CARSON, N.D. — Heart River Garden Co celebrated the opening of its first greenhouse Saturday, May 9, at the Skretteberg family farm north of Carson, offering a wide variety of plants and gardening products tailored to
North Dakota growers
.
Located at 5920 54th Ave. SW, about 10 miles north of Carson, the greenhouse is owned and operated by longtime gardener Taylor Skretteberg. The greenhouse carries annuals, vegetables, herbs, perennials, native plants, hanging baskets and
locally grown seeds
.
Colorful flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets fill the greenhouse at Heart River Garden Co north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Skretteberg said one of the greenhouse’s major focuses is offering plants native to North Dakota, which she said are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners interested in supporting local ecosystems and pollinators.
“Gardeners are getting more interested in growing things that are already native to our area to support all of the wildlife, rather than other plants that are native to other countries,” Skretteberg said. “The butterfly population is kind of declining and there’s a lot of different bug species and things like that are becoming endangered.”
In addition to native plants, Skretteberg also emphasizes locally and regionally sourced seeds. She said plants adapted to North Dakota’s climate generally perform better than varieties grown in warmer states such as California.
Locally and regionally sourced seed packets are displayed at Heart River Garden Co north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
The greenhouse also offers a selection of medicinal herbs and plants, which Skretteberg said have attracted growing interest from customers. Among the offerings are mullein, valerian, mugwort, feverfew and roselle hibiscus.
According to Skretteberg, mullein is one of the more popular medicinal plants because of its traditional use in treating colds, coughs and mucus buildup.
Medicinal herbs and native plants, including mullein and lemon balm, are displayed at Heart River Garden Co north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“Mullein is really popular for cold and flu,” she said. “You can steep the leaves in either vegetable glycerin and vodka to make the tincture and you can take that when you’re sick.”
She also highlighted holy basil as one of her personal favorite herbs because of its versatility and popularity in herbal teas.
“This is a really powerful basil,” Skretteberg said. “This is like an adaptogen, so it can help you with anything. It can help with your anxiety, sleep issues or stress, basically whatever your body needs.”
A holy basil plant is displayed at Heart River Garden Co north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Vegetable gardening is another major part of the greenhouse’s offerings. Skretteberg grows several tomato varieties developed by
North Dakota State University
specifically for the region’s climate, including Bison, Cannonball, Sheyenne and Dakota Sport tomatoes.
“These were all created by NDSU out in Fargo and they were developed specifically for North Dakota and our climate,” she said. “I have a lot of those growing here because they’ll just grow better in North Dakota than other tomatoes.”
Skretteberg said the greenhouse also carries North Dakota heirloom tomatoes, which she described as one of the greenhouse’s bestselling products because they are difficult to find at larger garden centers. Seasonal vegetables currently available include tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, along with annual flowers such as petunias, daisies and verbena.
The greenhouse marks a new chapter for Skretteberg, who has years of gardening experience dating back to her time working at a Lowe’s garden center while attending college in Fargo. She said the experience helped her discover a passion for growing plants and gardening.
Taylor Skretteberg holds a holy basil plant inside the Heart River Garden Co greenhouse north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“I love watching something go from a little seed or plug into something huge,” Skretteberg said. “I love planting a seed, growing a big tomato plant and having a basket full of fresh tomatoes to eat. Nothing tastes as good as home-grown tomatoes.”
Looking ahead, Skretteberg plans to continue expanding the greenhouse operation. She is currently developing a flower field behind the greenhouse to provide locally grown cut flowers throughout the summer, along with a pumpkin patch planned for the fall season.
Hanging flower baskets are displayed inside the Heart River Garden Co greenhouse north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Skretteberg said community response has been positive, particularly because the greenhouse provides a local gardening option for residents in rural
Grant County
who otherwise would need to travel farther for plants and supplies.
“We’re pretty rural down here in Grant County, so they’re really excited that they don’t have to travel all the way to Dickinson or Bismarck to get flowers and vegetables,” she said.
Colorful flowers and flowering plants are displayed inside the Heart River Garden Co greenhouse north of Carson.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
She added that many residents are especially looking forward to the upcoming cut flower field and the opportunity to purchase locally grown flowers throughout the summer months.
Heart River Garden Co is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time during the spring season, or by appointment.
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
As a professional writer with more than 10 years of experience, Kelly lives by these words. With a bachelor’s degree in communication, majoring in broadcasting and journalism, and a fiery passion for writing that began in childhood, she uses the power of words to make an impact in the community — informing, educating, and entertaining a wide range of audiences.
As a journalist, what Kelly loves most about her job is the ability to bring unique stories to the public and give people a voice that can be heard around the world. Whether through print or digital platforms, her goal is to share stories people enjoy reading while spreading valuable information that supports the welfare of southwest North Dakota and its people.
Comments are closed.