Business Spotlight

THE GREEN SIDE OF PATTERSON - Garden Centers

Many of us moved to Patterson for the bucolic open space, and the feel of a small Town.  One of the nice things about our Town is the diverse green commercial businesses that contribute to our  aesthetics, support our tax base, offer quality plants and services, and have just a nice place to visit.  In alphabetic order, we wish to highlight those businesses that have supplied and supported our horticultural needs and in one case, support feeding the needy.  While Acme Supermarket and Tractor Supply do offer some plants for sale, their main mission is more diverse and we love having them here in Town, but our focus is on those who actively grow some or most of their plants, obtain their plants from our region and are primarily targeted on horticulture or serving the public.

The important thing to remember is that the herbs, vegetables, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees grown at these establishments require maintenance and care.  This attention to quality gives you a better product and it is worth the price you pay.  The people who work there are trained in horticulture and if they can’t answer a question, they admit it and then find you the right answer.  They care. The plants offered are selected because they can survive in our climate and they are appropriate to be planted here.  Hardiness zones are established to show people which plants can survive the coldest temperatures we can expect to receive. Here in Patterson, our hardiness zone is 5.  Some plants rated 6 may tolerate our climate but an especially cold winter can ruin your day.  Plants rated above a 6 will not survive the winter if planted outdoors.  Look up hardiness zones on your computer for more information.  Another issue you need to understand is that tender vegetables and herbs like tomatoes and basil should not be planted in your garden until Memorial Day at the end of May.  We see people flock to the box stores on those warm days in March, April and early May to buy up the tomatoes and tender plants being sold only to become disappointed when that cold night comes along and kills or damages those plants.  The large box stores that offer plants do not grow them and usually purchase them from vendors in the south like Georgia, or from heated greenhouses where climate isn’t an issue.   Those same box stores do not maintain their plants like our local garden centers and how many times have you witnessed dried and fried plants sitting in the parking lot before anyone can attend to it?

You may pay a bit more at our local garden centers, but you are getting a better-quality product and many times the selection is far more diverse and interesting.  Please consider supporting our local businesses and keep Patterson green.

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Berkshire Nursery and Supply - 2714 Route 22, Patterson, NY  (845) 878-9383 (Berkshirenurseryandsupply.com).  Hours of operation, 7am -5pm Monday thru Saturday and 8am to 4pm on Sundays.  They are open year-round.

Formally owned by the Lopane family, Jesus Flores purchased this garden center in 2022 and is still making improvements to become a full-service operation.  They grow their own annuals, vegetables, roses, and perennials. They acquire their trees and shrubs from wholesale nurseries in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. They also offer firewood, mulch, garden statues, stone and masonry products as well.  They recently have added a new mulch called Green Envy which is a mix of wood mulch and organic manure compost.  Their garden shop hosts seasonal items and organic fertilizers.  They can deliver any of their products to your residence nearby. During December, they sell fresh cut Christmas trees and related items such as wreaths, greens and decorations.

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Claire’s Garden Center – 210 Haviland Hollow Road, Patterson, NY (845) 878-6632.

Hours of Operation: 9am – 4:30pm every day from late March to mid -September (depending upon weather conditions).

In 1943, Mrs. Claire Walter opened this unique garden center that still retains her name.  In 1973 Glen Waruch purchased it from the Walter family and he and his wife DeDe operated it ever since (51 Years!)  They grow almost all of their plants themselves, which includes a wide variety of herbs, vegetables, annuals and perennials.  They are truly a local gem where they live on site and work with their daughter and three very knowledgeable staff members who assist their loyal customers from all over.  They offer many plants that you will not easily find elsewhere.  This year they are offering some more native species along with  pollinator, butterfly and hummingbird favored species.  Their attractive garden shop is filled with garden supplies, soil amendments, and gift items for anyone who digs in the soil. Glen likes to say that they “represent the integrity of the industry” and the quality of their plants, the recycling practices they follow and the service they provide proves it. A true country garden center on a nice country road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haviland Farms (WHOLESALE ONLY) – 721 East Branch Road, Patterson, NY

This 10-acre nursery and greenhouse operation serves as a growing facility for Prospero Nursery on Knollwood Road in Valhalla, NY.  They grow perennials, shrubs and trees for the commercial horticultural industry. Owner, Joe Prospero will gladly offer sales to local non-profit organizations and wishes to hear form our local contractors for supplying quality plants and trees for projects in our area.  His contact number is (914) 879-8960.

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M&M Garden Center & Supply – 3192 Route 22, Patterson, NY.  Hours of Operation: 8am -5pm Monday thru Saturday and  Late March to early April (weather dependent) to post Christmas.  They sell firewood and local supplies year-round. (845) 878-1157 (MMgardencenter.com)

Formerly known as “Poppy Place”, this garden center was purchased by Mike Pane in 2013 and is family owned and operated.  They offer a nice variety of vegetables, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that are from growers in the tristate region.  They create garden patio pots filled with annuals during the spring and summer. They sell fresh cut and live Christmas trees, holiday greens, and create their own wreaths.  Their garden shop offers many garden items, gardening tools and gifts along with local honey, dog treats (made in Patterson) and maple syrup, and various jams, jellies and pickled vegetables produced from the Amish.  They supply masonry products, mulch, firewood and topsoil.  They offer services such as planting, mulching, creating walkways, stone walls and patios.  They can deliver any of their products and offer free lollipops if you stop by!  Mike’s mother works here and her motto is “if we don’t have it, you don’t need it”.

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Patterson Community Church Farm Stand- 1062 Route 311, Patterson, NY  (845) 878-3961 (Pattersoncommunitychurch.org) Hours of Operation: Saturdays 9am – 1pm during the growing season (check their website for updates).

Pastor David Frost and his volunteers operate a small farm operation at the church and a site in Holmes where they grow herbs and vegetables for the “meals on Wheels” program run by Cornell Cooperative Extension and sell some of their produce to the general public to support the church activities.  They also operate a thrift shop which also benefits the Church activities as well as a food pantry to serve families in need.  This is a true hometown, homegrown operation worthy of your support.

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Petersen’s Patterson Greenhouses- 1169 Route 311, Patterson, NY (845) 878-3431 (Petersengreenhouses.com) Hours of Operation: 8:30am – 6:00pm April thru October.

The Petersen family started this business in 1937 when they purchased it from Scarsdale Nursery.  Carl Petersen and his sister operate a floral shop and greenhouses where they grow their own vegetables, annuals and herbs.  It also is a family operation of five employees where they make their own mulch and sell it in bulk quantities.  Besides their homegrown plants they offer trees, shrubs and perennials from tristate sources.  At Christmas time they create their own wreaths, holidays floral araingments, and sell poinsettias.  In addition, they offer landscaping services (except lawn care).  They practice considerable recycling techniques including heating the greenhouses with downed tree firewood and composting tree waste for mulch.  Carl and his family have been a valuable asset to our Town.

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Petersen Landscaping (Landscape Design and Mature Tree Supply)- 1201 Route 311, Patterson, NY (845) 878-6186 (Petersenlandscaping.net) Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 9am – 6pm Spring thru Fall, call for winter hours

Carl’s cousin, Gunner Petersen operates this truly unique mature tree nursery in the region.  It began in 1958 by Gunner’s farther Greg Petersen. Set on 10 acres next to Petersen’s Patterson Greenhouses, this nursery holds a great selection of large and mature tree species for the collector and novice alike.  Gunner is a Cornell graduate with a degree as a Landscape Architect and a voice that should be used in commercials.  He spends much of the off season collecting large trees from all over the US to be transplanted back at the nursery.  He is interested in noteworthy trees of any species and will be happy to hear from people who may wish to sell the tree instead of cutting it down. Gunner will evaluate it and make an offer if it meets his criteria. Trees live a long time and it takes a long time for some of these trees to reach the sizes they are grown here.  Nothing says “instant gratification” when you get one of his trees on your property.  Gunner will help you design your landscape plan and select the right tree for the right spot.  He cares about his clients.  His motto is “Our service doesn’t end with the planting”