Just two minutes by car from the busy corner of Blalock and Long Point Road in the Spring Branch Management District, you’ll find In The Garden, a paradise of sorts for those who, appropriately, like to spend time in the garden.
But you don’t have to be a master gardener to appreciate the eclectic charm of this longtime Spring Branch enterprise, an emporium focusing on specialty plants and architectural items for the garden but also a gift shop for anyone looking for something truly unique.
It’s hard not to “oooh” and “ahhh” over garden stakes painted as colorful mushrooms or sculptures fashioned out of rocks and colored glass to form hearts that glisten in the sun.
The experience starts in the area outside the front door. Your eyes move from plants to sculptures to ornamental features salvaged from elsewhere. Almost immediately, you are sure to be greeted by a happy and smiling face offering assistance, welcoming you to this mini-refuge in the city.
The happy helper might also offer you some egg nog or a Christmas cookie or both, as In The Garden celebrates its holiday open house that ends Saturday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. In addition to treats, nearly everything available at the store is 35 percent off that day — a great time to stock up on gifts and items for your own garden.
“This is a true sale,” said Suzan Galvan, who owns the place with her husband, Frank. The Galvans started the business in 1999 as an offshoot of a landscape company.
“During our 22 years, we have carved a niche for ourselves by specializing in customer education and paying attention to customer requests,” she said.
Customer input guides all inventory choices, she explained. “Customers have told us they wanted quality items and something (that’s not) what ‘everybody else has.’ ”
During the spring, In The Garden is, of course, teeming with plants, In fall/winter season, inventory moves toward gifts and garden ornaments. You will also find antique furniture and a wide variety of containers of all sizes, too.
Give yourself plenty of time to peruse the shelves inside the shop and the back garden filled with treasures. You might even find a place to sit and enjoy your egg nog among the beautiful items.
Go to InTheGardenHTX on Instagram for instructional videos from Galvan on a variety of topics.
“Tuesdays@2” is also available at the shop’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/InTheGardenHTX/. The latest video covered poinsettias.
The homey atmosphere at In The Garden matches Galvan’s view of Spring Branch.
“Spring Branch has a community atmosphere and the people reflect that,” she said. “I love Spring Branch.”
In The Garden
http://InTheGardenHouston.com
1405 Cedar Post Lane
Houston, TX 77055
713.932.7652
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
— Dorothy Puch Lillig
