An Inside Look at Sunnyside Gardens: A Year-Round Garden Center in Saratoga Springs, NY
Content sponsored by Sunnyside Gardens
Did you know that less than two miles west of downtown Saratoga Springs lies 20 greenhouses that are over 90% full of locally-grown plants? This is Sunnyside Gardens, the Capital Region’s premier garden center for everything from annuals and perennials to pumpkins, Christmas trees, and more. Visit them year-round for an amazing selection of plants and gardening supplies, family fun, and outstanding customer service!
Sowing the Seeds of Success
Owned and operated by the Chapman family since opening in 1982, Sunnyside Gardens has seen significant growth over the years. In fact, when the garden center started out, they mostly sold small potted houseplants out of their original two greenhouses.
After years of hard work and partnerships with local farms, the company's retail plant operation has become the largest in the area. Sunnyside carries over one million plants each year, most of which are grown right on site. Not only that, but as they are a family-based business with both longtime employees and customers, you can always come to their staff with all your gardening questions.
Interested in visiting? Get a preview of what they offer throughout the entire year, from spring and summer to fall and winter!
Fill Your Home Garden With Flowers & Veggies
If you'd love to brighten up your lawn during spring or summer, then take a trip to Sunnyside Gardens. The garden center is well known for growing high-quality plant products, and each one of their 20 greenhouses is open to the public to explore!
As soon as you drive up the road to Sunnyside, you'll discover a spectacular world of flowers and veggies both outdoors and indoors. The greenhouses are home to plenty of pretty perennials that can handle the Upstate NY environment, as well as amazing annuals. They are available in flowerbeds, hanging baskets, and pots too.
While you’re there, consider sprucing up your garden by purchasing some edibles. The veggie section at Sunnyside features dozens of plants, from tomatoes to eggplants, cucumbers, carrots, and over 30 different types of herbs that will transform your home garden into an edible one.
Create the Perfect Custom Container Garden
For those of you who live in an apartment, don’t own a lawn, or if you're just not ready to manage a full outdoor garden, Sunnyside has a solution for you - a container garden. Rather than have your plants living in the ground, a container garden means they will be safe inside pots or similar containers.
Container gardening is fun and convenient as it allows you to exercise your green thumb regardless of the amount of free space you may or may not have. In spring and summer, Sunnyside grows and sells a wide range of pre-planted flowers and veggies that are ready for you to take home and place on your porch, patio, or personal balcony.
Alternatively, you can buy some of their beautiful pottery, seeds, and soil, and then customize your container garden from scratch. They also make custom pots as well that you can then take home!
Decorate Your House With Hanging Baskets
Did you know that Sunnyside is famous for their hanging baskets? It's true! Each February, the business plants over 10,000 huge hanging baskets and grows them from winter through spring.
As the baskets bloom with color, visitors can walk through the greenhouses and find the perfect one to hang at their home. There are dozens of varieties to choose from, so come on by and explore all the options.
Start a Fall Tradition & Pick Your Own Pumpkins
At the beginning of fall, Sunnyside Gardens' property transforms into an autumnal wonderland featuring festive hay sculptures and scarecrows, as well as a massive pumpkin patch. Start a new fall tradition with the family and plan a pumpkin picking trip this year!
In addition to their locally-grown carving pumpkins, you can browse the dozens of other squash & pumpkin varieties that are available for eating and decorating, such as acorn and butternut squash, and white Casper and Long Island Cheese pumpkins. For a little extra color, take home their "Monster Mums," Asters, perennials, or the attractive ornamental peppers.
Experience the Sights, Smells & Sounds of Fall
There’s more than just pumpkins, squash, and flowers at Sunnyside Gardens in autumn. To make your trip truly memorable, they also offer a fantastic fall festival experience for families.
Take a walk through the decorated property and breathe in the sweet smell of homemade baked goods and fresh cider donuts. Their bakery is renowned for making delicious donuts that are light and fluffy instead of greasy.
All around the property, some of the fall activities include hay rides through the spooky woods, rides on the little blue train, group photos, and more. You can even enjoy live bluegrass music inside the greenhouses on most weekends in October.
Have a Happy Holiday Season With Sunnyside
When you hear sleigh bells ringing on the radio, you know it’s time to start preparing for the holidays. For trees, wreaths, and colorful indoor decorations, there’s no better place than Sunnyside Gardens for all your holiday season needs.
From November through December, families can check out hundreds of pre-cut Christmas trees from local farms (and starting in 2018, from Sunnyside's own tree farm too). Each year they sell multiple varieties of trees, such as Fraser firs, Balsam firs, and Canaan firs. Not sure which one to get? Simply ask the staff for advice!
Before you leave with your new Christmas tree, don't forget to pick out decorations while you're there. Sunnyside features some of the most gorgeous evergreen Christmas wreaths in the area, as well as kissing balls, poinsettias and wintering flowers, and more.
Make plans to visit Sunnyside Gardens and see for yourself why they're the region's premier garden center.