Top 5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Carefully curated for mom, here are

Garden Valley’s Top 5 mother’s day Gift Ideas

1. hanging baskets

With so many colors, textures, and light options, hanging baskets make the perfect gift for any mom. She’ll be looking at these every time she pulls up the driveway into her home, and, of course, will be reminded of how amazing of a child you are for gifting her these.

Some of our favorites…
For sun, we love the classic Petunia or Million Bell hanging baskets. The more sun, the better! All they need is an occasional dead heading to encourage new bloom growth. But don’t forget to water!
For shade, we love Fuscia! They thrive in those shady places that don’t receive any sun, and their unique blooms easily bring joy to the hearts of those who witness them.

You can read more here about keeping your hanging basket beautiful.

2. houseplants 

If you want your mom to enjoy a plant every second of every day… get her a houseplant. They’re easy to care for once you learn their needs, and make a great option for the mothers who don’t have a lot of outdoor space. Our staff at Garden Valley LOVE houseplants and would be happy to help guide you in picking out the perfect one.

3. pottery

Speaking of plants… Your mom is going to need something to put those gorgeous plants in. We hand select our pottery pieces every year, and they will make such a beautiful addition to your mom‘s home. Go ahead and get her the piece she’s been eyeing but not buying. She’ll love it, trust us.

4. Hibiscus

This year‘s hibiscus crop has been absolutely beautiful! They’re healthy, vibrant in color, and would make the perfect addition to your mom‘s summer plant collection! Plus, they thrive in warm, humid conditions, making them the perfect selection for North Carolina Summers.

5. a shopping spree

If you REALLY want to make your mom happy… treat mom to a yummy brunch/lunch, and then surprise her with a shopping spree to Garden Valley. We have so many gorgeous things at our stores that will put a huge smile on your mom’s face. But what really makes the moment special is the time spent together walking through the stores and having those easy, fun conversations. Because no matter what physical gift you get your mom, the memories and little moments like that… those are what she really wants.

*BONUS*

Gift certificate

We do offer gift certificates as well, so if you’re completely stuck on time, this is a great option! Maybe with this, she can finally buy that item she’s been saving up for!

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Thank you so much for joining us here. We offer a huge selection of pottery, plants, produce, and soil, making it a one stop shop for you this Mother’s Day! For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
With love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

The Perfect Southern Tomato Sandwich

German Johnson, Better Boy, Big Beef… there’s so many to choose from. And the best thing about tomato sandwiches is that there’s no correct way to make one. It’s literally the consumer’s preference, and each creation is just a good as the next.

Did you know that we carry juicy Better Boy tomatoes, and are soon to carry NC farmer grown German Johnson and Heirloom tomatoes. You can order online and pick up today! Don’t forget that we still have a good variety of tomato plants for you to grow yourself.

What makes the perfect tomato sandwich for you? For us, it’s a good slather of Duke’s mayonnaise on two slices of Sourdough bread from Sour Bakery (which you can pick up at Converge Coffee Bar & Cafe if you’re local to the Burlington, NC area). Add two juicy slices of a Better Boy tomato and one slice of a yellow tomato, salt and pepper to taste, and you have yourself a good ole’ southern tomato sandwich. Take it a step further by toasting your bread beforehand. And if you REALLY want to take it up a notch, add a few slices of fresh bacon, onion, and some shredded lettuce for a nice crunchy texture, full of juicy flavor.

Serve with a side of baked beans, fresh slaw, or potato chips, and you have yourself a good ole southern style meal that will forever be a summer classic to individuals and families alike for generations to come.

We want to know…

what’s your favorite way to make a tomato sandwich? Let us know in the comments below! Or you can share your sandwich creation with us by using #gardenvalleyfarmersmarket on our Facebook or Instagram! We can’t wait to see!

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Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

Our Top 10 Gifts for Mom

If you don’t know what to give Mom this year for Mother’s Day, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Even though it was very difficult to narrow down, we’ve put together

Garden Valley’s Top 10 Gift Ideas for Mom:

1. Million Bell Mixed Hanging Basket

These beauties are filled with vibrantly stunning colors that will leave the mother in your life absolutely SPEECHLESS! 

How to care for: Million bells like FULL SUN, so place in a sunny location. Water when hanging basket is light in weight. As a general rule: every other day during cooler days, and every day during the warmer days. To get rid of dead blooms- shake the hanging basket a few times and blooms should fall off. You can also trim the bottoms of the basket to encourage healthy new growth.  

2. Succulent 

With a variety of shapes and sizes, it might be hard to decide which one to get. They make the perfect addition to any covered, outdoor spot or any window that receives bright, indirect light. 

How to care for: They need about 6 hours of sun per day. If the succulent has never been in direct sun, gradually introduce it to full sun, or provide a sheer curtain to protect it from the harsh light. Water soil directly until water drains through the bottom of your pot. Make sure that your soil dries thoroughly before watering again. Too much water can send these plants spiraling down fast. Soil is also important for succulents, and you’re going to want to choose a Cactus mix, which we have available at all of our locations. 

Jenna Marie Visuals

3. Monstera

With show stopping, giant leaves and beautiful, big branches, these indoor plants are sure to leave her jaw dropping for DAYS. 

How to care for: Monstera needs bright to medium indirect light, and does not like intense, direct sun. Water once every week, and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. 

4. Herb Garden

Has the mom in your life been talking about how she wishes she had an herb garden? Well this would be the perfect time to pick out a large pot and grab a few herbs to fill it with. Fill with Rosemary, Parsley, Lavender, or any other herbs she might enjoy cooking with. If she needs to learn how to start her own herb garden, you can find more info here.

5. Overall Planters

Okay, how DARLING are these overall planters?! Not only will your mom love them, but they’ll make a great addition to that landscape that just needed “something interesting”. Grab her favorite flower to fill the planter, and this gift will for sure make your mom forget all the things you’ve ever done to disappoint her. 

6. Tea Roses

With a beautiful assortment of bloom colors, you will never go wrong with these stunning flowers. 

How to care for: Tea roses need plenty of sunlight, at least 6 hours per day. Water every week, sometimes more depending on your soil and if it’s in a pot or the ground. When watering, avoid getting blooms and leaves wet, as this can cause diseases. To prune old blooms, cut to the last leaf on the stem. Prune the entire plant during the dormant season, which is winter/late spring. 

7. Rieger Begonias

From creamy yellows, to vibrant pinks and reds, the blooms on Rieger Begonias are sure to leave Mom feeling happy and joyful this Mother’s Day.

How to care for: These begonias like a place with partial shade. If growing indoors, place in a spot that receives bright, indirect light. These begonias like well draining soil. Make sure that the soil dries well in-between waterings. 

8. Butterfly Bush

If you want Mom to feel super special this Mother’s Day, you’ll definitely want to consider the Butterfly Bush. And they hold true to their name, because these bushes will attract butterflies from all over your neighborhood! They bloom from Spring to Summer, but their ever-green foliage is beautiful even without the blooms.

How to care for: Butterfly bushes like full sun or part sun with well draining soil, so remember this when planting. When newly planted, make sure to water often until the roots have taken hold. After this step, water only when there are big dry spells between rain. 

9. Mixed Container

If you’re low on time and don’t know have a clue on what Mom would want, maybe take a look at our beautiful mixed containers. Absolutely no work for you, and you get to enjoy the beautiful mix of flowers and foliage all season long!

10. Garden Valley Gift Certificate

And if all else fails and you’re just completely stuck on what to give the mom in your life, a Garden Valley gift certificate is always a good option. Give her the gift of shopping at a beautiful store full of beautiful plants, and you can’t go wrong this Mother’s Day.

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Along with gorgeous flowers, we also offer a huge selection of pottery and soil, making it a
one stop shop for you this Mother’s Day!
Let us know what you got Mom this Mother’s Day by using

#gardenvalleyfarmersmarket

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NEW NEW NEw

We now have a new app that features a loyalty program to earn points for future purchases, as well as a to-go produce ordering feature that allows for easy ordering and pickup! Download today and start being inspired!

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

5 Reasons to Support Local

Whether you're wanting to add some color to the pots on your front porch steps, or wanting to plant those juicy tomatoes in your garden, there are many places you could buy these plants. But where is the best place to go? Sure, you could turn to your mass merchant store, but maybe this time, think more locally. If you have a local garden center, like Garden Valley Farmers Market, often times they offer a very wide variety of amazing plants/produce. So, without further ado, here are five reasons why we think you should support your local garden center:

1. Knowledge

Local garden centers, like Garden Valley Farmers Market, have a passion for all things gardening. Whether that's with the choices/varieties of colorful petunias that are hand picked by our owners, the fresh zucchini we just got in stock from our local farmers, or the tropical Hibiscus that's just perfect for North Carolina summer heat, knowing and learning what each plant’s needs are is very important to places like ours. Local garden centers tend to stay up to date on local weather and the specific climate zone they are located, which helps give you the accurate information that sets you up for a successful year. We can help you in deciding which flowers, shrubs, and vegetables to plant that will not only bloom, but thrive here in central North Carolina.

2. Quality

Quality is most important to us, and here’s why:

You get what you pay for. Local garden centers like Garden Valley invest in quality products, materials and supplies, which can sometimes be a bit more expensive for you, the consumer. But the phrase, "you get what you pay for", could not hold truer for us. There is much time and investment given to the plants and produce, including regular fertilizing of the plants and a constant pruning/dead-heading of the flowers in order to keep the plants healthy and at their prime.

Unique Selection. Local garden centers can also provide unique materials that would not normally be found at a mass merchant store. These items are hand picked by our owners in hopes that you will enjoy them just as much as they do.

Hint: It’s Not Consignment. Did you know that most local garden centers actually own the materials on the lot. It's bought and paid for, not purchased on consignment where it can be sent back if it doesn’t sell like in a lot of other bigger retail companies.

We want you, our neighbors, to succeed. Remembering that your success equals our success, is what makes the quality of the plants much higher at a local garden center. And it’s what makes our relationship with our community that much more important.

3. Customer Service

Shopping at local garden centers, like Garden Valley Market, can also mean that more personal attention is paid to the customer. Personal relationships are made and "regulars" become part of our gardening family. Locals can often provide the best tips and tricks as well, allowing us to learn more and share with our local customers. And we, at Garden Valley, LOVE the relationship and trust that is built between you and us.

4. Local Economy

Supporting local also means supporting your local economy. It's choosing to allow your funds to stay in your local community. And when you're purchasing your plants and produce from your local farmers market, you're purchasing and supporting your local farmers and growers in North Carolina too. We can't think of a better way to support your neighbors, friends and family.

5. Unique Community

One of the best parts of supporting local is something that you, the customer and consumer, can really enjoy. You get to keep a one-of-a-kind business, well, in business. And in return, you can experience the unique character that it brings to your local community. This can also increase your community’s tourist attraction, which means more money for your local economy. And, it's just plain FUN to go and get lost in the plants, get to know your gardeners, and enjoy the unique community that it brings to your life, and those around you.

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Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. We also offer free online produce ordering and pickup for NC locals! If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest.
We’d love to have you join us in our journey of
planting better,
eating better, and
living better.

Love, Garden Valley Farmers Market