Nature is slowly waking up in Northwest Montana, but staff at Plant Land have been preparing for months to meet the annual springtime rush.
Heated greenhouses at the Evergreen garden center are filled with pottery, annuals, houseplants and some early season vegetables like onions, lettuces and herbs.
It’s sort of the calm before the storm, as Plant Land staff typically plan to be busiest right before and during the planting season, which lasts somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Because of the mild winter and warmer temperatures in March, people are more eager than ever to start gardening.
“We have more people coming in and more phone calls wondering if we have stuff yet, even though it’s a bit early … But because the weather’s been so nice for so long, people are just anxious to start sooner, even if the grounds not warm enough, they have the itch to plant,” said Manager Michelle Balding.
Balding’s father started Plant Land 40 years ago. What began as a hobby has blossomed into a business that’s one of the top garden centers in the area, winning best nursery and garden supply store in Best of Flathead for 2024 and 2025.
They’re set to celebrate their anniversary in May, but not before the typical springtime prep.
Most of the planting takes place at a farm, which is near Glacier Park International Airport, near Trumbull Creek. Josh Clarke oversees much of the planting operation at the farm.
Seeding for annuals and vegetables that they will plant themselves starts in mid-January. Green houses get warmed up in February and planting begins in March. Balding said in addition to planting what is grown in-house, they also order some plugs that are shipped in from growers.
“The only thing we bring in is trees, shrubs and some perennials. But most everything else, like all the annuals, the vegetables, the herbs and the four-inch perennials we grow ourselves,” she said.
And compared to years past, the garden center doesn’t really have downtime. Balding said they are always thinking weeks and months ahead, with each season having something that keeps people coming in.
“Right before fall, we have house plant season — we bring in almost a full semitruck load of house plants out of southern Florida to fill the greenhouses. Fall is pansies, kale and cabbage. For Christmas, we have wreaths, poinsettias, garland and loose boughs. We have a huge selection of ornaments, holiday decor, centerpieces — and we decorate all of the wreaths here ourselves,” Balding said.
Although the typical growing season in Northwest Montana starts around Memorial Day, it is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Balding said this year is particularly crazy with little snow in the valley and more rain than usual.
Warmer-than-average temperatures are predicted for the next three months, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula. So, Balding said she doesn’t know what to expect this season.
“In February, customers were calling going, ‘What do I do? The buds on my trees are swelling, my roses are starting to bud.’ And unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can do about it. We just kind of have to wait and see when things really start to flower and come into bloom. It’ll be interesting to see,” Balding said.
In addition to the typical selection, they’ve also been fostering a custom container program for several years. Customers can come in and tell staff what they’d like for plants and pots, then return to perfectly planted flowers that are ready to be hung up on their porch all season.
Balding loves the day-to-day happenings in the garden center. She knew as early as 10 years old that she wanted to be part of the family business. Recently, her own son has also become interested in helping out around the greenhouses.
“The legacy of continuing what my father did, the gardening, has always been in my blood since I was little. And I’ve loved every minute of it, even the chaos and the craziness that happens,” Balding said.
For more information about Plant Land, visit plant-land.com.
Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
Zion Apricot Sun Osteospermum starter flowers take root at Plant Land in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 24. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider 
Cailey Anderson tends to a table full of New Guinea impatiens at Plant Land in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 24. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider 
Seashell cosmos starters take root at Plant Land in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 24. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider 
Osticade Twilight Moon starters take root at Plant Land in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 24. (Casey Kreider/Daily inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
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