Local Business Spotlight-- All Good Things!

 

Above: Welcome to All Good Things!  

Local Business Spotlight on 

All Good Things! 

by Dana Koogler 

All Good Things Facebook Page

All Good Things Photo Gallery Here 

  I have decided to try adding a new section to my blog.  I so enjoy finding and shopping at local, small businesses that are good.   I always appreciate word of mouth from others to guide me.  I will start writing up local businesses as I am able.   Today I visited a favorite of mine.  All Good Things is a local garden center owned and run by Doug and Kris Dickman.  I am not completely sure how long they've been in the area, but I am guessing about seven or eight years at least.   I know the garden center was open awhile before I visited.   I used to shop there when Ginger had it.  It was nice, but it is so much better now.   They are very nice people. They know all about their plants.   They can advise you on  how to care for them.   They are hard workers and very friendly.   It is always a pleasure to do business with them.    Today I asked them if I could write about their business? They agreed.   I did my shopping and once Doug helped me stow my plants in the jeep I got out the camera and got to work!

       They are open seasonally starting mid March each year until mid October. They then close for the season.   They are open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm daily.   Closed on Sundays. 

   They are located in Townsend, Tennessee.  The address is 139 Painted Trillium Way. 

Their phone number is 440-474-3712

  They sell potting soil, mulch, fertilizer, gloves, bandanas, hats, tools, pots, statuary, and gifts.

They sell all sorts of plants.  Perennials, colorful annuals, herbs vegetables, shrubbery, trees,  and hanging baskets. 

    They also sell bird baths, coco mat, wind chimes, rain chains, and more. 

Above:  Table with pink and red geraniums outside the door at All Good Things

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•   Feeling overwhelmed one day recently I told my friend John that I wasn't planting anything this year! I didn't want anything else to take care of!    He probably knew, but politely kept to himself that he knew better.    Today I went back on that word.  I walked out of there with a car load of flowers and plants!  It is raining today, but I'll get them in the ground this weekend.     

      

    

•    One of the things I did in garden season 2024 was plant LOTS of herbs and pollinator plants.   It helped keep the mosquitoes and gnats away.   I noticed once they were gone the insect pests reappeared!   I was happy to buy lemon grass, basil, lemon basil, thyme, globe basil to put out in my yard.  

   Another thing they have that I so enjoy is some of the more old timey flowers.  

I bought five different kinds of dahlias today.   Those are old school flowers!  

They also have petunias and iris which are old timey.   They have a plant called cuphea that looks like old timey Malva Zebrina, but it is different.    The variety of flowers and plants they keep on hand is exquisite.  

Below: purple and white cuphea that reminds me of old timey Malva Zebrina. To the right of that are pale lavender mist flowers which are native. It's name is "Sweet Talk" cuphea or Mexican heather.  It is colorful and attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. 

      I also bought cherry tomatoes for my granddaughter Mia who like me would eat her weight in them!  You haven't had enough tomatoes until your mouth is sore.   I also bought Tut grass a bog plant.  Creeping jenny is another plant that will come back year after year if you are lucky.  

    I was in a foul mood today. I made myself turn off my phone and the computer.  I exercised.

I ate lunch. I rested. I got out of the house and went for a walk.  I enjoyed a little retail therapy at All Good Things.  It changed my outlook for certain.  

   It has been proven that gardening is good for body and soul. Being out in the sun improves mood and helps our bodies produce vitamin D for our immune system.  Dirt on the hands and our skin helps our gut bacteria flourish which is our immune system.   It colonizes our skin with good bacteria which is also good for the immune system. The sun helps maintain and regulate our circadian rhythms or our sleep/wake cycles.  

    Come see All Good Things the first chance you get.  It is a fine boutique style garden center.  You will find decoration, gifts and plants you won't find at Wal-Mart, Lowes or any of the big box stores.  I found my visit to day to be soothing for the soul.  They are a pleasant couple to be around every single time.   It is clear they enjoy what they do.   You can spot their business in Trillium Cove shops directly across from the Bethel Baptist church in Townsend on the main road before the stop light.  

       Below:  the side entrance of All Good Things with lots of colorful flower pots.  You can see they keep wagons for hauling your plants as you shop! 

 

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above:  best viewed full size by clicking the image.  The perennials and hanging baskets at All Good Things.  The mountains in the background. 

Below:  another view of the neat and colorful side of the shop 

Below:  colorful annuals in bloom on the racks Begonias, portulaca, scaveola, impatiens, salvia, coleus are by a few of their selection.

Below: close up of coral colored super bells. Last Summer I finally had some success growing these!  They thrive on a little neglect.  I tend to over water things and they can't take that.  Last Summer I planted them around a juniper shrub in a container and they lasted all Summer! 

Below:  more hanging baskets and annuals. Celosia, vinca, scaveola, angelonia, and various colors of lantana.  

Below: flats of petunias.   My aunt Mary Margaret always had these when I was a kid.  I had another auntie who kept me each day while my parents worked... Aunt Mary Sue. She brought her petunias indoors during Winter! She showed me how to dead head them when I was only three! 

Below: You can see the edge of the dahlias and then to the right the herbs! Lemon Grass on the right front corner of the image.  They are only charging $4.99 a pot.  I saw it for $13 last year at a big box store.  I will try to plant this every year from now on. It has culinary uses, but I love it for its look and mostly because it drives away mosquitos.  My grandkids live in Rockford and the yard there has loads of mosquitos.  I seldom had them but once I planted this stuff I have NONE! 

Below:  an old fashioned iris for sale between some shiny holly shrubs

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Below: They have an assortment of azaleas for sale. This time of year bright orange flame azaleas are starting to bloom. You can have one in  your own yard! 

Below: this shade of azalea reminds me of Gregory blush which people hike 12 miles round trip to see in June.  You can plant one in your yard. 

Below: I apologize for the image quality, but this shade of azalea is also on Gregory Bald. It is a buttery yellow form.

Below: the gazebo looks like something out of a fairy tale with all those curliques and colors!  

Above: deep purple velvety looking petunias and sunny yellow ones in a hanging basket.  💘

Below: sunny yellow dahlia I bought. one of five kinds.

Below:  a pink dahlia I had to buy.  Too pretty to resist. 

Below: old  radio at All Good Things playing some excellent country tunes.  Doug must be the one behind this since he's not a technology or internet kinda guy.   It tickled me since this is what I grew up on erry single day!  Click the link to hear a country tune like they had playing. 

Below:  The cash register and check out area at All Good Things.   I feel like good luck getting out of there without buying  just one more thing.

Below: lastly I leave you with a few seconds worth of zen courtesy of the lovely water feature at All Good Things.   You really should experience it first hand.