“It’s like getting a Big Gulp at 7-Eleven!” joked Mike. “But when they go home, not only are they going to have a thick plant, but that plant is going to be healthy and do well, because we’ve given it room to grow and fed it, used the best soil and fertilizer…I even play music for our plants!”
As their greenhouses grew, so did other parts of their business, including landscaping and doing event-specific landscaping and flower arrangements. “This was a fall wedding Portia did,” said Mike, pointing to pictures of an outdoor wedding, which she designed with mums and fresh fall flowers. There was another picture of a wedding where she was asked to design a centerpiece bouquet in various vases, each having to be unique but to tie in.
“She’s the genius behind that, not me!” said Mike with a laugh. “I can grow them; she can arrange them in such a creative way.”
Inside the Market store were a variety of garden-related products as well as unique gifts, like their selection of pottery including garden pots and birdbaths, plus birdfeeders, garden-themed wall-hangings and tin garden art. They also carry an organic lotion line, seeds and 99-cent gift cards, which are rare anymore at that price. “We want this to be a one-stop shop for gardeners,” said Portia, as well as having some unique gifts that they might enjoy.
Mike’s Hothouse also grows for five local farms. “We have a strong local base of customers, and then we have those that come from the tip of New Jersey all the way to Cape Cod for our flowers, and especially our hanging baskets,” said Mike.
It’s a low-key, friendly environment at their nursery, with their two school-aged children helping out, as well as Portia’s parents. They are open every day of the week now, and you can learn more about them by stopping by or calling (845) 883-6868 or by visiting www.mikeshothouse.com.
