Roots & Blooms garden center opens in Kirkwood, Missouri

The name of Jenniffer Elliott’s garden center, Roots & Blooms, stems from her desire to establish “roots” in her community of Kirkwood, Mo.

After working in the garden center industry for more than 20 years, she decided it was time to open her own shop.

The store, which opened March 22, sits on three quarters of an acre and is 1,500 square feet.

Elliott said she strives to carry an usual plant selection at Roots & Blooms, and offers a unique mix of trees, shrubs and perennials, colorful annuals and houseplants, pottery, statuary, fountains, "garden inspired" gifts and more.

“I think the thing that I’m most proud of is the unusual plant selection. We carry the tried and true but I like to get some unusual plants in here that people haven’t used very regularly,” Elliott said.  “And supporting local businesses is huge to me. We’re selling Consolare candles, which are made in St. Louis, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to crime victim advocacy.”

Sherry Davis, who handles marketing and visual merchandising for the store, said the goal is to create a peaceful, welcoming environment. They play music from Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, one of Elliott’s friends organizes a barbeque outside of the store on weekends and bunnies named with the help of a customer contest hop around the store.

“We’re just a small, cozy little garden center right off of the main drag in Kirkwood. We’re just trying to create an environment that makes people want to hang out,” Davis said.

For more information, visit the Roots & Blooms website.