It was more than a rush of seasonal energy that inspired the recent facelift at D Avenue Nursery, Fidalgo Island’s oldest retail garden center.
The locally owned nursery benefited from a healthy mix of inspiration and perspiration in the wake of Anacortes native Marianne Mach’s purchase of the business.
Countless D Avenue travelers watched with interest as the high profile nursery underwent a spring transformation with elements ranging from redefined grounds to new inventory.
“We pretty much scraped the site to bare ground and started over,” said Mach, “with the goal of creating a welcoming space for a customer base that has appreciated this nursery’s consistent, quality service since it was established by the Krueger family more than 50 years ago.”
Mach, who has also owned gift shop and restaurant businesses in Anacortes, said she was excited to negotiate the sale of the business from long-time owner Shiohira.
“I’ve always had a love for plants, indoors and out,” said Mach. “I’m new to the game of retail garden service, but what I don’t know I’ll find out. I enjoy being busy, and I appreciate the end result of hard work. I also have the benefit of a great support team including my friend and manager Carole Star, who is a Master Gardener.”
D Avenue Nursery offers an expanded retail inventory including annuals, perennials, herbs, organic vegetable starts, trees and shrubs. Also in stock are soil and fertilizers, hanging baskets, garden art and gifts including vintage color burst parasols.
“Service is a priority for us,” she added. “We buy quality plants from local growers. We work hard to answer our customers’ questions and to fulfill their requests. I don’t profess to be a landscaping expert, but we have an extensive library of garden books, and we are happy to tap the Internet on the spot if that can help a customer find an answer to their questions.”
“Customers tell us that one of their biggest concerns was that this neighborhood business would be sold and closed to make way for houses. We invite people to visit, to share the beauty and peace of this neighborhood garden,” said Mach. “Bring a cup of coffee or lunch to enjoy at one of our picnic tables, or take a stroll through our secret garden. I think this nursery is cool – and it’s only going to get better.”
D Avenue Nursery, located at 1502 D Avenue just off Oakes Avenue, is open seven days a week: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, telephone the nursery at 293-8319 or check out the website.