SINGERS GLEN — In a remote corner of Singers Glen, a small, family-run business is growing new blooms to brighten up gardens just in time for spring.
Spring Gardens Greenhouses has been in operation for almost 30 years and was started by Joan Simmons, the greenhouse’s owner, and her husband. The pair opens annually from April 1 through the end of May. The shop opened its doors for 2026 on Wednesday, with still-growing plants like herbs, vegetables and flowers, most of which were grown by Simmons and her family, ready and waiting to be brought to their new homes.
“We do a full line in the Spring,” Simmons said. “Vegetables, hanging baskets, flowers. Just a full line of the basic Spring crops.”
With everything but some herbs and succulents raised from seeds or cuttings that Simmons said were planted in January, the small operation is kept running by a small team of friends and family. On Thursday, Simmons’ daughter, Julie Showalter, was working with friends Faith Smith and Julia Wenger to get some small banana pepper plants ready to sell.
While many of the plants at Spring Gardens are small now, Simmons said they would keep growing over the next few weeks and get even bigger once they are planted.
“My goal is to have a plant that is still growing, going into the garden,” Simmons explained. “While you’re not walking in here right now and seeing plants in full bloom and so big, then they’re root-bound. When you put them in your garden, it almost stunts them a bit. I try to produce a plant that is just right to set out and continue to grow.”
Simmons, who grew up in greenhouses operated by her parents, said she believed the operation would help her family bring in more money. While all the work was originally done in the greenhouses, her husband later assembled a team of friends from their church and moved an old house up the hill to the property. Now, the old building is attached to a greenhouse, providing Simmons and her employees with a less exposed place to work.
However, the greenhouse’s remote location has slowed the business’s growth for much of its lifetime, and spreading word has been difficult, Simmons explained.
“Because we’re very remote, it’s taken us years to build that retail clientele,” Simmons said. “Every year, somebody comes in who lives close and says, ‘I just heard about you!’ The retail really picked up when we hit that 25-year mark.”
As time goes on, Simmons said she has seen more invasive pests introduced, which can feed on garden plants. But those pale in comparison to the damage some native animals can cause, she added.
“My customers’ latest, biggest complaint is deer,” Simmons said. “The deer population has increased so much in our area, and in places where you wouldn’t even think about having deer. What can I do about the deer? Deer-resistant plants are probably the biggest question.”
For the moment, Simmons said she plans to stick with the formula that’s brought her this far and get a little more help from her family.
“I don’t see anything new in the future, as far as plant growing,” Simmons said. “Integrating one of my daughters to help with management is what I’m hopeful for. Getting some management help is in the future.”
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