What makes your local garden center feel so special? Don’t you notice that there’s something magical about them? It’s kinda shocking how little we understand as consumers about all the effort that goes into getting plants to us and onto our windowsills. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes at the Garden Center that we don't know about. That's why I'm committed to having more people on this podcast to peel back the curtain of the horticulture industry and help us better understand how our plants get to us.

I'm excited to share my conversation with Jessie Jacobson of Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Jessie is an example of what a passionate multi-generational family business can look like.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:38] What is the story behind Tonkadale Greenhouse?
• [08:37] Growing vs selling plants
• [12:03] How does the business keep up with modern times?
• [14:01] What are the mission, vision, and core values of Tonkadale?
• [15:27] Gift peace and joy this season with Wind River Chimes!
• [17:05] Give your houseplants the organic love they deserve with Espoma!
• [20:34] What does Jessie’s day look like as a garden center owner?
• [23:33] Ordering and planning in gardening
• [25:08] Why you should always visit an independent garden center
• [26:26] Seasonal revenue + challenges
• [30:25] Be a better low-maintenance plant parent with Crescent Garden TrueDrop Self-Watering Planters!
• [32:37] What keeps Jessie motivated? (aka the joy of gardening)
• [36:26] What advice can Jessie give to aspiring garden center owners?
• [41:20] What’s next for Tonkadale Greenhouse?
• [44:05] Where can you find Tonkadale on social media and onsite?

 

 

Order my book!

Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,

so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!

 

The Tonkadale Story

Tonkadale has been around since 1947, and Jessie is the third generation to run this amazing greenhouse. It was started in the late ‘40s and was basically like a farm field when people were homesteading in the area.

In 1978, Jessie's grandfather purchased the business. Fast forward to the late ‘90s, they rebuilt Tonkadale as a modern greenhouse facility. Jessie came on the scene after college, having studied horticulture biology at the University of Wisconsin. She worked in every area and capacity since then. In April 2016, she purchased the business from her grandparents.

The Day-to-Day of a Garden Center Owner

Jessie’s finally nailed the weekly routine, starting her day with coffee at her desk, getting through emails, and planning out the day. She does some media work, blog writing, and is supposed to be visioning and thinking about the future.

Jessie usually does a workout around eight each morning—weight training, boxing, or a walk with her husband. Then it's meetings in the morning and afternoons are usually free for projects. During the busier seasons, she likes to be out on the floor as much as possible.

One of her favorite things to do is merchandising and media—those are the “two Ms” that are the most fun for her. But there's also what she calls “office jail”—the administrative drudgery that comes with running a business.

The Rhythm of the Seasons

Apparently, there’s a seasonality of running a garden center. Did you know that in the Upper Midwest, garden centers make 35% of their annual revenue in May alone?

This brings a whole new level of stress and excitement to the business. What if one rainy May came that could potentially impact a third of your yearly income? Not to mention these are perishable goods! It really made me appreciate people like Jessie who work so hard to bring us the plants we love.

Tonkadale as “Grower-Retailer”

At Tonkadale, they’re what’s called a “grower-retailer”—they grow some of their plants in-house and also source others from different vendors to provide a wide selection to their customers.

This is why shopping at your local independent garden center is so important, plant friends! These people know your specific gardening zone, they understand what will grow in your area, and they're growing plants that are already acclimated to your local conditions. It’s very different from other big box stores that might be shipping plants across the country.

The People Behind the Plants

Jessie said that the people who work in garden centers are often creative types—musicians, artists, painters – who are drawn to the kinetic movement and artistic expression of working with plants. It made me think about how interacting with plants all day must impact their nervous systems in such a positive way. No wonder garden center staff always seem so cool and balanced.

Challenges and Joys

Running an IGC isn't all sunshine and roses (though there's plenty of those too!). Jessie shared some of the challenges, like managing the stress of seasonal fluctuations and dealing with unexpected situations, like their territorial greenhouse cat named Boots who had a habit of attacking small dogs.

But the joys far outweigh the challenges. There’s a satisfaction of adding value to people's lives, of creating beauty and joy in the community. Jessie loves hearing stories from her employees about the connections they make with regular customers, or seeing pictures of how someone's garden turned out based on their advice.

Looking to the Future

There's a growing interest in native plants and creating habitats for beneficial insects, birds, and pollinators. She's also excited about the potential for technology to make gardening more accessible and less overwhelming for newcomers. As someone who started as a plant killer myself, I'm all for anything that helps more people discover the joy of plants!

This conversation with Jessie made me appreciate even more the hard work and passion that people like her do. And if you're ever in the Minnetonka area, do yourself a favor and stop by Tonkadale Greenhouse.

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• What's Your Plant Parent Personality?
• Tonkadale Greenhouse

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

If you want thriving houseplants, set them up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mixes and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

Crescent Garden

Grow plants and veggies the low-maintenance way with Crescent Garden TruDrop self-watering planters! For 25 years, Crescent Garden has been a beacon of blending beauty and function. Their TruDrop planters are sleek, lightweight, easy to plant up, and effortless to maintain, with a smart patented water level indicator for foolproof watering. Plus, they come in various shapes, sizes, and chic colors to match any home aesthetic, all while saving water and fertilizer usage. With my recent move, it's the most ideal planter to help my plants adjust to the new climate!

For a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.

 

 

Follow Jessie:

Website
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube

 

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria