Babe’s Blossoms offers great variety, quality and service
By Scott Thoma
Looking over the wide selection of plants and flowers at Babe’s Blossoms between Cosmos and Hector is more than just a shopping experience.
“We like to think of it as a happy place in a peaceful setting,” said Cara Hanson, who purchased Babe’s Blossoms in 2017 from the previous owners, who started the business in 1996. “We want it to be a fun experience for people.”
And the majority of the customers that come to this greenhouse have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It’s such a fun place to go to,” said Deb Munsell of Franklin. “It’s always so clean there and well organized. Their selection is wonderful. And if they don’t have something you want, Cara will try to get it for you.”
With the coronavirus limiting indoor activities last spring and summer, many people turned to gardening as a way to remedy their boredom and feeling of confinement. That trend is likely to continue this season.
“With the pandemic going on, we saw so many happy faces come in here last year,” she said. “There wasn’t much else going on and they seemed so happy to get out and have something to do.”
Greenhouses and nurseries that sold fruits and vegetable plants were considered an essential business and customers were allowed to shop all season.
Another thing that makes customers happy and excited is variety. Hanson spent a week last July at a seminar at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, to get a better understanding of what types of plants and flowers would thrive best here while also being exciting to her customers.
“I learned so much there,” said Hanson. “I learned way more than I ever thought I would. I came back and ordered some new varieties of petunias, coleus, dahlias, salvia and much more. The customers will really enjoy all these new varieties.”
Hanson grew up on a farm near Fairfax and took an interest in gardening at a young age. She attended South Dakota State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture.
When she took over ownership, Hanson vowed to maintain the same quality service that the previous owners provided to their customers.
“What I like a lot about Cara is that if you have a question, you can pull her aside and she is glad to help explain things to you,” said Munsell. “I’m very impressed with her and her staff.”
Babe’s Blossoms provides a wide variety of annual plants, perennials, vegetables, potted plants, and trees and shrubs.
“We’re here to provide the gardening supplies you want and the advice you need to plant and grow,” said Hanson. “We grow all the plants here ourselves. By starting these plants from seeds or small plugs we’re able to control the care environment from the start, eliminating the stress of plant transport.”
Variety is the spice of life and Babe’s Blossoms carries that motto to an extreme in its inventory.
They offer 36 varieties of petunias with 18 of those varieties new this year.
“It’s hard to find an annual that will beat the flower power of a petunia,” said Hanson. “They are very versatile and will perform well in a hanging basket, window box, combination patio container or in the ground. We love trying these new varieties and we know you do, too.”
They also will have a large selection of herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well.
They carry 23 types of trees that range from fruit trees to weeping willows and many in between. And there will be around 70 different shrubs to choose from.
There are 10 greenhouse buildings in the nursery that house over 150,000 plants that include six-packs, single plants, vegetable starter plants, hanging baskets and decorative containers.
“We are your go-to place for gardening for all levels from beginners to seasoned gardeners,” Hanson noted.”
Another customer-friendly service that Babe’s Blossoms will provide for its customers this spring is a food truck on three different days, May 1, 2 and 8 beginning at 11 a.m. all three days. The food truck will be provided by Illegal Amigos and feature Mexican-style food.
“We will have some tables set up and customers can come and shop and then sit down and have a little picnic,” Hanson said.
Curbside pickup is also available here, if needed for customers. The various items Babe’s Blossoms carries is available on its website listed below. Orders must be phoned in or e-mailed ahead of the time you are picking up.
Gift certificates are available for sale year-round.
There are 15 well-trained staff members working at Babe’s Blossoms, which is located seven miles north of Hector and seven miles south of Cosmos along State Highway 4.
Babe’s Blossoms will open for the season on April 19 and remain open until the inventory is depleted. They will be open seven days a week during the season - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 320-848-6566, email babesblossoms@hcctel.net or visit their website at www.babesblossoms.com. Also check them out on Facebook.
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