Country Blooms Greenhouse nurtures plants, persistence

When Janesville area resident Amber Ewert learned Mankato’s Hilltop Florist was putting a greenhouse up for auction in 2015 she was delighted. “I always thought it would be fulfilling to grow things for a living,” she remembers.

Many elements were already well placed for following that dream. She and husband Scott owned a piece of country property with a house, barn, and plenty of open space–the former Lenny Erdman place–along one of Waseca County’s busier roads, County Road 3, going north and south between Janesville and Waldorf.

The easy-access location about 5 miles south of Janesville seemed ideal for the large structure and necessary parking to operate a business. Sales will begin there on Saturday, May 3. Hours of operation will be  Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.

Though it took a few years, the 100-foot by 30-foot structure was reassembled and covered with the specially fabricated plastic which encloses the space within. Since the greenhouse became operational in 2022, various upgrades and additions have taken place, including adding side vents which open automatically when the temperature inside becomes too warm.

Ewert admits with a smile that, aside from her love of plants and gardening, she had few qualifications to be the owner and manager of a greenhouse. Fortunately, she says, she’s found advisors and supporters who have provided guidance.

For one, she tells of having visited numerous other greenhouses and asked questions about their operations. She found they were “friendly and willing to share.” Based on their advice, she connected with wholesale suppliers who not only help her find the best possible pricing for items she needs, but act as a clearing house for trends and typical practices as well.

The greenhouse has been a very busy place since early March, when some of the first “plugs” arrived. Ewert explains it is typical practice for retailers like herself to purchase plants as just-emerging seedlings rooted in disks of growth medium. The plugs are then transplanted into appropriately sized containers of potting soil.

The arrival of the spring order is an “all hands on deck” call: Ewert’s children Kendra, 9; Nathan, 8; and Lydia, 6, spend time filling the 1,500 to 2,000 needed pots with soil. Adult family members and helpers including husband Scott, mother-in-law Linda Ewert, mother Gail Bianchi, employee Marlene Johnson and volunteer Teresa Suek insert the plugs and arrange the pots in the greenhouse not only to be watered and cared for over the next couple of months, but for best display once sales begin.

Ewert visits the greenhouse daily to water and check on the plants as the days lengthen and the weather grows warmer. Her children also visit again to prune plants, a process which encourages them to become bushier prior to sales season. “They like that part,” says Ewert. “They call it giving the plants ‘haircuts.’”

“It brings me satisfaction and joy being in here,” she says of the bright space filled with color and vibrance. “Plants are good company.”

Ewert mentions that alongside the fulfilling elements of operating the greenhouse–working with family, making choices and decisions which bring personal satisfaction and also please customers, growing plants while also growing and improving the business–there are definite challenges.

“I love the greenhouse so much I’m willing to keep rebuilding it,” she says lightheartedly. Twice since she began operations, Ewert describes having to “rebuild” the greenhouse. 

“The whole thing is so light,” she says of the structure, “in a strong wind it could just lift up and fly away like a kite.” Because of that, airflow through the greenhouse must be carefully monitored. While ventilation is needed to keep the temperature from becoming harmfully high, having the vents open in a strong wind could lead to disaster–and has, at least once.

To help protect against that, Ewert installed a system which triggers closing the vents when the wind reaches a selected speed.

But then there are the things no set of precautions can protect against: Last June’s storms which spawned 11 tornadoes also made it necessary for her to replace the special plastic. “It’s part of doing business, I suppose,” Ewert observes.

Customers who visit Country Blooms will find what Ewert describes as a “all the favorites” for their gardens, flowerbeds and containers.

She says she offers bougainvillea because the plants come in such varied colors, drape beautifully in hanging pots, and “because they’re Scott’s favorite.” There are also “a lot of colors of petunias,” and “choices for different conditions,” including impatiens, lantana, verbena, geraniums and sweet potato ivy.

For the vegetable garden are tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, onions, rhubarb. Herbs available include chives, rosemary, oregano, and more. 

Country Blooms will operate daily through the first weekend in June, when most gardeners are finished buying plants and instead busily caring for their gardens.

“Everything here is in good shape, ready to go,” Ewert says of her products. “We’re really looking forward to May 3.”