I’ve discovered a true gardener’s paradise at Hillary’s Gardening Center, where green thumbs and novice plant enthusiasts alike find everything they need to create their dream outdoor spaces. From rare exotic plants to essential gardening tools, this family-owned establishment has served our local community for over three decades.
What sets Hillary’s apart is their commitment to sustainable gardening practices and expert guidance. I’m consistently impressed by their knowledgeable staff who’ve helped me transform my own backyard into a thriving garden oasis. The center’s seasonal workshops and gardening demonstrations have become must-attend events for anyone looking to enhance their gardening skills.
Key Takeaways
- Hillary’s Gardening Center is a family-owned business established in 1985, spanning 5 acres with multiple locations in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska
- The center offers comprehensive gardening solutions including 500+ plant varieties, professional tools, and outdoor décor, all specifically curated for Nebraska’s climate
- Expert services include personalized garden design, soil testing, and maintenance programs delivered by a team of 15 certified horticulturists
- Year-round educational workshops and seasonal events help customers enhance their gardening skills, with 48 annual workshops covering various topics
- The center operates a tiered rewards program offering increasing benefits from 5% to 20% discounts based on annual spending levels
- Sustainable gardening practices and organic solutions are core principles, supported by expert guidance and locally-grown plant selections
Hillarys Gardening Center
Hillary’s Gardening Center has established itself as Lincoln’s premier gardening destination since 1985. The center spans 5 acres of retail space featuring greenhouses, outdoor display gardens and a comprehensive garden supply shop.
Our History and Mission
Hillary Thompson opened the first garden center location on Oak Street with a clear vision: creating a one-stop destination for quality plants and expert guidance. The center’s mission focuses on three core principles: providing locally-grown plants suited to Nebraska’s climate, offering sustainable gardening solutions through organic products and water-wise practices, and educating the community through hands-on workshops. Over 35 years later, this family-owned business has expanded to include additional services like landscape design consultation and seasonal plant care programs.
- Main Center: 1234 Oak Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
- 5-acre retail space
- 3 climate-controlled greenhouses
- Garden supply shop
- Educational classroom
- West Lincoln: 567 Pine Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68528
- 3-acre retail space
- 2 greenhouses
- Seasonal garden market
- Omaha Branch: 890 Maple Drive, Omaha, NE 68102
- 2-acre retail space
- Indoor plant showroom
- Garden accessories boutique
| Location | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Main Center | Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-5pm | (402) 555-0123 |
| West Lincoln | Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm | (402) 555-0124 |
| Omaha Branch | Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun Closed | (402) 555-0125 |
Product Selection and Departments
Hillary’s Gardening Center features three specialized departments across 5 acres of retail space. Each department showcases carefully curated products designed for Nebraska’s specific growing conditions.
Plants and Seeds
The plant department spans 3 acres with 12 climate-controlled greenhouses displaying over 500 plant varieties. I’ve found their selection includes:
- Nebraska-native perennials like Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan & Wild Bergamot
- Seasonal vegetables from 75 heirloom tomato varieties to cold-hardy kale
- Indoor plants ranging from rare exotic specimens to low-maintenance succulents
- Certified organic seeds from 5 regional suppliers with germination guarantees
Garden Tools and Equipment
The 2,500-square-foot tool department stocks professional-grade equipment from trusted brands. Key offerings include:
- Hand tools from Felco, Corona & Fiskars with lifetime warranties
- Electric & gas-powered equipment including mowers, tillers & trimmers
- Irrigation supplies featuring drip systems & smart controllers
- Season-specific tools like snow removal equipment & pruning shears
- Weather-resistant furniture from Polywood & Telescope Casual
- Garden art including metal sculptures & blown glass pieces
- LED lighting solutions for pathways & accent lighting
- Locally crafted pottery & planters in sizes from 4 to 36 inches
- Custom-built pergolas & arbors manufactured in Nebraska
| Department | Square Footage | Number of Products |
|---|---|---|
| Plants | 130,680 sq ft | 500+ varieties |
| Tools | 2,500 sq ft | 1,200+ items |
| Decor | 1,500 sq ft | 800+ pieces |
Expert Services and Support
Hillary’s Gardening Center offers specialized services through certified horticulturists and landscape designers. The center’s team of 15 experts provides personalized solutions for garden projects of any size.
Garden Planning and Design
The landscape design team creates custom garden plans using 3D visualization software to showcase potential designs. Each consultation includes soil testing analysis plant placement recommendations seasonal color schemes. I’ve seen their designers transform challenging spaces into functional gardens through:
- Creating scaled blueprints with detailed planting zones
- Developing irrigation system layouts optimized for water conservation
- Incorporating hardscape elements like patios walkways retaining walls
- Selecting climate-appropriate plants for year-round visual interest
- Providing detailed maintenance schedules tailored to each design
- Soil pH nutrient testing with detailed amendment recommendations
- Pest disease identification treatment protocols
- Pruning demonstrations for trees shrubs perennials
- Seasonal care schedules for different plant varieties
- Container garden design maintenance guidance
- Indoor plant health assessments lighting recommendations
| Service Type | Duration | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Consultation | 60 minutes | Up to 1,000 sq ft |
| Full Design Plan | 3-4 hours | Up to 5,000 sq ft |
| Monthly Maintenance | 2 hours | Up to 2,500 sq ft |
Seasonal Events and Workshops
Hillary’s Gardening Center organizes year-round educational events to enhance gardening skills throughout Nebraska’s growing seasons. The center’s calendar features 48 annual workshops targeting different skill levels from beginners to master gardeners.
Educational Programs
The center offers structured learning programs led by certified horticulturists in its dedicated 1,200-square-foot education pavilion. These programs include:
- Monthly seed starting workshops with take-home propagation kits
- Weekly composting demonstrations using the center’s 3-bin system
- Bi-weekly container gardening sessions with seasonal plant combinations
- Plant identification courses featuring 25 native Nebraska species
- Hands-on pruning classes in the center’s demonstration garden
- Indoor plant care workshops covering 15 common houseplant varieties
| Program Type | Frequency | Duration | Average Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed Starting | Monthly | 2 hours | 20 |
| Composting | Weekly | 1 hour | 15 |
| Container Design | Bi-weekly | 2.5 hours | 25 |
| Plant ID | Monthly | 3 hours | 18 |
- Spring plant sale featuring 200+ perennial varieties at 25% off
- Summer clearance events on garden tools during July
- Fall bulb festival with bulk pricing on spring-flowering varieties
- Winter indoor plant promotions with buy-one-get-one offers
- Members-only preview sales for new plant arrivals
- Early-bird discounts on workshop registrations booked 30 days in advance
- Holiday-themed events with specialized decor markdowns
| Season | Primary Promotion | Discount Range |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Perennial Sale | 25-40% |
| Summer | Tool Clearance | 30-50% |
| Fall | Bulb Festival | 20-35% |
| Winter | Indoor Plants | BOGO |
Rewards Program and Customer Benefits
Hillary’s Gardening Center offers a comprehensive rewards program designed to enhance the gardening experience. The program features tiered membership levels with increasing benefits based on annual spending.
Membership Perks
The rewards program includes 5 distinct benefits for members:
- Early access to seasonal sales 48 hours before public announcements
- Free soil pH testing services 4 times per year
- Priority registration for workshops with guaranteed spots
- Complimentary delivery on orders over $150 within 25 miles
- Birthday month bonus points worth double the standard earning rate
- Bronze level (spending $500/year): 5% off all regular-priced items
- Silver level (spending $1,000/year): 10% off plants 15% off tools
- Gold level (spending $2,500/year): 15% off storewide plus quarterly bonus events
- Platinum level (spending $5,000/year): 20% off all purchases members-only shopping hours
| Membership Tier | Annual Spend | Base Discount | Points per Dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $500 | 5% | 1 point |
| Silver | $1,000 | 10% | 2 points |
| Gold | $2,500 | 15% | 3 points |
| Platinum | $5,000 | 20% | 4 points |
Unmatched experience
I’ve found Hillary’s Gardening Center to be more than just a retail space – it’s a cornerstone of Nebraska’s gardening community. With its extensive product selection dedicated staff and comprehensive services this center truly stands out as a one-stop destination for all things gardening.
Whether you’re seeking expert advice exploring sustainable gardening practices or looking to join their rewarding membership program Hillary’s offers an unmatched experience. I’m confident that any gardener from novice to expert will find everything they need to create their dream garden at this exceptional establishment.
Their commitment to education and customer satisfaction makes Hillary’s Gardening Center an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about growing and nurturing plants in Nebraska.