Bowood Farms began in Clarksville and—thank our lucky stars—is now growing here
By Katie Pelech
Photography by Frank Di Piazza
Tucked away in the northern Central West End is a botanical refuge. Once the site of a plastics manufacturer, the large building on the corner of Olive and Walton now houses row upon row of orchids, chrysanthemums, roses, lilies, impatiens, marigolds, snapdragons, pansies and geraniums—at least, that’s what we were able to identify at first glance. Upon further exploration, it turns out that Bowood Farms has far more to offer. There are shelves full of gardening literature, a vast collection of outdoor accessories, gardening aids and oodles of plant-maintenance products. In the greenhouse, there are yet more plants, ranging from shrubbery to vegetables to exotic fruit trees. Their one unifying theme—they’ve all been grown here in Missouri, just an hour-and-a-half away in Clarksville.
And therein lies one of the store’s chief appeals. Whereas other garden centers may have a similar range of products, they may have shipped some from California, others from New Mexico, still others from Indiana. “Fresh” young seedlings may have been en route for days; not so with Bowood Farms’ plants. These babies have been out and about for a couple of hours—and if they don’t sell, they head back home to Clarksville. No ailing plants to be found here.
Another benefit to growing locally is the minimization of energy expenditure on transport and plant care in transit. This is no accident. Bowood Farms has made a concerted effort to be green. Their building was constructed using sustainable practices whenever possible; many of their fertilizers and plant-care products are natural, and they’ve recently introduced organic vegetable seedlings.
One of their greatest contributions to St. Louis, however, is simply their choice of location. They are part of an ever-growing trend to diversify and rehabilitate previously barren areas of the city. Assistant general manager Lizzy McPheeters-Rickard reports that the majority of Bowood Farms’ customer base comes from the city, a fact that greatly pleases them. Their prices cover a huge range—perennials start at $4.95 a quart and run up to $19.95 a gallon, pots run from $15 to $150, and inside plants run between $4.25 and $12.50 apiece.
So great was last year’s success that, this summer, the nursery has expanded into the previously vacant adjacent lot, adding a greenhouse and a small café, which will allow contented customers to linger in a floral haze for as long as they desire.
So whether you’re a suburbanite with a shrubbery shortage or an office worker looking for a desk accessory, Bowood Farms can hook you up. They’ve become particularly adept, Ms. McPheeters-Rickard reports, at outfitting terrace gardens for downtown loft owners.
It’s getting a lot easier to be green.
where is it?
Bowood Farms
4605 Olive
314-454-6868
Hours: Tue-Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Mon.
