Garden Center Opens At Western Market

FERNDALE, MI — Spring arrives in Michigan when it’s ready – but the professionals at Western Market in Ferndale make it official when they reopen the Floral and Garden Center May 5.

The Ferndale-based, independently-owned market expands its focus from fresh fruits and vegetables, craft beer and natural wine, and its noted butcher, deli and prepared foods to include even more. Throughout the spring and summer months shoppers flock to the market to find fresh herbs, organic seeds, and plants and flowers sourced all from local greenhouses and growers. It’s a go-to for anyone looking to find a quick, beautiful bouquet or filling their summer gardening list. Grow vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed, Find the perfect piece of garden yard art or accent your garden with a new planter.

The Floral & Garden Center is owned and operated by Western Market’s Steve Selvaggio. He is an avid gardener at his own home, and believes that the key to an inviting landscape comes from a dedication to caring for the plants and flowers each day.

“You have to be disciplined,” he said. “It takes time to water, feed and grow the plants. With just 30 to 45 minutes each day, you can return home to a relaxing environment.”

Ron Lester has gained more than 40 years of experience in gardening and growing tropical plants. He now puts that knowledge to use as Floral & Garden Center manager at Western Market.

Lester was a shopper at Western Market before he joined the staff in 2014. The Arizona native and Detroit resident said he enjoys “working with plants and flowers and educating people who have never gardened before,” he said.

Regardless of your level of experience, Lester will recommend what might work best for your home,
yard - or as a gift for Mother’s Day.

“We typically open early in May,” he said. “It is a good time to start plants inside until the weather warms up.”

In the meantime, he said, we have work to do. Spring is ideal for going over your garden and cutting down any plant debris to make way for living plants that will return, as well as new plants and flowers you plan to add. Remember that some we think of for fall, like mums, are hearty enough to return - if you leave a stem rooted in place, Lester said.

A few of Lester’s favorite options for Spring 2018? He suggests planting Marigolds to keep pests away. And, he said, a variety of herbs – like lavender, rosemary and basil, can be grown outdoors to help keep mosquitos at bay, naturally.

Use them for cooking, too. Basil or strawberries can be frozen into ice cube trays and kept in a freezer for year-round use. “Lavender is drought-proof and Lemon thyme makes a beautiful ground cover,” he added. And if you’re a fan of Thai Basil, be sure to ask Lester for his favorite cocktail recipe.

Those who plant gardens each spring, Selvaggio said, are more likely to go organic. They are interested in growing heirloom tomatoes or other rare finds. And the Garden Center options reflect those needs. Western Market now offers 60 varieties of Certified Organic vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seeds from High Mowing Seeds, for those who prefer to start their own plants.

For residents whose outdoor space is sparse, or simply not an option, Western Market’s Floral & Garden Center also sells an array of fresh-cut flowers, hanging potted flowers and herbs that can grow indoors. Selvaggio has noticed a trend toward shoppers who seek out less time-consuming landscape options like these.

Lester hand-picks all of the cut flowers the market sells, choosing them several times per week to ensure freshness and long lasting beauty. “I have done formal English gardens, ponds and landscaping all over the country,” he added.

The Floral and Garden Center also offers hand-chosen, high quality terra cotta and ceramic pottery for decorative home accents. Over the past few years, Selvaggio said, more and more customers are looking to add decorative pottery to their garden or landscape.

If it’s a thoughtful gift customers seek, Western Market maintains a selection of succulents, or the option to assemble a bouquet of flowers any time. FInd seasonal favorites like cheerful yellow daffodils, colorful tulips or bright Gerbera daisies – perfect for a spring pick-me-up or Mother’s Day gift.

Lester is sure to stock some interesting and hard-to-find blooms like Pincushion Protea, Birds of Paradise and even small bonsai trees to appeal to a wide-ranging audience. “I look for unusual flowers,” he admits, which makes your mix-and-match bouquet even more personal.”

Photo courtesy Western Market