It's no secret that we have a real humdinger of a crush on the Gardener. We've touted their wares more than once and bragged about the fact that we stalk the store on a regular basis. We've even foisted a giveaway on our loyal readers in an attempt to spread our obsession.
The Gardener's newly launched webstore is mighty nifty and can easily set the heart atwitter, but the full-on butterfly rumblings don't set in until you've stepped into the actual store.
The Gardener pulls so much of what we love about California and lets it all play together with other cultures from around the world. Local artists and artisans are prominently featured alongside wares from faraway lands and special attention is paid to handmade objects.
And though our pocket books aren't always in the mood to oblige us, taking a stroll around the store can be equally inspiring. The Gardener is top-notch at creating settings and moods that send our minds reeling with possibilities. During the holiday season, unexpected displays of red and green cacti as centerpieces sent us running to our local nursery.
Stop in to pick up a handmade mug for yourself or grab a nice box of soaps or a cookbook for your sweetie. Believe us, anything from this store will be welcomed with open arms. There's even a lovely little children's selection for those pint-sized Valentines.
Don't forget about their other two locations at the San Francisco Ferry Building and in Healdsburg.
-shayna
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
does anyone know when there're planning on holding another warehouse sale?
thanks
view Arran's profile
I love The Gardener too, but I'm disappointed in how much they mark up some of their goods. I discovered this accidentally when I bought a stovetop grill called "El Asador" there for $75, as a gift. It didn't come with a box or any instructions, and I was hoping to include some pointers on how to use it. The metal rim was stamped with "Santa Fe School of Cooking," so I looked on their web site to see if they might have a description I could print to include with the gift. Imagine my surprise to see that they're charging $29.95 for the same item. Wow - even taking shipping into account, 250% is a lot of mark-up. When I returned the grill to The Gardener and asked if the price was a mistake, they said it wasn't, and the reason the cooking school could charge less is that it it's an online-only store. This would probably come as a surprise to the people who take cooking classes there :-).
Anyway, that got me paying attention, and I've noticed the same thing with other items at The Gardener. They have such a beautiful selection that I'd be fine with paying something extra because of their skill in bringing everything together. But not double or triple what other places charge.
view vickio's profile
vickio: I felt the same way about the mark-up. Their prices are too over-priced and I can think of spending my money for the garden area somewhere else. Same goes for Smith & Hawkin, of which I love...at least they have sales.
view sanriofreak's profile