but we're keeping some of his achievements online anyway. To see why, come on in.

Ozark Cottage Gardens


treva__and__kris_jpg.jpg Paris Springs Creations
Paris Springs Creations is the brainchild of mother and daughter Treva Hoggard and Kris McCoy, whose fresh cut flowers, bouquets, and dried flower arrangments are truly something to see.

Paris Springs Creations


peggys_flowers_jpg.jpg Peggy's Flowers
To put it plainly, Lee Coates and his wife Peggy grow some of the most beautiful plant stock in this part of the country, or anywhere. Just take a look.

Peggy's Flowers


the_plant_ranch.jpg The Plant Ranch
"I just try to hit what the customers like," says Richard Vassar, an environmental chemist who grows a diversity of flowers and produce at The Plant Ranch near Rogersville, with the help of his sister Annette.

The Plant Ranch


sam-and-truck-jpg.jpg Rocks to Roses
Rocks to Roses was an inventive enterprise by rose grower Sam McGowan. Sam, shown here with his prize '53 Studebaker pickup, sold his remarkable rose creations at the Greater Springfield Farmer's Market in Springfield, Missouri. He no longer sells at the Market, but we're keeping him listed here because his work is still well worth seeing.


Rocks to Roses


kaye-renner-jpg.jpg The Renners

"Just call us the Renners," said Kaye Renner. They don't have a fancy name or make a big fuss about it, but Kaye and her husband Bob grow some very tasty produce on eight gardens in Marshfield, Missouri--including a surprise or two.



The Renners


tony-schaffitzel-jpg.jpg Schaffitzel's Greenhouse
One of the Ozarks' oldest nurseries, Schaffitzel's Greenhouse in Springfield, Missouri, has a character all its own. Come see.

Schaffitzel's Greenhouse


springfever_2004_02.jpg Spring Fever Greenhouse
Olee Jobe is a familiar face to many local gardeners who grew to know him during his years with the Springfield Seed Co. Now he and his wife Sharon are busy full-time growing and selling ornamentals, perennials, gourds, rare heirloom tomatoes, and some intriguing specialty plants.

Spring Fever Greenhouse


steinert-s-sign.jpg Steinert's Greenhouse & Gardens
Just beyond the city limits of Springfield, Missouri, is one of the Ozarks' busiest and most colorful nurseries. To see how Steinert's Greenhouse & Gardens wins friends and influences gardeners, see inside.

Steinert's Greenhouse & Gardens


kathy-and-ron-jpg.jpg TerRonKat
Kathy and Ron Murray, brother and sister, grow beautiful produce near Fair Play, Missouri, for sale at the Greater Springfield Farmer's Market, and they turn out quite a variety. Have a look.

TerRonKat


thayer_farms_jpg.jpg Thayer Farms
Carl and Lisa Thayer of Thayer Farms,who have a sense of humor, grow an impressive array of produce on their four-acre farm. They sell at the Greater Springfield Farmer's Market in the Battlefield Mall parking lot.

Thayer Farms up close


wal-mart.jpg Wally World
You may have heard of Wal-Mart. We think they're worth mentioning here because at times they do nice things garden-wise. This store on West Bypass in Springfield created this display all of petunias. A ton of work, and guess what, they didn't hafta.

Wal-Mart Garden Center


wickman_s.jpg Wickman's Garden Village
In business since 1922, Wickman's Garden Village is one of the oldest and most successful nurseries in Springfield, Missouri--and for good reason. Come see.


Wickman's Garden Village


richard-king-and-bryan-clough-jpg.jpg King Tree Farm
Richard King and Bryan Clough grow excellent herbs and other treats in Ozark, Missouri and bring them all to the James River Farmers Market on Saturdays. We think you'll like what they have to offer. So come on in.

King Tree Farm