ENFIELD, CT – For the past 10 years, Garden’s Dream, a gardening center and farm in Enfield, has focused on supplying the area with affordable plants. The farm works under the unofficial motto, “making your gardening dreams affordable,” General Manager Shelley Ouellette said. She said that plants that cost about $13 at most garden centers are just $8 at Garden’s Dream.

The business can offer low prices because it grows its products on-site. The 35-acre property devotes just seven acres to retail. The rest is used to grow the annuals, perennials, tropicals, vegetables, trees and shrubs that are sold there. “There’s a whole greenhouse just for the herbs,” Ouellette said.

After the summer ends and many garden centers close, Garden’s Dream stays open. During the fall, the farm moves to selling seasonal plants, such as mums, cabbage and kale. It is even open during the holiday season.

Garden’s Dream was built from scratch in 2011. “It was just a field,” said Ouellette. “We went the first nine months without electricity. We had to drill the well.” From there, the operation grew.

Unlike most businesses during the pandemic, the farm’s clientele grew. “We did very well, as most people stayed home, didn’t go to work, so they all became gardeners,” Ouellette said. “It’s all been plant education and teaching new gardeners.”

The knowledge of the staff and owners of Garden’s Dream is one of the things that makes them special, Ouellette told Reminder Publishing. Of the owners, Ben Lupien and Barb Lupien, she said, “Ben has done this his entire life. Gardening has been his life, and Barb has been right there with him.” She added, “Every employee here knows about plants.”

Garden’s Dream is located at 355 Taylor Rd. and has a second location in Cromwell, CT, at 610 Main St. Both locations are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 25 through Oct. 30 and Nov. 19 through Dec. 15. For more information, visit https://www.gardensdream.com or call 860-835-6652.