September/October 2024 - 22

FROM THE ROAD
FROM 'AIR PLANTS
TO RARE PLANTS'
D
Groovy Plants Ranch finds its groove as a destination garden center
near Columbus, Ohio.
Photos and story by Teresa McPherson
estination garden center Groovy
Plants Ranch (GPR) is a familyowned
greenhouse located in
Marengo, Ohio, about a half hour north
of Columbus. Owners Liz and Jared
Hughes opened the business hoping to
become a destination plant store, " and
thanks to the overwhelming support of
the community we've blown away our
expectations, " he said.
Jared founded Groovy Plants Ranch
in 2009 at age 19 " with nothing more
than a few cuttings of succulents. " He
built the business while gaining his
associate degree in landscape design and
architecture, and working at Foertmeyer
and Sons, where he served as retail
manager for five years.
He discovered succulents' appeal
when he purchased a nursery rack and
cut the plants into hundreds of little
pieces and replanted them.
" I needed something I could grow
that was very easy and low-care
because I didn't have much time to
dedicate to a crop, " Jared said. " That's
when I discovered succulents were
pretty easy to propagate and grow.
They just made me think of the 1960s
and I've always kind of liked classic
rock music, so that's where the name
started. [Succulents] had a heyday
back in the '60s, and they came
back into popularity. So that's where
[Groovy Plants Ranch] started - it
started with the succulents. "
In 2012, Jared met Liz, who was
working as an art teacher and textile
artist. Liz soon transferred her
creative and teaching talents to the
horticulture world and, in 2016, the
couple opened the current retail store
and nursery with the purchase of
three acres at the former Fargo Herbs
farm, its seven greenhouses and old
schoolhouse. In 2022, they announced
the purchase of 11 additional acres,
allowing GPR to multiply its plant
offerings and host more events,
including plant workshops, a Succulent
Solstice festival, its first crafts fair and
numerous weekend food trucks.
GPR propagates and grows a large
portion of its plant offerings, filling
its benches with everything " from air
plants to rare plants, " Jared said on
an introductory YouTube video for
the business.
On these next few pages, take a look
inside Groovy Plants Ranch.
22 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024

September/October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2024

Editor's Letter
Table of Contents
Healines/Calendar
Innovative Ideas: How to Houseplant
Products: Editors' Picks
Management: Revamp Your Retail Series: Consumer Psychology
From the Road: From 'Air Plants to Rare Plants'
Trade Shows: 15 Retailers' Choice Awards given at Cultivate '24
Management: Gifts & Gardening with Seaside Charm
Garden Gifts: In Full Bloom
Visual Purchasing Guide
Ad Index
5 minutes with: Bonita Weinstein
September/October 2024 - 1
September/October 2024 - 2
September/October 2024 - 3
September/October 2024 - Editor's Letter
September/October 2024 - 5
September/October 2024 - Table of Contents
September/October 2024 - 7
September/October 2024 - Healines/Calendar
September/October 2024 - 9
September/October 2024 - 10
September/October 2024 - 11
September/October 2024 - Innovative Ideas: How to Houseplant
September/October 2024 - 13
September/October 2024 - Products: Editors' Picks
September/October 2024 - 15
September/October 2024 - Management: Revamp Your Retail Series: Consumer Psychology
September/October 2024 - 17
September/October 2024 - 18
September/October 2024 - 19
September/October 2024 - 20
September/October 2024 - 21
September/October 2024 - From the Road: From 'Air Plants to Rare Plants'
September/October 2024 - 23
September/October 2024 - 24
September/October 2024 - 25
September/October 2024 - Trade Shows: 15 Retailers' Choice Awards given at Cultivate '24
September/October 2024 - 27
September/October 2024 - 28
September/October 2024 - 29
September/October 2024 - 30
September/October 2024 - 31
September/October 2024 - Management: Gifts & Gardening with Seaside Charm
September/October 2024 - 33
September/October 2024 - 34
September/October 2024 - 35
September/October 2024 - Garden Gifts: In Full Bloom
September/October 2024 - 37
September/October 2024 - 38
September/October 2024 - 39
September/October 2024 - Visual Purchasing Guide
September/October 2024 - 41
September/October 2024 - 42
September/October 2024 - 43
September/October 2024 - 44
September/October 2024 - 45
September/October 2024 - 46
September/October 2024 - 47
September/October 2024 - 48
September/October 2024 - 49
September/October 2024 - 50
September/October 2024 - 51
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September/October 2024 - 55
September/October 2024 - 56
September/October 2024 - 57
September/October 2024 - 58
September/October 2024 - 59
September/October 2024 - 60
September/October 2024 - 61
September/October 2024 - 62
September/October 2024 - 63
September/October 2024 - Ad Index
September/October 2024 - 65
September/October 2024 - 5 minutes with: Bonita Weinstein
September/October 2024 - 67
September/October 2024 - 68
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