Because plants have long been jealous of humans' ability to live indoors, they attempt to infiltrate the finest mansions and universities by slowly climbing stony facades. Visit a place built specifically to contain these floral strivers with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of spring plants and garden accessories at Garden Gate Nursery in Hartland, off Highways 16 and 83.
A family-owned, full-service garden center, Garden Gate Nursery sells trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and other fresh greenery to local yard artists. To bid adieu to six months of slush, lost mittens, and more slush, the nursery has added spring plants to its inventory, including Boomerang lilacs ($29.99 per 3-gallon container), Bella Anna hydrangeas ($37.99 per 2-gallon container), and True Blue gentianas ($14.99 per 1-gallon container). Nature's Crossroads organic vegetable seeds prepare a trust-fund endowment for future salads ($2.49 per packet), while old-fashioned English roses from David Austin turn tame garden parties into weeklong smell-a-thons ($37.99 per 3-gallon container). Easy-to-grow stepables, such as the Isotoma blue-star creeper ($59.88 per flat of 12) frame ponds, decks, and gazebos with colorful walkabout foliage. Meanwhile, Garden Gate's friendly staff can help flora explorers find solutions for leaky water gardens, botched landscaping projects, or hedge mazes.
Plant availability is seasonal and subject to change.
Garden Gate Nursery
After studying genetics at UW–Madison’s College of Agriculture, Gwen Condon opened a garden and landscaping center in the hopes of making local exteriors more beautiful and fashionable. Gwen began traveling to shows in Germany, England, and Italy in search of gifts and garden accessories. Her shop quickly grew into an inspirational garden, where customers wander paths lined with seasonal plants, from spring flowers to fall mums to winter killer tomatoes. The knowledgeable staff makes sure to clearly label each plant with lighting and water requirements.
Additionally, customers can show photography of their yards to Garden Gate Nursery staff to get tips on plants, shrubs, or trees that would thrive there. The garden tamers’ most popular service is what they call the “Please Come Stand in My Yard” consultation, a house call in which they scope yards and inspect any problem areas before sharing their ideas and recommendations.
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