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A Visit To A Local Independent Garden Center

Pictures of Grey Goose Farm in Laytonsville, Maryland
Grey Goose Farm Laytonsville, Maryland

Grey Goose Farm: A Visit To A Local Garden Center

Yesterday I finally did it! I went to visit Grey Goose Farm in Laytonsville, MD. As with most of you, I have stuck pretty much close to home, but now that I am fully vaccinated, I decided it was time to explore all the different local independent garden centers I keep telling you to check out.

I met the owners, Donnie & Stacey Whitmeyer, a few years ago at a conference for garden center owners and was very impressed with them and what they had built with their garden center. You can look on their website and read about their story, but they are such a great couple, and you can tell right away that they love what they do. They love it so much that they just told me they would be opening up a new garden center outside of Damascus, MD, where the old Cedar Grove Nursery uses to be.

Look Who I Found At Grey Goose Farm

Walking around their garden center, I found Randy Dorman! Randy worked as our garden pharmacy manager in Beltsville and was my go-to guy for all things lawn and garden. He was terrific in figuring out what you needed for your plants, plus he has so much knowledge. And best of all, Randy is one of the happiest people I know. You can pretty much ask Randy anything and he will have an answer, if not, he will find it for you.

The Same Yet Different

Grey Goose is a little different than Behnke’s as they focus more on everything you need for landscaping, along with plants. They work with most of the landscapers in the area so chances are if you hire a landscaper they just might have purchased their supplies from Grey Goose Farm. I noticed that they had a large selection of mature trees, all B & B (balled and burlaped).

I know that many of our customers were a little disappointed when they came to our garden center and found that we did not sell pavers and bulk mulch, so for you guys, you need to check this place out. Speaking of mulch love that on their website; they have a Mulch Calculator! Boy, did I need that at Behnke’s! You can put your information in, and if you do not know the square footage of the area you need to mulch, they have a calculator to figure that also! It then breaks it down to how many bags you need, or cubic feet or yards to even a truckload.

When I got there, they were unloading their first crop of vegetable plants that they had contract grown just for them by a local farm. With the warmer weather finally showing up, now is the time to pick out which vegetables you want to have. Randy told me that their annuals should be arriving this week also so I know I will be going back. I live further West than most of you so I have to wait just a little longer before I am comfortable in putting out our annuals.

There were some tables full of nice perennials, and their ornamental shrubs and evergreens were right out in front of the main selling area. Displayed all around you will find a nice assortment of pottery and deck furniture. Plus! They have many different fountains and fire pits.

I hope you take time to drive out to see Grey Goose Farm this season, and while you are there, stop and say hello to Randy!

Randy Dorman

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. I’m so glad you “discovered” Grey Goose Farm. I’ve been going to them since Don Sr & the dog operated out of the back room. They’re my “go to” for mulch, plants, fertilizer, landscape rocks (which they kindly put into smaller bags that I can carry), even a fountain. Now I know Randy’s name, he’s been super to load mulch bags in my trunk in a certain direction!

    1. Hi! Just so this comment, and I wanted to say thanks so much for letting us know how much you enjoy shopping at The Grey Goose! I thought it was a wonderful garden center.

  2. Stephanie,
    Thanks so much for sharing and continuing to keep memories of Behnke’s alive. I hope you know that we local plant lovers often mention how much we miss Behnke’s. I especially miss the wonderful selection of plants and knowledgeable staff. Maybe I’ll take a trip to Laytonsvile. Nurseries can be so inspirational.

    Currently, I am researching how to help my Mountain Laurels that seem to be struggling and have spots on the leaves. The orange azalea I planted for my mother 30+ years ago had few blooms last year and no buds, now. Few nurseries sell orange azaleas so I will look on internet
    for info.
    Really miss Behnke’s.
    Linda

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