The Carle Place Garden Center is bursting with flowers this spring. The small business on Westbury Ave. attracts both residents and neighbors from nearby communities for their variety of annuals and perennials that are treated with care.
“I’ve been shopping here for years. When you buy plants here they stay,” said Linda Wawrzonek, from Mineola. “This place has been around for a long time. The workers here are so caring and knowledgeable.”
The extra time spent on the plants at the center is why Westbury resident Cathy Sclafani, an employee, believes the flowers are so healthy and perky.
“We give our plants extra TLC, and that is why they are the way they are,” said Sclafani. “I love gardening, I love being around plants and I love sharing my enthusiasm of gardening with others. It’s a wonderful environment to be in.”
Being a part of a beautiful community for nearly 17 years is why the store owner, Maria Festa, 44, loves her job so much.
“I love the community. I love how supportive they are and how familiar they are to us,” said Festa. “This community is filled with compliments and people who love flowers.”
Growing up in a family of gardeners and plant lovers, it is obvious why Festa has a green thumb.
“This was always a family business since my mom came to this country from Europe. She was a farmer there. I was bottle fed into this business, and I chose to continue the legacy,” Festa said. “I was born into this type of work and I absolutely love it.”Supporting local farmers is very important to Festa and the employees at the gardening center. “We buy locally, and we support our local farmers in the east end. There is only one farmer from New Jersey that we buy from. It is nice to support Long Island farmers,” Festa said.
Over the years, the garden center has transformed and expanded. One area that has expanded from last year is the tropical plant section. Filled with vibrantly colored hibiscus flowers and even sprouting pineapple plants, the section has a variety that can add a unique touch to a garden.
After the spring and summer plants are sold, the seasonal garden center closes in July and August.
“I like to spend some time with my family,” Festa explained, “When we open again in September, we are greeted by happy customers who are looking to add some color to their garden during a different season.”
For more information, call the Garden Center at 516-338-4599.
