A growing operation
Quailcrest Farm Gardens and Greenhouse offers customers an ever-expanding variety of perennials, herbs, annuals and more
At Garden Barn, customers can find a little bit of everything, from gardening gloves and tools to kitchen gadgets, clothing and accessories. Photo by MELISSA MARTIN
WOOSTER – From the time she moved to Wooster in 1957, Libby Bruch knew Wayne County was missing one thing – a place where locals could purchase tried and true perennials that would thrive in their flower beds and gardens.
With a green thumb and a passion for gardening, Libby took matters into her own hands, planting more than 30 varieties of field-grown perennials on the dairy farm she operated with her husband, Tom. She opened a gift shop in an old summer kitchen where she sold pottery, handcrafted goods and plants, which quickly became her customers’ most sought-after item.
“Eventually, people would come out with their shovels, dig up the plants from the field and take them home to plant in their own yards,” said Toby Bruch, one of Libby’s four children, which also include Rusty Bruch, Ginna Philips and Deborah Robinson, who now run the farm.
More than four decades later, locals as well as gardeners from all around the state looking for unique varieties of perennials, annuals and herbs know that the Bruch’s Quailcrest Farm is one of the best places to turn for virtually all of their gardening needs, including more than 450 varieties of perennials.
“From the beginning, we’ve strived to have an enormous selection of different things and every year, we keep adding more and more,” Bruch said, noting that the farm offers multiple varieties of herbs, including 18 different varieties of basil, 15 varieties of rosemary and multiple varieties of oregano, mint, thyme and lavender.”
More than meets the eye
What distinguishes Quailcrest Farm from its competitors is the fact that most of what is sold at in the farm’s 12,000-square-foot greenhouse is also grown on site.
“About 95 percent of what we sell, we grow here,” Bruch said. “We bring in very little. In the winter we bring in plugs and bare-root plants, planted and grown in our greenhouse to assure the highest quality. We carry hundreds of varieties of herbs for one of, if not the largest selections in northeastern Ohio.”
The entire staff, including the farm’s head grower, Cathy Garlock, and greenhouse staffers Cindy Shaner and Betty Klinefelter, have been on staff for more than 15 years and customers know they can turn to virtually any one of them for advice on what to plant and new varieties they might want to try.
“We love to share our years of personal growing experience and knowledge with visitors and always have a suggestion or two about a new plant we’ve tried or an old one we love,” Phillips said.
Beyond the greenhouse glass, Quailcrest Farm is a gift-buyer’s paradise. Inside the Garden Barn, customers can find a little bit of everything, from gardening gloves and tools to kitchen gadgets, clothing and accessories.
“We have things to adorn your patios and outside spaces, fun jewelry, jackets, bags and shoes to adorn yourself, creative wedding gifts, dips, jellies, marinades and the perfect serving piece for your next party,” said Dulcie Simonds, store employee. For those who are unable to find the perfect gift, Simonds said Quailcrest gift certificates are also available.
Equally as popular as the farm’s retail businesses are its lush grounds and meadows, which include a patchwork of more than 25 gardens. The farm also offers self-guided garden tours Tuesday through Saturday during regular business hours and guests are invited to bring a picnic lunch, a book or a sketchpad and spend as long as they like in the serenity of the gardens. Maps are available at the greenhouse counter.
The grounds also feature a picnic pavilion, a 152-year-old restored Tracy Barn that seats up to 150 guests for weddings and other special events, and the Gallery for more intimate gatherings with seating for up to 35.
Quailcrest Farm will host its annual Spring Garden Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 11. The event will feature more than 60 garden-related artists and craftsmen who will fill the farm’s garden areas, demonstrating and displaying their wares. Items featured include glass sculptures, hypertufa, miniature gardens, jewelry, antiques and collectables, metal work, pottery, English puddlers, copper sprinklers and alpacas and alpaca clothing. As always, the fair will feature Quailcrest’s high-quality plants, giant ferns and delightful garden whimseys.
Quailcrest Farm is located at 2810 Armstrong Road, north of Wooster. For more information, call 330-345-6722 or visit the website at www.quailcrest.com.
With a green thumb and a passion for gardening, Libby took matters into her own hands, planting more than 30 varieties of field-grown perennials on the dairy farm she operated with her husband, Tom. She opened a gift shop in an old summer kitchen where she sold pottery, handcrafted goods and plants, which quickly became her customers’ most sought-after item.
“Eventually, people would come out with their shovels, dig up the plants from the field and take them home to plant in their own yards,” said Toby Bruch, one of Libby’s four children, which also include Rusty Bruch, Ginna Philips and Deborah Robinson, who now run the farm.
More than four decades later, locals as well as gardeners from all around the state looking for unique varieties of perennials, annuals and herbs know that the Bruch’s Quailcrest Farm is one of the best places to turn for virtually all of their gardening needs, including more than 450 varieties of perennials.
“From the beginning, we’ve strived to have an enormous selection of different things and every year, we keep adding more and more,” Bruch said, noting that the farm offers multiple varieties of herbs, including 18 different varieties of basil, 15 varieties of rosemary and multiple varieties of oregano, mint, thyme and lavender.”
More than meets the eye
What distinguishes Quailcrest Farm from its competitors is the fact that most of what is sold at in the farm’s 12,000-square-foot greenhouse is also grown on site.
“About 95 percent of what we sell, we grow here,” Bruch said. “We bring in very little. In the winter we bring in plugs and bare-root plants, planted and grown in our greenhouse to assure the highest quality. We carry hundreds of varieties of herbs for one of, if not the largest selections in northeastern Ohio.”
The entire staff, including the farm’s head grower, Cathy Garlock, and greenhouse staffers Cindy Shaner and Betty Klinefelter, have been on staff for more than 15 years and customers know they can turn to virtually any one of them for advice on what to plant and new varieties they might want to try.
“We love to share our years of personal growing experience and knowledge with visitors and always have a suggestion or two about a new plant we’ve tried or an old one we love,” Phillips said.
Beyond the greenhouse glass, Quailcrest Farm is a gift-buyer’s paradise. Inside the Garden Barn, customers can find a little bit of everything, from gardening gloves and tools to kitchen gadgets, clothing and accessories.
“We have things to adorn your patios and outside spaces, fun jewelry, jackets, bags and shoes to adorn yourself, creative wedding gifts, dips, jellies, marinades and the perfect serving piece for your next party,” said Dulcie Simonds, store employee. For those who are unable to find the perfect gift, Simonds said Quailcrest gift certificates are also available.
Equally as popular as the farm’s retail businesses are its lush grounds and meadows, which include a patchwork of more than 25 gardens. The farm also offers self-guided garden tours Tuesday through Saturday during regular business hours and guests are invited to bring a picnic lunch, a book or a sketchpad and spend as long as they like in the serenity of the gardens. Maps are available at the greenhouse counter.
The grounds also feature a picnic pavilion, a 152-year-old restored Tracy Barn that seats up to 150 guests for weddings and other special events, and the Gallery for more intimate gatherings with seating for up to 35.
Quailcrest Farm will host its annual Spring Garden Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 11. The event will feature more than 60 garden-related artists and craftsmen who will fill the farm’s garden areas, demonstrating and displaying their wares. Items featured include glass sculptures, hypertufa, miniature gardens, jewelry, antiques and collectables, metal work, pottery, English puddlers, copper sprinklers and alpacas and alpaca clothing. As always, the fair will feature Quailcrest’s high-quality plants, giant ferns and delightful garden whimseys.
Quailcrest Farm is located at 2810 Armstrong Road, north of Wooster. For more information, call 330-345-6722 or visit the website at www.quailcrest.com.