Let’s get growing!

By Molly Ovenden

Fromlandscaping to lawn art to house plants, knowledgeable greenhouse staff in the Northland are eager to advise new gardeners and help your garden grow. Each greenhouse offers a friendly and safe shopping experience following COVID-19 protocols. Gift certificates are available at each.

Suzie’s Greenhouse

4148 Normanna Road, Duluth

218-721-5148

Opens for the season: Wednesday, May 5

Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday

Who is Susie?

Susie Bellefeuille, 68, owner of Suzie’s Greenhouse, is celebrating her greenhouse’s 35th year. Susie’s grandfather, Carl Peterson, an accomplished gardener, was her biggest inspiration for starting her greenhouse. Peterson was once featured in the newspaper for growing a five-headed cabbage. Moving 27 years ago to Duluth, with proximity to many lakes, helped the business grow and flourish.

What is Susie excited about?

Southwest inspired pottery — Susie loves everything about the desert, always having several varieties of cactus and succulents available. On recent trips to Arizona, she discovered a supply of plant pots that she knew she had to make the desert inspiration available for her Northland customers.

Impatiens — They’re back! This popular shade-loving flower came down with a disease a couple years ago. Growers have created a new disease-resistant variety, available for the first time this year, so impatiens should regain their popularity.

Begonias — An exciting new color is in this year:

NONSTOP Fire. It is striking with red and yellow petals. Many other colors are available. Begonias love shade. Some morning sun is OK, but they will not thrive in areas with afternoon sun.

Geraniums — Susie has one entire greenhouse dedicated to their most popular flower. With 3,800 plants available in a wide variety of colors, the geranium is an old standby.

Tips:

“Just jump in!” Try different plants to learn what works for you and ask questions. Vegetable gardening on your deck might be a good place to start: many varieties can remain on your deck. Even with a milder Duluth climate, Susie says: “We can grow a lot in Northern Minnesota.”

Spring At Last Greenhouse

4112 Arrowhead Road, Duluth 218-728-3785 duluthgreenhouse.com

Opens for the season: Thursday, May 6

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday Facebook and Instagram, online ordering and curbside pickup, excluding Memorial Day weekend

Who is Jennifer?

Jennifer Couillard, 56, and her letter carrier husband, Paul, are in their fifth season of growing. A dental hygienist, Jennifer comes from a long line of farmers, loves physical labor and growing plants. With five adult children and three highschoolers still home, the greenhouse is a family business. They all love the in-season work of growing and caring for the plants, as well as out of season helping with the website, social media and product development.

What is Jennifer excited about?

Vegetables — Vegetable gardening has dramatically increased because of the pandemic. They always try to have heirlooms available and this year they have even more diseaseresistant vegetable plants to help organic gardeners.

Gallon Tomato Cans — Growing starts early, so when customers arrive, these plants already have fruit on them and will get fruit all summer. Literally grown in a gallon can, they are versatile staying in the can or to transplant.

Fun for Kids — They have plants that kids love: sweet cherry tomatoes, new sweet, striped candy cane pepper and cucamelons (cute little round cucumbers, easy for kids to grow in a pot on the deck). Newly developed during the pandemic, are kits for fairy gardens and deck planters that children and parents can do together.

Tie Dye Petunia — This unique purple and white variety is unlike any other petunia Jennifer has seen before.

Metal art — Virtual greenhouse shows this year presented a challenge to find metal art vendors. With a Texas connection, they are offering “animals, windmills and all kinds of fun” lawn art this season.

Tips:

Don’t just try to learn everything online: it won’t necessarily work in our Northland area. Ask lots of questions and seek advice from neighbors, greenhouses and other seasoned gardeners to learn what works in your area.

A+ Garden Center

6150 Old Miller Trunk Highway, Saginaw

218-729-9079

Aplusgardencenter.com

Opens for the season: Friday, April 16 Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily Facebook and Instagram, online ordering, delivery and curbside pickup

Who is Tabatha?

Tabatha Beier, 32, is president of A+ Garden Center, proudly woman-owned since 2019. Moving from Brazil when she was 18, Tabatha married Jeremy and together they ran A+ landscaping company. In 2010, they bought the te10-acre property for the garden center. Vicki Hart, greenhouse manager, and Sarah Gans, greenhouse assistant, keep the garden center running smoothly with Tabatha.

What is Tabatha excited about?

Providing a customer-focused experience for all your gardening needs — From bulk landscaping materials to outdoor plants, with a large, meticulously organized gift shop with garden decor, ceramic pots, a candle line, indoor plants and gardening tools. They grow at least 60% of their products on-site, but if something isn’t available, the team will help you find what’s on your “wishing list,” coordinating special orders, too.

Being family friendly — Their pet peacocks, chickens, turkeys and goats are a hit with young customers. They also keep bees and sell their honey in the gift shop. Tabatha wants customers “to be amazed and say, ‘wow!’” when they visit.

Combination baskets — Concentrating on the most vibrant colors and combinations, they create a variety with some combinations best for shade or full sun, or others that feature bee-friendly flowers.

Succulents, cacti and indoor plants — Popular items are string of pearls or the African milk tree succulents, bunny ear cactus and monstera and snake plant indoor plants, but with thousands of varieties, it’s personal preference.

Tips:

Talk to garden center experts about where you want to plant, what type of light you have, how much you are willing to water and whether you have pets.

Some plants can be toxic; ask about pet-safe plants. D