Shopping in Olney

A family whose love for flora spans three generations, the Stadlers started their plant-growing endeavors back in 1932 when Paul Stadler began gardening for clients in Georgetown after emigrating from Switzerland. Soon, they opened up a small landscaping-and-gardening center, and today—more than 75 years later—Stadler Nurseries has grown to populate 340 acres of fertile land where they propagate native plants, landscaping shrubs, trees, roses, and more than 700 varieties of perennials. A staff of horticulturists and enthusiastic green thumbs helps visitors navigate the vast greenhouses and outdoor gardens, offering tips on how to prune leaves, fertilize soil, and teach plants how to roll over on command.

From green gifts to handcrafted treasures, Nest houses original and environmentally friendly wares. Selected inventory includes sustainably sourced fabrics by Earth Creations, recycled glassware by Fire and Light, and charming pottery from Mudworks. Read the gripping origin stories of some of Nest's vendors here. With this Groupon, naturally scent the home with a large soywax candle ($20), pull on an organic cotton T-shirt ($26–$30), or sip from a tumbler crafted from recycled wine bottles ($10.99). Nest supports fair-trade, organic cotton, recycled, handmade, and environmentally friendly goods.

Since 2005, friendly book monarchs John and Kathy Byer have built a browser's kingdom of more than 15,000 books, recently adding legions of DVDs, CDs, and vinyl to their burgeoning empire. Each hardcover and paperback comes neatly arranged by type, from romance to children's books to science fiction, and they range from 50%–80% off the suggested retail price. Nostalgic VJs and cash-strapped Frisbee dogs will happily sniff through the DVD selection ($4 per disc), the sisterly compact discs ($4.95), and their great-uncle vinyl ($3.99). New trades occur weekly, rendering Second Edition a valuable hub for anyone looking to pan for gently used gold, dog-eared Newbery Medals, or gently-eared dog gold.

Instead of pictures, the goldenrod walls of Ambrosia Bead Shop hold long strands of multicolored beads that shimmer under the glare of tiny track lights. The selection—which includes semiprecious gemstones, Swarovski crystals, and freshwater pearls—constantly changes: each month, the shopkeepers supplement their wares with new or exotic materials. The shop also hosts jewelry-making classes that cover a range of topics, from beading to metalwork to taming a swarm of fireflies so they form a tiara.

Professional sleep counselors facilitate peaceful slumber at more than 80 Mattress Discounters locations nationwide, where showrooms brim with mattresses from brands such as Sealy Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, and Space Age Foam. Unlike pet stores, Mattress Discounters encourages customers to lie on the merchandise, as sleep counselors use the Discover Your Comfort system to ask questions about sleep position and comfort level. With this information in hand, client and counselor select the right mattress for restful slumber, with each sleep surface backed by a 60-night comfort guarantee.

Baby Genius's award-winning children's products teach babies and toddlers essential skills through the power of music. Based on a bounty of research, the company's DVDs enrich the learning experience by merging classical pieces and familiar songs with vibrant images, keeping kids entertained for hours. Parents can sit back while animated animal educators teach pocket-size pupils better motor skills, dictionary-defying vocabularies, vampire-free counting, and nap-inducing dance moves that ready little ones for kindergarten and beyond.