Business

Shift from retail to wholesale works for The Natural Garden in St. Charles

Posted April 18, 2010 11:00 pm

Veteran gardeners know that every year usually brings a surprise - a new weed here, a volunteer tomato plant there, maybe a flower where you know you didn't plant anything.

Change has come to The Natural Garden nursery of St. Charles this year, too.

The nearly 60-year-old nursery, known for its focus on perennials and Illinois native plants, has eliminated its retail yard to focus on its wholesale business, adapting to trends in gardening and commerce.

But don't worry - The Natural Garden is blooming, not withering.

Deep roots"Primarily we have been a garden center; our core customers have been 'real gardeners.'" said owner Jan Sorensen. Meaning people who are looking for more than a flat of pansies to brighten the front porch.Over the years, the various owners of The Natural Gardens have cultivated appreciation for perennials, especially native Illinois plants. Its former plantsman, Roy Diblik, is known for his ability to propagate native plants from seed. (He's also known for his installation of the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago.)"That's what really intrigued me," Sorensen said.The Natural Garden began as a drive-by business in 1953.People who saw Walter Stephens' garden along Route 64 west of St. Charles would stop to ask about his plants and how they could get some. He would dig one up and put it in a coffee can for them to take home."He (Stephens) was a hobby gardener and a plant fanatic," said Sorensen.Trading and selling, the nursery grew to 26 acres. It added a little shop for books and gardening accessories. And people walked the front yard, picking out plants.Sorensen bought the business in 1997. "It's a labor of sweat, blood and love," she admits. And love is definitely there - it's where she met her husband, fellow worker Victor Jaramillo.He's the chief plantsman for the 46 hoophouses and dozens of beds of plants, including a seed bed where 300 species of native plants are grown. Many of the plants The Natural Garden sells are offspring of plants started from seeds collected in the 1970s and 1980s by the late Bob Horlock, a St. Charles High School biology teacher who was a fan of Illinois prairies. Now, many of the sites from which he collected are gone, or access is restricted, Sorensen said.WholesaleInterest in native plants is flourishing, Sorensen said. "But to the general consumer, they don't have the visual appeal the pretty potted flowers have." (Although the yellow marsh marigolds are pretty stunning.)And maintaining the retail yard was time-consuming. In the hoop houses and beds, plants are grouped by type, including watering and light requirements. But in the yard, they were in alphabetical order to make it easier for shoppers. And they were in pots, which dry out faster. Sales in the retail yard waxed and waned with the popularity of gardening.But the wholesale business, serving landscapers, towns and park districts, has grown steadily.So Sorensen decided to focus the staff's time on that aspect.The home gardener can still get the greenery.The nursery has started a pickup order system. You can order online by Wednesday each week, and on Saturday you pick up your plants. Staff examine each plant three times, for quality assurance.She knows the experience won't be the same. Gardeners love browsing on sunny spring days, and are tempted to make impulse purchases. Sorensen hopes customers will understand her decision."It takes out a step, where we can provide a better quality" she said. The change enables the nursery "to offer good quality plants and keep that coming."The Natural Garden is at 38W443 Route 64, St. Charles. Call (630) 584-0595, or visit thenaturalgardeninc.com.True20001391Bleeding hearts in bloom at The Natural Garden in St. Charles.Rick West | Staff PhotographerTrue Native plant salesIn addition to The Natural Garden, here are some other places to purchase native and heirloom plants.Crystal Lake: The Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee will hold its annual native plant sale from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Over 150 species will be available to plant your prairie, woodland or rain garden.Organic heirloom garden vegetables and herbs from W&M Landcorp Organic Nursery and native trees and shrubs from O'Hana Farms will be for sale as well.Cash and checks only; no credit cards. For details, visit <a href="http://www.theWPPC.org" target="new">www.theWPPC.org</a>La Fox: Garfield Farm Museum will hold its annual Heirloom Garden Show 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 29 at the museum, 3N016 Garfield Road. Rare and specialty fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs will be displayed and sold by Midwestern growers. The Seed Savers Exchange will participate. Admittance is $6. Visit <a href="http://garfieldfarm.org" target="new">garfieldfarm.org</a> for details or call (630) 584-8485.

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