More Than A Store

Homestead Gardens Is A Sensory Experience

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For anyone who enjoys hayrides, apple-bobbing and foliage, fall is a special season. It’s also a particularly exciting time at Homestead Gardens.

“Our stores are transitioning from flowers and shrubs for summer enjoyment to everything fall: mums, pansies, ornamental peppers and kale, and of course, seasonal décor and gifts,” said Brian Riddle, the president and CEO of Homestead Gardens. “We also have a food court on weekends.”

Fall brings new displays to the store, new opportunities to give back to the community and also a renewed enthusiasm for gardeners.

“Right now is the perfect time to plant,” Riddle said. “You want to get plants in six weeks before the first frost. In Maryland, that tends to be in November. We have plenty of material in stock to help gardeners plant now what they want to enjoy next year.”

Whether a person is planting annuals, perennials, trees or shrubs, they can consult the specialists at Homestead Gardens for advice. Two of those experts are Heather Wheatley and Zach Ebaugh.

“They are both experts who can help if you have any gardening questions. Our customers need to know the perfect plant for the ideal spot, and Zach and Heather are uniquely qualified to help with those questions,” Riddle said.

Guest experts like Barry Green, president of the lawn care company Jonathan Green, and Kathy Jentz of Washington Gardener Magazine, frequently visit Homestead Gardens in person or through virtual meetings to answer questions and give advice.

With a landscape division, a horticulture supply division and a native habitat center, Homestead Gardens is more than just a retail store. Shoppers can browse Evelyn’s Boutique for handbags, jewelry, fashion accessories and kids apparel.

“Our mission is truly to help make our customers’ lives more beautiful and to maximize their enjoyment of the outdoors on their property,” Riddle said. “When you visit our stores, you should be inspired to create unique gardens and landscapes. We’re here to help you discover, learn, and grow great gardens.”

Anyone can learn from the experts in person or by watching informative videos on Homestead Gardens’ social media sites, or extensive library of blogs and videos on its website.

The Homestead Gardens team is proud to meet the community’s needs through its stores but also by their engagement in community service. The store partnered with Anne Arundel County Food Bank as part of Hunger Action Month in September, and will support Anne Arundel Medical Center Rebecca Fortney Breast Center and the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition in October. The store helps schools, nonprofit organizations, and other groups nearly every day with donations, plants and landscape design.

Throughout the year, Homestead supports many community organizations: Maryland Hall, Bello Machre, Annapolis Maritime Museum, South River Federation, SPCA of Anne Arundel County, and more.

Homestead Gardens has three locations: Severna Park and Davidsonville in Maryland, and Smyrna in Delaware. The Severna Park location is at 522 Ritchie Highway and the Davidsonville store is at 743 West Central Avenue.

The Davidsonville location boasts 240,000 square feet of retail space and the Severna Park store offers 35,000 square feet of retail space. Each site also offers outdoor lighting, garden accessories, casual furniture, gifts and more.

Families are welcome to visit any of the Homestead Gardens centers and enjoy all they have to offer during fall.

“It’s a beautiful place — the sights, the sounds, the scents,” Riddle said. “You don’t come just to shop. It’s an experience.”

Store hours are 9:00am-6:00pm Monday through Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm Saturday and 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday. For more information, visit www.homesteadgardens.com or find Homestead Gardens on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Food Truck Court
Weekends Through October 31
Davidsonville store at 743 West Central Avenue

As a part of Homestead Harvest Weekends, the Food Truck Court will be available to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm at the Davidsonville location only.

Homestead Gardens will feature Beard's Creek BBQ, Homestead's own doughnut truck, Agape Café, and kernel popcorn. Enjoy a variety of food options and festive treats for the whole family.

Design and Plant a Tranquility or Meditation Garden
Tuesday, October 5, from 7:00-8:00pm
Zoom
Free

Science has proven that spending time outside is good for your health. So is gardening. So is meditation. Combine the three in a healing garden that inspires meditation and tranquility. Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine and host of the popular “GardenDC" podcast, will share tips for creating your own healing garden. Check the Homestead Gardens website and social media for an updated Zoom link.

DIY Holiday Gifts: Forced Amaryllis and Paperwhite Bulbs
Friday, October 8, at 7:00pm
Zoom, Facebook Live or YouTube
Free

Washington Gardener Magazine editor and publisher Kathy Jentz will teach you the basics of forcing bulbs like paperwhites and amaryllis just in time for the holiday season. Then, she'll cover secrets behind tricking spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils to flower indoors over the winter. Register via Zoom at this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tz0vf-guqd0jhdz3-v3lneusbgaarvd4ghte. You can also catch this class on Facebook Live @homestead gardens. If you miss the class, you can find a recording at www.homesteadgardens.com or on the YouTube channel @homesteadgardens.

Children’s Pumpkin Painting
Saturday, October 9, from 10:00am-2:00pm
Severna Park store at 522 Ritchie Highway

Choose your favorite pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, then bring it to the tent and make it your own! You buy the pumpkin and Homestead Gardens provides the supplies. A perfect outing for your whole family.

Flocktober: Winterize your Chicken Coop Class
Sunday, October 24, at 2:00pm
Davidsonville store at 743 West Central Avenue

Join Homestead in discussing the importance of winterizing your chicken coop. You will learn more about proper ventilation, bedding and diet. With all this information, your chickens will be happy and healthy through the winter months.

Everyone in attendance will get exclusive discounts and be entered to win chicken-related swag. Register at https://share.hsforms.com/11_ERnaFnRdiu0dWqlClwwg37l8j.

Caring for Seasonal Plants and Holiday Houseplant Gifts
Friday, November 5, at 7:00pm
Zoom, Facebook Live or YouTube
Free

Have you ever given or gotten a beautiful blooming poinsettia or amaryllis and then slowly watched it decline? What a New Year's bummer! Kathy Jentz knows how you feel! This talk will teach you how to care for classic seasonal plants like poinsettias and Christmas cactus. We'll also talk about green holiday gift ideas for the gardeners in your life (or yourself). Register via Zoom at this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tzeqfu6orzsrhddwqsmsjovme80tg5ctglpu. You can also catch this class on Facebook Live @homestead gardens. If you miss the class, you can find a recording at www.homesteadgardens.com or on the YouTube channel @homesteadgardens.

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