Owner of new greenhouse says love of plants is infectious

Nicole Siebrandt of McCook is opening a new greenhouse — and a second one soon — in the 1300 block of West J in McCook. “Garden Thyme Greenhouse and Garden Center” will open Monday, April 20. Nicole has 10+ years experience working in greenhouses and said recently she has always wanted to operate her own greenhouse. She has sold her wares at farmers’ markets and at McCook’s “Third Thursday” shopping and entertainment events. With all the help she’s gotten from her husband, David, and also from their parents, Nicole calls the greenhouse “a family thing” and “a fun journey.”

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Nicole Siebrandt believes that being inside a greenhouse makes a person happy, that dirty hands and dirty jeans are good for the soul and that her love of plants is infectious.

“You can never have too many plants,” says a smiling Nicole, who will open a new greenhouse — “Garden Thyme Greenhouse and Garden Center” — in McCook on Monday, April 20.

Nicole’s 30x96-foot greenhouse — “Where we think plants are a big dill.” — is located at 1312 West J Street. She’ll offer annuals, vegetables, herbs, succulents, some houseplants, garden-themed t-shirts and a wide variety of hanging baskets and patio planters. “I love to plant in all kinds of things, even antique items,” she said.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

Nicole invites customers to bring in their own containers, and she’ll custom-plant them.

Nicole plants up her own small pots — “Pun Pots,” she calls them — paints them and decorates them with funny and encouraging words like “Keep going. Keep growing.” “Keep calm and garden on” and “You grow, girl!” Nicole admits, with an ornery grin, that she likes puns.

Nicole plans to keep Garden Thyme open year-round, selling perennials, shrubs and trees in the fall. “Fall is a great time to plant,” Nicole says.

She will also offer winter patio planters, fresh greens, garland and Christmas trees in the winter. “I have done several custom winter planters for people, and I am bringing them to the greenhouse this year for all to enjoy. It is a great way to enjoy the dreary winter months, and your containers are never empty. Plus, they smell amazing. I love having my planters full for all seasons,” Nicole says.

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Nicole inherited her love of a garden. Her parents, Juli and Dave Gummere of McCook, both studied horticulture and they always had Nicole out in the yard. She has amassed 10+ years of experience in greenhouses, and she has discovered there is always something new and something exciting to learn.

“That’s what I love about this industry,” Nicole explained recently. “Mix or match … create … imagine. There’s no right or wrong reason. That’s the beauty of it. There are limitless options in gardening.”

Nicole loves to learn new things about plants and gardening, and is expanding her knowledge base even as she prepares her new greenhouse for opening day. She also enjoys sharing her experiences, explaining, “The love of plants is infectious, and it can grow in others with the right guidance and a good starting point.”

“Gardening is continual learning,” she believes, for gardeners of all ages and experience.

Nicole’s new greenhouse is providing her with new learning curves, in gardening and in business, and she said she is grateful for encouragement and mentoring from a former employer, Rocky Steinbrink, of Steinbrink’s Landscaping and Greenhouse in Kearney.

Nicole has felt herself “blossom” in greenhouses, and she hopes to share that experience with customers.

She says, “The peace of a garden, when you’re in it, is unbelievable.”

— Garden Thyme’s summer hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Sunday.

Go to Garden Thyme’s Facebook page for updates, news and growing tips.