Area nurseries flourish amid challenges

MOSES LAKE — In the heart of the Columbia Basin, two local nurseries, Blue Rouge Garden & Nursery and Seed Cupboard Nursery, are carving out their niche in the competitive marketplace, offering unique plants, tailored services and an engaging atmosphere for gardening enthusiasts. 

Founded by Kimberly Ries Ashley in 2021, Blue Rouge Garden & Nursery has quickly established itself as a distinctive venue where customers can enjoy a drink amid blooming flora.  

"We have more of a venue setting, so you can have a beer and find a nice place to sit in the garden and enjoy your beer,” Ashley said.  

This hospitality has contributed to a lively atmosphere that differentiates her nursery from larger, box-chain competitors.  

Despite facing slower economic conditions this year, Ashley remains optimistic. 

“At first, when you're new, it's exciting. There’s a lot of activities. We had a lot of classes,” she said. “Now, we are slowing down and building up our customer base and figuring out what is best for the business. We want to stay here and continue making people fall in love with plants.”  

According to Ashley, customer connection is crucial to the nursery’s success, and she said it’s important to provide personalized experiences. 

“We want to help them. We want them to succeed. We want the plant to come back,” she said. “Depending on how experienced someone is, we are going to accommodate them. If someone is just looking for a pretty perennial that is low maintenance, we have that. If someone is looking for a challenge that will pay off after careful work, we have some of those too.”  

In terms of sourcing, Ashley carefully selects plants tailored to the local environment. She explained that several microclimates in the Columbia Basin allow different plants to thrive.  

“When people are buying my plants, we go over where they are putting them, where they live, the sun, the wind, all of it,” she said. “I don’t want to send someone home with a plant that won’t work for the space they have.”  

Ashley has to buy all of her plants in small lots; however, they are smaller orders than what box stores can purchase.  

“I have to buy my plants when they arrive,” she said. “If a distributor doesn’t live up to my standards, I won't buy from them again.”   

However, she believes her approach yields higher-quality products.  

“I think I have higher quality and different, more unique plants…more tailored to our growing area,” she said.  

Similarly, Seed Cupboard Nursery, owned by Lisa Villegas and in business since 2010, emphasizes education and sustainability in its operations.  

Villegas describes their mission as not just providing plants but also educating customers about caring for specific soil types in the region.  

“Our goal is to not only provide healthy and unique plants for people, but to also provide them with education and knowledge,” Villegas said. 

To engage customers, Seed Cupboard Nursery offers a variety of workshops and consultations, empowering gardeners to make informed decisions.  

“We encourage people to bring in their pictures, drawings...and make plans for people throughout the Columbia Basin,” she said.  

This hands-on assistance helps customers feel invested and informed about their gardening choices, Villegas explained.  

When it comes to sourcing plants, Villegas works with an extensive network of suppliers.  

“We’re a member of a nursery buying club...that helps us reach out to lots of different suppliers, as well as attending different green shows,” she said.  

She said her commitment to quality ensures that customers receive well-cared-for plants.  

“The most important thing is, we want to bring in healthy plants that are consistently healthy,” she said. 

Additionally, sustainability plays a significant role in Seed Cupboard Nursery’s operations.  

“We encourage our customers to bring back their larger containers,” Villegas noted.  

The nursery reuses these pots, minimizing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices.  

Consistent attention to plant health is also paramount, she said.   

“We look at the plants every day, and we see them every day," Villegas said. “Even on the Fourth of July, we are here, caring for the plants, watering them by hand and making sure they don’t have pests or damage.”  

While both nurseries aim to provide a personalized experience, they also face unique challenges. Ashley identified competition with big-box retailers as a hurdle. 

“It's hard; we don't have the buying power they have.” Ashley said.  

Villegas noted a similar sentiment about reaching customers. 

“Our biggest challenge...is getting the word out that we're here,” Villegas said.  

However, both agreed that buying locally allows for a more customizable experience. 

“We aren’t just trying to make money. We are trying to get people to fall in love with these live plants,” Villegas said. “They are beautiful but if you don’t have someone helping you, just walk into the store and pick the first pretty plant you find, they probably won’t thrive.”  

Nonetheless, both owners are determined to adapt and thrive. Blue Rouge has introduced classes in the past, such as dahlia workshops and lavender harvesting sessions, while Seed Cupboard plans to host a “Hydrangea 101” class in a couple of weeks to educate new gardeners. 

“I get excited when I find somebody who gets as excited about plants as me,” Ashley said. “I love infecting people with the plant bug.”