In a twisted sort of way, one of the best things about enduring the cold, snowy, damp, windy, icy, and very unpredictable winters of Northeast Ohio is how starved we become for those very first signs of mellowing weather. We long for the earth to thaw, for the winds to warm, for the fresh air to clear out the stale scents of our closed quarters.
And then it happens. One early spring day we open that same door we’ve opened hundreds of times over the tundra days of winter, but this time we are caught completely off guard as we catch sight of tiny heads of purple and yellow emerging through cracks in the ground. It’s the beginning of the annual invasion – that Great Bursting of Life we know is coming, but are always so surprised when it finally arrives. It’s the most glorious experience and one that only a northerner who has survived the seemingly endless freeze can fully appreciate.
With the beauty of spring, and all the colors, fragrances, and stunning landscapes which are about to unfold, the desire to be surrounded by them increases, to bring them as close to home as possible.
For the past 16 years, Avalon Gardens in Chardon has been making it easy for people throughout Northeast Ohio to enjoy the full potential of these seasons of flowers and foliage with their custom container planting service. “Containers are brought in to us in either the fall or spring,” says owner Mary Slingluff. “We discuss shade or sun, color combos and styles with our customers. Some just let us surprise them! We plant them up, grow them, and keep them warm and watered until May. We also go to the clients’ homes to do window boxes, large containers, and urns. They can be redone for fall and the holidays.”
More people are turning to this kind of service as they see the covers of magazines and articles on containers and want that polished look for their homes. And as Mary points out, “It also is a money saver since the plants were specifically selected for your container…less trial and error.” Customers receive instant gratification since plants may have been growing for a month, depending on when they are brought in, rather than waiting until June or July for many of the flowers to come into full bloom.
Avalon Gardens provides a variety of services to help you squeeze the maximum enjoyment out of our ’too short’ growing season and are open to your special requests as well. Some of these services include:
- Creating a complete container garden design for a home or business.
- On-site consulting for those considering starting container gardening or for self maintenance of an existing garden. You can also bring or email photos of your site to the nursery.
- Upgrades for those who may already have a garden but would like new pots or a few new additions. Bring or email pictures of your current site if you have them.
- Seasonal design work. Start with a spring vignette, switch out plants for the summer, add fall bloomers or reconstruct a fall container.
- We empty the soil, put fresh soil and decorate for Christmas or winter with evergreens and berries. Containers brought to us are kept until weather permits them to be safe from frost. There in no additional charge for this.
- Maintenance for established container gardens whether created by Avalon or not.
- Vacation and short term maintenance for those times you just can’t find the right person to care for your precious plants!
Do you have favorite pots you love and want included? Are you completely new to the gardening realm and have no pots at all? “We can provide the pot, or you can bring your own,” says Mary. “There are no limits to what can be used. That is the fun of it!”
Clients can be as involved in the process as they like. “We call this ‘playing dress up.’ We walk through the greenhouse and pick out colors and textures that please them. We offer suggestions for maintenance. We use organic grower potting mixes, add in fertilizers and suggest products to keep them healthy.” You can keep your hands clean or dig in the dirt as much as you like!
As owner of Avalon Gardens Nursery for 16 years, Mary has worked with countless numbers of clients, many of whom enjoy the services year after year. These folks have become more than just clients; they have become friends. “The most rewarding thing to me is the relationship with the clients we build over the years. We have seen children grow up, grandchildren born, happy and sad events in our customers’ lives. Many of our container customers will use us as their florists for weddings, as well as recommending us for their friends and family since we do custom floral work.”
The most challenging part has been the inability to see how the containers look throughout the season unless clients have shared pictures. “We always want to know what didn’t work so we can offer plant replacements through the year at no additional cost, as long as the container was adequately maintained,” Mary says. Avalon Gardens is committed to bringing you their best, so share those photos! It’s to your advantage and will help them be able to create the most beautiful container displays possible for you to enjoy.
If you have any questions about gardening in general or are interested in creating a genuinely unique container garden for your home, give Mary a call. Her expertise and love for what she does will add a whole new dimension to your gardening experience. And if you are new to the gardening realm, you will be amazed at the depth of satisfaction that awaits you as you walk out into your own special creation of beauty, your personal work of art!
Just for our readers, Avalon Gardens is offering a 10% discount on the first total container ticket. Simply present this coupon or show it on your phone to receive the discount. Offer is good for the 2014 growing season.
Avalon Gardens
12511 Fowlers Mill Road
Chardon, OH 44024
440.286.2126
Hours of Operation – April 1st through November 30th
Nursery & Gift Shop
Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday – Noon – 5:00 p.m
