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Pat Kerns |
In 2010 the Nursery
itself is in its 29th year in business. The Kerns have been
involved in landscaping throughout that time. Pat says “When we started the nursery we were so small it was ridiculously
funny, and being off the main roads didn’t help, but as word of
mouth spread our business has continually gotten bigger and
bigger. Now I feel like we have a very unique nursery, where the
environment you shop in is like a well cared for garden – not a
supermarket. More than that, we are a nursery for gardeners
because the plant selection we offer makes it worth coming from a
good distance away.
Prior to owning a nursery, I would have
traveled to a place like this myself. We have regular customers
from places like Albany, Cooperstown and Woodstock. Many second
home owners buy not only for their Mt. Top house but bring plants to their main residence downstate New York as well as New Jersey,
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania not to mention many
summer tourists that pass by every year or so from all over the
country. It’s very inviting here. Beyond the typical
expectations you normally find while plant shopping, here you can
help yourself to coffee, soda, and home baked goods on weekends at
the Coffee Bar or sit on the swing and look over the gardens. There’s even a toy box to keep little ones occupied." |
Because the plants
are the primary element in a good nursery, Pat and Bob maintain
their nursery stock by personally selecting everything that they
sell, or by growing plants from seeds and plugs in the nursery's
greenhouses. To make available plants that are new and
interesting, they continually stay on top of current industry
trends. "It's hard work," Pat says," but I like to
present new varieties of plants. It seems like we are always
building more tables and pushing out our fences to fit everything
in. It would bore me to stay stagnant and not try new things. The
reason why our business works so well is because we are
enthusiastic about what we do. People recognize that we have
gardening experience, and that we are willing to share our
knowledge openly."
Kerns offers some
500 or more varieties of perennial plants, with a specialty in
rock gardening. (Their rock garden is quite an eye-catcher in the
spring!) Both perennials and annuals are carefully selected for
color, size, and variety. From the traditional to the unusual,
bedding plants in packs and specialty plants in pots fill the
nursery tables. Foliage and tropical plants that were previously
in the “House Plant Only” category have now become popular annuals
for the summer garden and patio. Varying in texture, form, and
color, foliage accent plants can really set off your flowers in
the garden - or in your potted arrangements. Kerns’ also sells a
wide variety of herbs and vegetables. Roses are also available
including some old-fashioned shrub roses and miniature rose
topiaries.
Bob is more involved
with the decisions and sales of the shrubs and trees that fill out
the nursery’s plant selections. The quality is obvious and Bob’s
years of landscaping in this environment has given him the ability
to help customers make the best choices and get the best results.
Soil mixes and bag soil and mulch are available at the nursery and
for bulk soils for delivery. Bob tries to be available on the
weekends at the nursery. During the week he is busy with
landscaping. Customer service is a very important part of the
business.
Originally the
gardens surrounding the house and then the nursery were for the
personal pleasure of Pat and Bob. Overtime they have evolved into
complicated gardens that incorporate all types of plants and many
experimental varieties where new annuals and perennials are tested
to see if they are really garden-worthy and hardy for the area.
They also found that their customers started to wander around the
gardens because it gave them visual insight on how plants work
together or how plants will look when they are full-grown. Bob
says, “Our gardens over the years, have really become so popular
our regular customers will bring their visiting friends and
relatives over just to see the gardens that change with the
seasons. This is fine with us. It gives people confidence in
our abilities when they see what we have achieved on our
property. They see that there is potential to create their own
beautiful gardens in the mountain top environment.” |
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“The success of
the nursery,” Bob says, “is very much based on Pat’s
artistic ability to create an environment for her customers and to
make every arrangement with her personal sense of aesthetics using
color and form. From hanging baskets to potted combination
baskets, Pat knows how plants grow and coordinate well together.
Many customers bring in their pots, porch boxes and baskets for
her to plant. She also will do fresh flower arrangements and
bouquets for weddings or special affairs when she has time.”
The
Shop@Kerns
Nursery is yet another reason to make a stop at Kerns Nursery.
There are gardening supplies, out door furnishings, quality stone
and clay pottery, fountains, bird baths and bird houses, home
decorating items, throws, candles and gifts. The other Shop
@ Kerns Nursery, is our
Floral shop
where we offer for sale fresh floral bouquets every weekend from
May through Labor Day. We will chose different seasonal
flowers and arrange flowers in bouquet sleeves so they will be
available for direct sale to dress your home, business or give as
a gift.
Don’t forget the new
line of original beaded
jewelry created by Pat that is now available at the shop or
through our online site. Brides can now come for consultations
for their wedding flowers as well as the wedding party jewelry,
which can be custom made to match any style and colors. What a
great solution for Bridesmaid gifts!
Remember that we are
open for the Christmas
Season also. The shop is full of Christmas decorating,
collecting and gift items. We carry Christmas trees and all the
wreaths, baskets and arrangements are hand made from local balsam
and a mix of other accent greens.
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Kerns Nursery Gift certificates: we are happy to accept orders
by phone and e-mail. We will acknowledge your orders will send out Gift Certificates. Many
people on the Catskills Mountaintop have used Kerns Nursery Gift
Certificates as perfect gifts for family and friends.
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Visit the Pat Kerns Jewelry -
unique, hand-made, one-of-a-kind jewelry that we sell here at
Jewett.
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If you have any questions, please e-mail us at:
Kernsnursery@aol.com
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When we are open, we welcome you to tour our many
display gardens from Mother’s Day through the Fall.
Picnicking is allowed.
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