My husband and I are first-time homeowners in our late 20s, and for the first time in our lives, we have a yard to take care of. Up until now, we’ve only ever lived in apartments where gardening meant maybe a small planter or two on a balcony if we were lucky.
Now, we’ve found ourselves learning everything from scratch and this year it is our mission to transform our yard into a garden. A place where things grow, where we can slow down, and where we can host and create memories with the people we love.
Along our journey, these three places have become part of that process for us. They’re where we’ve learned, experimented, made mistakes, and slowly started building something that feels like home.
If you’re local to Connecticut, these are my three favorite spots for herbs, plants, and garden supplies.
Benedict’s Home & Garden (Monroe, CT)
This is where I go for everything that actually gets the garden built.
We got our apple trees here, along with fertilizer, grass seed for my husband, and a lot of the foundational supplies that made our yard feel like a real project instead of just an idea.
One of the employees, Mike, helped walk us through exactly how to plant and care for the trees. That kind of guidance made such a difference, especially since we were new to it. Our tree even bloomed the first week after planting, which felt so magical, even though I had to remove the blooms so it could focus on establishing strong roots this year.
They also offer delivery, which was a lifesaver. There was no way we were fitting everything into my car, so having it brought right to the house made the whole process so much easier.
This is my go to for the practical side of gardening. Soil, trees, lawn care, and anything that requires a little more knowledge and support. They are also incredible when it comes to chickens and backyard homesteading. Whether you are just starting to think about getting chickens or already have a coop, they carry feed, supplies, and everything you would need to care for them.
Filanowski Farms (Milford, CT)
This is where my garden really started to feel alive.
I got most of my perennials here, along with the cubic soil that made a huge difference in my beds last year. Everything I planted with it just took off. Last Summer I grabbed some of their hanging plants on a whim and they told me I could actually plant them directly into the ground. Those flowers ended up lasting so long that I even spotted one still flowering after a snowstorm this winter, which honestly felt unreal.
The person I believe to be the owner is almost always there, sitting outside under his tent, and is so passionate about what he grows. He will happily talk with you about plants, what works, what does not, and how to care for everything. It makes the whole experience feel personal.
This is my favorite place for perennials and soil or any of those little unexpected flower finds that end up being the star of the garden.
Gilbertie’s Herbs and Garden Center (Westport, CT)
This is my favorite place for building out my herb and tea garden.
I get all of my herbs here, along with my strawberry plants, and the selection is always incredible. They carry so many varieties of each herb that you go in for one or two things and end up leaving with three different types of lavender you did not even know existed. Needless to say, my husband gets a good laugh when he sees the trunk of my VERY full car after I claim I am just stopping in for a quick trip.
They also host events for the community throughout the year. Gilbertie’s feels like more than just a garden center and more like a space for the community to gather and learn. You can tell they genuinely care about their community and about helping people become more self sufficient in a way that also supports the environment.
Whenever I want to feel inspired or expand my garden in a more intentional way, this is where I go.
If you are starting your own garden this season, I am right there with you. Wishing you the best of luck, and I hope these places bring you as much inspiration and help as they have for me.
