Just down the road and over a few bridges lies Pink Prairie Gardens, a nursery and greenhouse owned by Nick and Kim Gehling. A scenic drive takes customers off the beaten path to a farm situated just outside Geneseo.
The Gehlings are in their thirteenth year of the greenhouse business, having opened it after returning to the area from Western Iowa.
“There wasn’t anything like this around,” said Kim Gehling.
Their next door neighbors, she said, sell produce but there wasn’t anywhere for area residents to purchase flowering plants for their garden. The Gehlings had the experience needed to open such a business because Nick’s brother owns a greenhouse and Nick’s background is in horticulture.
The Gehling’s business is located on the family’s working farm at 16301 Weber Rd., and Kim said the farm and the greenhouse falls under her husband’s purview. Although Kim does help out with the greenhouse side, she is a business owner and the president of Team WTI in Geneseo. In her spare time, she writes a recipe column for The Kewanee Voice.
Pink Prairie Gardens features mostly annuals that they grow themselves, and Nick said there are too many varieties to count. Also sold are tropical plants that are brought in from Florida each year, Kim said.
The operation started with one small greenhouse and they now have four. The largest of the greenhouses is where the plants are sold. In addition to plants, they sell complimentary items such as wooden and iron planters and garden accessories. They also offer a small selection of vegetables and herbs.
Custom potting is also available for people who want to bring in containers. Kim’s mom, Barb Nelson and Linda Charlet make the arrangements with whatever plants or colors customers request. Many customers simply ask to be surprised, she said.
Grab and go arrangements are also premade and customers can choose from assorted planters. Plant prices range from $5 to $36 for large hanging baskets. A six-pack of flowers cost $6.50. Grab and go containers and custom potting prices vary.
Hours for the greenhouse are 9am to 5pm daily. The greenhouse opens usually in April, depending on the weather and will stay open until all of the plants are sold.
“We were sold out by June last year,” Kim said.
The business has a Facebook page and every Thursday night at 6 pm, they go live on Facebook and offer special deals and featured plants. Online ordering from their website is also an option and any order placed by noon can be picked up that same day by 3 p.m.
