Every spring, garden centers are “all hands on deck,” selling seeds, starter vegetables, fruit trees and herb plants, plus all things related to the outdoor planting season. But this year is different — way different.
Independent garden centers are reacting to the higher demand for home-grown edibles, seeds and supplies while respecting social-distance procedures outlined by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many garden centers and specialty shops that sell seasonal plants are open for in-store shopping. But a handful of stores are not open for shopping in person, instead offering online and phone orders for curbside pick-up or delivery.
Trela Phelps, general manager of City Floral in Denver, said the higher demand for seeds and plants is because “everyone is home and gardening gives them something to do while they’re locked up. People are concerned about access to fresh vegetables, so they want to grow their own.”
City Floral is open for in-store shopping, online and phone ordering for curbside pick-up and delivery. It also has a fresh farm stand with plenty of fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and pasta. Fruit trees, which can be planted outside soon, are “flying off the shelves,” Trela added.
Below is a list of independently owned garden centers, specialty stores and hardware stores from Boulder to Castle Rock to help you grow your own edible plants this season. (We didn’t include chain stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Walmart in this list, or supermarkets that sell plants. And this list, while long, is not comprehensive.)
The independently owned Ace Hardware locations listed are almost all open to in-store shopping, and most carry seeds for vegetables, herbs and ornamentals, as well as soil amendments. Some locations have vegetable starts, herbs and fruit plants, or will be getting them by May 10. Check with your nearest store.
Independently owned garden centers
* Asterisks denote full-service garden centers (seeds, vegetable starter plants, herbs, fruit starts, soil amendments) and more plants and gardening supplies.
ARVADA
AURORA
BOULDER
BRIGHTON
BROOMFIELD
CASTLE ROCK
CENTENNIAL
DENVER
ENGLEWOOD
EVERGREEN
FEDERAL HEIGHTS
FRANKTOWN
GOLDEN
HIGHLANDS RANCH
HUDSON
LAFAYETTE
LAKEWOOD
LITTLETON
LONGMONT
PARKER
WHEAT RIDGE
Independently owned hardware stores with gardening supplies
AURORA
ARVADA
BOULDER
BRIGHTON
CENTENNIAL
COMMERCE CITY
DENVER
EDGEWATER
ENGLEWOOD
FIRESTONE
FORT LUPTON
GREENWOOD VILLAGE
HIGHLANDS RANCH
LAKEWOOD
LITTLETON
LONGMONT
NEDERLAND
PINE
THORNTON
WESTMINSTER
This content was originally published here.
