The Garden Gate, Every Gardener's Dream

Make it a point to visit The Garden Gate, located in the Pompano Square Mall in Pompano, Florida. Whether or not you are a gardener this charming shop will delight you. The shopping center is located off North Federal Highway . Since it is part of a shopping center ther eis never a parking problem. It is wheelchair accessible.

Donna Torrey is the owner. A lovely, blond lady, she's the mother of three grown children who barely looks old enough to have been a Mom. She opened The Garden Gate 10 years ago. Donna grew up in a very woodsy area in the North and used to spend hours in the woods arouond her home. She was interested in horticulture since she was very young. She started taking courses in horticulture in high school and has never stopped. She is now studying to be a Master Gardener. You will usually find her in the store working along side her husband when she's not in school. If you need any help in planning a garden or need a question answered Donna and her staff are a wealth of information. They will walk you around and explain anything you need to know. Donna also writes a column for a local paper, The Pelican. Her articles are insightful and encouraging for new gardeners as well as old. She keeps everyone informed on what is necessary to do with their plants for the season and also gives the reader some food for thought as well.

As you approach the shop you see a lovely arbor and many hanging plants. Walk under the flowered arbor and feast your eyes on all the gorgeous blooms. Surrounding you on both sides are tables of plants. It's a small Botanical Garden. The store is not very large but it is loaded with wonderful plants and gifts. Most of the store is open air with only the rear part being enclosed. If you walk straight through the shop it's actually an entry to the Sears store here in the shopping center.

Once in the shop look around at the Herbs, Cacti, sweet tiny plants like the little violets peeking out here and the small and larger, gorgeous, succulants. There are tree specimens, vining plants, with pale grey green leaves, flowering or evergreen, fruiting plants, ferns and more. Just wander up and down the aisles. The water features with floating lettuce are tucked in , bubbling away in a soothing fashion. You will probably spot Donna touching up and nurturing her many plants.

There are garden ornaments through out the store, lovely statuary big and small. You can find wonderful gifts here, not just for the gardener, for anyone. There are flags, wall hangings, whimsical statuary and books on gardening. There are garden tools as well. Orchids in a myriad of varieties are available along with proper planters and planting material for them. They carry large and small planters and charming windchimes. There are adorable tiny stone birds you can keep on a desk or put in your plant. Decorative garden items abound. There are Angels, stone birds, teacups, whimsical creatures, and Butterflies all to decorate your garden no matter how small it may be.

The Garden Gate has the best variety of native plants. They also carry some of the most unusal orchids, Cattelya, Vanda and many cross types. An orchid makes a wondeful gift and they seem to thrive in this climate. Mine has weathered several tropical storms. If you want to start a wonderful Butterfly garden Donna, or one of the staff can help you get started with the right combination of larval and host plants. You'll find some of the most beutiful Butterflies attracted to your garden, Orange barred sulpher or Cloudless Sulpher Butterflies, or the lovely Zebra. Everyone working at the Garden Gate is a trained Horticulturist.

In the Bonsai section you can get the soil, wire, pottery needed to start your own Bonsai or you can get a completed Bonsai as a gift for yourself or someone special.

The Garden Gate promotes organic growing offering non chemical solutions to your garden problems. They sell ladybugs, nematodes, lacewings and horticultural oils and offer microbial soil innoculates. Healthy soil will get you more plants.

You can put together a tub planter or just a simple elegant plant in a special pot to give as a hostess gift or a Holiday to brighten up someone's home. A window planter full of herbs is always nice for a cook, a lovely fern is great for someone who isn't fond of taking care of any plant with special needs.This shop is like a little jewel, even if you have a black thumb, walking around the shop is inspiring and entertaining. It feels as though you've been on a mini vacation after you spend some time in here.

The Garden Gate is open 7 days a week from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 until 6:00 p.m.