Memories from Minneapolis

This year’s Garden Center Conference & Expo featured tours at three Minneapolis-area garden centers. Tonkadale was founded in Minnetonka in 1947. Its original owner, Robert Anderson, started the business as a breeder of specialty African violets. Bill and Shirley Maruska purchased the expanding business in 1978, and their granddaughter, current owner Jessie Jacobson, purchased Tonkadale from them in 2016. Bachman’s was founded in 1885 and is now led by the fifth generation of family members. It operates six full-service floral, home and garden centers, as well as a nursery wholesale division, seven acres of greenhouses and a 670-acre growing range. Tangletown Gardens opened in a former gas station and transmission shop 20 years ago, with its owners specifically searching for an urban location for their garden business. Check out some of our favorite parts of each of these fantastic garden centers! — Emily Mills

1. Each Bachman’s location features its “Potting Bench,” with pre-planted grab-and-go designs or the option for custom designs from staff.

2. Bachman’s is big on providing its customers with inspiration to decorate their own homes. The company previously had Bachman’s Ideas House, a transformation of one of the historic Bachman family homes, but it was closed due to space limitations, and Bachman’s now features its ideas for customers on a multi-sided platform near the store entrance at Bachman’s flagship Lyndale location.

3. Bachman’s uses this space for small workshops. Visual merchandising is a big focus for Bachman’s, so staff made sure to incorporate its branding and greenery with the large “B” behind the bar. Bachman’s on Lyndale also features Patrick’s Bakery & Cafe.

4. Tangletown grows its plants locally using principles of sustainable agriculture in an effort to support local economies while reducing its carbon footprint. Tangletown also uses microscopic beneficial insects instead of chemicals to keep any potential pests at bay. 

5. Tangletown Gardens is in a very small space — only two city lots — but when its founders started it 20 years ago, they specifically wanted to be in an urban area in Minneapolis. Across the road from the garden center is Tangletown’s restaurant, Wise Acre, which features farm-fresh local food from its farm 45 minutes away. Tangletown also sells vegetables to the public through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. 

6. The 1939 building previously housed a gas station and a transmission shop. It’s now absolutely packed with plants.

7. The plant shop at Tonkadale. The garden center hosts a Potted Plant Show (this year, it was Sept. 9) for customers to showcase their plants, with staff choosing winners in categories including Smallest Plant, Largest Plant, Strangest Specimen and Best in Show. Winners receive a $50 Tonkadale gift card.

8. Tonkadale is located in a residential area, so although that means some restrictions on noise and lighting, it also means the garden center is very much a part of the neighborhood.

9. Along with selling a wide variety of plants, Tonkadale offers custom design services, horticulture expertise and delivery and set-up services in the Twin Cities area. There’s also an event space in the middle of the greenhouse.