Gardening Angel Greenhouse

In the Valley of Plenty, it is time to celebrate spring, time to plant and time to discover that you can find over 50 different varieties of tomatoes and 73 colors of Petunias right here in Emmett at Gardening Angel Greenhouse. New blooms and blossoms are springing into color every day.

“I’m always trying to get something new,” said owner, Ruth Grider. “I enjoy seeing what I can succeed at. I add new variety of tomatoes every year and more flowers. I can’t help myself. Sometimes I get amazing new flowers by accident when I mis-order like the Gazania. What a happy accident that was.”

Grider doesn’t just grow flowers and veggies, she grows relationships. Her FaceBook page, Gardening Angel Greenhouse, is evidence of her close relationship to her many followers. Grider shares her flower-follies, gives tips on growing and even warns customers of impending weather threats to their “adopted” plants.

“I’ve been growing plants since 1985,” said Grider. “When I started Gardening Angel in 2001, my original thought was to go wholesale. It turns out that the best part of this job is the people I meet. I have the most fun when I visit with someone who comes up to see the flowers. I asked a lady how she was doing and she said to me ‘good now that I’m here’. It’s good to make other people feel good. Who doesn’t love flowers?”

With 5 greenhouses and over 2,000 flats per greenhouse on 5 acres, Grider’s work is never done. Ordering starts in September along with clean up, organizing the shop and making lists. Planting starts in December, filling flats and prepping. By January, Grider calls in the staff including a Transplanter, more clean up and flats to fill.

“May is our busiest month,” said Grider. “We are only open for 4 crazy months and we don’t have much that doesn’t sell. Flowers sell first and by mid-May people feel safe to start planting their veggies. I never thought I could do what I’ve done with this place; I wasn’t a real ‘business’ person. I had friends I trusted give me good advice who told me to go for it and I did. I didn’t know what a greenhouse was until I met Lance. I owe all this to him.”

Grider is focused on her customers’ needs including adding heavy-duty weed mats throughout the greenhouses as well as outside. Customers in wheelchairs or with strollers easily maneuver about and weeds are nowhere to be found.

“Come see us and be happy,” said Grider. “We’ll let you adopt some of our flowers, too.”

Gardening Angel Greenhouse, 1990 W South Slope, 398-7741. Open M-Sat: 9-6 and Sun: 10-4.