Photo Courtesy of Scenic Roots Garden Center
Spring has finally arrived on Cape Cod. It is time to get back outside and enjoy the beauty of the Cape in bloom. It is also time for many to tend to their lawns and gardens that have been neglected throughout the winter. There are many fine places to go where one can grab what is needed to bring life back to their landscape. One such place that truly stands out is the Scenic Roots Garden Center on Route 6A in East Sandwich.
The roots of Scenic Roots go back more than three decades. The Kutil family grew up a stone’s throw across the Cape Cod Canal in the town of Wareham. In 1986 they purchased the Sandwich Agway on Route 6A to run as the family business. Initially it remained a very cut and dry gardening center as the family decided if it wasn’t broke, don’t fix it. The parents ran the day to day operations while their children Donna and Jeff would help out. Donna fondly remembers.
“As kids my brother and I would come in and sweep the floors, bag birdseed, pull weeds and pinch mums,” she says. “We worked weekends, holidays, school vacations to help out when needed. It was free labor.” After graduating high school Donna decided to not come home and work elsewhere for experience. It was through this that she realized her love of gardening after all. She moved home after college to help her father and brother run the store while also continuing her education with horticultural classes.
Photo Courtesy of Scenic Roots Garden Center
In 2002 Donna and Jeff took over the business and things began to change. The gardening center which dealt with feed and grain, lawn care, and had a small nursery would be rechristened Scenic Roots Garden Center in 2010. Donna and Jeff would focus as much on the overall experience as well as the products they carried.
“We have a very relaxed atmosphere,” Donna explains. “We want people to come in, feel comfortable and not be afraid to ask questions. That is why we have mostly grass in our nursery yard and a huge shade tree in the middle.”
The casual rapport they have with their customers is genuine with a focus on education over making sales. Donna believes that if the customer has the proper knowledge they will be successful at whatever gardening project they are attempting. This success builds trust and confidence in the people at Scenic Roots which in turn will leads to more sales.
Despite being on the smaller side in terms of a nursery Scenic Roots makes up for it with unique plants and products, smart and to-the-point categorizing, and a hand in the tech world.
“Technology has become an important piece in any business,” Donna continues. “We have our own app for iPhone or Droid. Customers check-in every time they visit and get rewards, email us a picture or question, get the latest news from our news feed, or look up a plant.”
Photo Courtesy of Scenic Roots Garden Center
The convenience is key for Scenic Roots. Their perennials are categorized in easy to understand departments such as: deer resistant, drought tolerant, shade, butterfly/hummingbird attractants, fall blooming, and seashore conditions. This makes the act of finding what one wants much easier.
Despite being in business for over thirty-years there is no slowing down for Donna and Jeff at Scenic Roots. In 2017 they have added a tick awareness page to their website, a Fairy garden section, aromatherapy section, and terrarium section. Of particular use during the Cape Cod summer is the mosquito repellant plant section. Perhaps most intriguing is Scenic Roots’ Thirsty Thursday’s. Donna gives all the details.
“On the third Thursday every month from 5:30-7pm I mix up and serve cocktails made from plants you grow in the garden. Herbs, veggies, berries, shrubs. The purpose is to show people what they can do with the produce they grow other than just cooking with them. The recipes are always posted on our website and Facebook.”
A family-run small business that truly cares with friendly service, unique products, extensive knowledge, convenience, and fun. This describes Scenic Roots Garden Center and the Kutil Family. Their love of Cape Cod and for those who visit them is apparent and keeps them dedicated to service and quality.
Photo Courtesy of Scenic Roots Garden Center
“Owning a business on cape for over 30 years it becomes your second home,” Donna says. “We actually spend more time at Scenic Roots than we do our own homes. We are a smaller nursery with a lot of unique plants and garden products, along with all the basics. We pack a big punch in a little place and we are continuing to fine tune, nip tuck every chance we can.”
Scenic Roots Garden Center is located at 349 Rt. 6A in East Sandwich. Call them at 508-888-0044. Find them online at http://scenicrootsgardencenter.com, and also on Facebook and Instagram.
By Christopher Setterlund
