Share: 

Southern Delaware Boasts A Bevy of Fantastic Locally Owned and Operated Garden Centers

March 23, 2018

After several months living predominately indoors due to the cold weather, looking forward to warmer temperatures is something most of us can't help but do. 

And what's one of the first things we like to do once the Spring-like temperatures finally break? We like to get outside and work in our yards.

You could say it's an annual rite of Spring, and one many in Delaware's coastal region look forward to.

We want to plant those gardens, spread that mulch, brighten up that yard with flowers - heck, after so much time inside, even cutting the grass seems like a good way to spend the afternoon.

And that's where our local garden centers come in, most of which are family owned and operated. They specialize in whatever we want and/or need to make our home's outdoor areas spring back to life.

Today, we're going to tell you about some of our favorite such establishments here in the coastal region. Now, we're not including the so-called "big box stores" like Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart, but will instead focus on smaller shops that have achieved quite the local following over the years.

These are places where one-on-one customer service is still practiced on a regular basis, and you can get the much-needed help you need to make that yard as beautiful as you want it to be.

So, let's have a look then. In no particular order, here are some of our favorite garden centers that are located in the region:

East Coast Garden Center (Millsboro)

Located in the Oak Orchard area, East Coast Garden Center is one of the largest such establishments on Delmarva, featuring more than 70 greenhouses, a house plant showroom, an enrichment center, a children's garden area, and much more.

It's locally owned by the Cordrey Family and boasts a variety of trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, perennials, tropicals and many more varieties of plants.

East Garden Garden Center was also given the "Best Large Landscape" award by the Delaware Nursery Landscape Association three different times, in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

The business is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's located at 30366 Cordrey Road, but you may want to call 302-945-3489 for directions if you don't have a GPS system in your car. It can be a bit tricky to find, if you haven't been there before.

Learn more at www.eastcoastgardencenter.com.

Wharton's Garden Center (Rehoboth Beach)

Located in the "Nation's Summer Capital" of Rehoboth Beach, Wharton's Garden Center features a full-service garden center and a gift shop offering several unique items.

Among the offerings at Wharton's are a wide variety of plants, various pottery selections, garden accessories, local honey, lawn ornaments, mulch  and Amish-recipe pies and pot pies.

Wharton's Garden Center is located at 35557 Airport Road in Rehoboth Beach. Their business hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the garden center is closed on Sundays.

For more information, call 302-278-7041, email info@whartonsde.com or visit the company's website at www.whartonsde.com.

Inland Bays Garden Center (Frankford)

Located just two miles from Bethany Beach, Inland Bays Garden Center is as much about education and the environment as it is plants and landscaping.

Featuring a wide selection of native and beneficial plants, the owners and employees of the garden center are very conscious about the health of Delaware's inland bays and work to share those ideas through education and giving back to the community.

Owned by Cheryl Rehrig and Denise Hoeksema, Inland Bays Garden Center is located at 38320 Muddy Neck Road, just a short drive from Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and Ocean View.

Business hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the center is closed on Sundays.

Call 302-539-1839, email info@inlandbaysgardencenter.com or visit www.inlandbaysgardencenter.com for more information.

What other garden centers made our list? Find out here...

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter