Groovy Plants Ranch re-opened last Friday with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house. They celebrated with live blue grass music, refreshments and plant raffles. Chamber members and customers were wowed with the huge display of colorful annuals, hanging planters and herbs of every kind.
In the past two years owners, Jared and Liz Hughes have grown the size of the business with a large selection of vegetables, herbs, perennials, succulents annuals and many rare plants. They have added two greenhouse Quonset huts for seedlings and to keep a comfortable climate for succulents and desert plants.
Jared, a Cardington High School grad, is developing a hybrid begonia called the “Canary Wings Begonia.” He hopes to patent the plant, which he calls the “world’s first angel wing begonia.” He can help you get started with a pollinator garden, rare plant or succulents.
Liz is from the Canton, Ohio area and a Malone University graduate, where she majored in art education. During the school year she teaches at Millennium School in Columbus. She also teaches painting and ceramics classes in the renovated, one-room schoolhouse on the property. The school was built in 1869 and is known as the Page Town School.
Both Jared and Liz are available to teach or visit groups, garden clubs and classrooms. LeAnne Gompf said that she gave her grandchildren gift certificates to Liz’s art class this winter. She said it’s a great gift and one that you can give and enjoy experiencing with children.
Jared said the Groovy Plant Ranch isn’t like “the big box stores.”
“We’re a local resource for plants. When you get information here, you’re getting it from the person who grows the plants,” Jared said.
Groovy Plants Ranch is at 4140 Co. Rd. 15, Marengo. Going south on St. Rt. 61 it is the first crossroad after the Fargo sign. Their hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon. – Fri., Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The website is GroovyPlantsRanch.com
