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Founded in 1980 by Tobi and Sally von Trapp, The von Trapp
Greenhouse has supplied gardeners dreams for the past
twenty-six years on Waitsfield Common in Waitsfield, Vermont.
Tobi grew
up on a dairy farm across the road, so he has a strong background
in agriculture. Sally has an Associate Degree in Horticulture
from Temple University in Pennsylvannia. Our combined backgrounds
have enabled us to carve out a niche in central Vermont growing
unusual plants of exceptional vigor.
Unlike garden centers, which purchase the majority of their
plant material as finished product from outside sources, The
von Trapp Greenhouse grows all of its own plants from seeds,
cuttings or divisions. The local zoning ordinance precludes
us from selling supplies or accessories in the
agricultural/residential zone where the business is located.
Consequently,
all of our energy is put into growing extraordinary plant
material. The von
Trapp Greenhouse offers over 550 cultivars of annuals, over
500 cultivars of
perennials, and about 100 cultivars of herbs and vegetable
plants.
Our operation includes six greenhouses (approximately 14,000
square feet of
growing space) and a network of coldframes to provide protection
for frost
tolerant annuals and young perennials.
Seed sowing begins in mid-January and continues through May.
By March the
greenhouses are filled with seedlings. The business opens
for spring sales on
May 1st and remains open daily through July (except the 4th),
with reduced
hours in August and September. Our display garden is open
to the public for viewing throughout this period during our business hours.
Spring is an incredibly intense time for us. Four full time
and three part time seasonal employees are hired each year
to get all the work done. Some of these employees have worked
at the greenhouse for many spring seasons, dovetailing the
spring greenhouse work with other resort area jobs during
the fall and winter months. Vee Lynch owns Cabin
Fever Quilts, a local quilt shop. Callie McAllister runs
the Cricket Club childcare center at Mad
River Glen ski area. Jewls Cohen assists her husband at
his take-out business, Michaels
Good to Go. We have a terrific staff - all incredibly
hardworking people who love gardening.
After months of 10 to 12 hour days, seven days a week, we
are definitely ready for the quieter months of fall and winter
when fall clean up, maintenance, forcing bulbs and the ordering
of seeds and cuttings for the following spring are the only
demands on our time.
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