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With the warmer than usual winter and early spring temperatures, gardeners everywhere have been itching to get outside and dig in the dirt. Likewise, Richard Anderson of Labrador Home & Garden, in Rushford, has been eager to get the gardening season in full swing.

Opened in May of 2009, Labrador Home & Garden has expanded both its business growth plan and its physical grounds. Initially developed as a 3-phase development plan, Anderson acknowledges that the company has had to shift its focus with changes to the economy, greater interest in sustainability and organics, as well as the community at large.

“We started out with a pretty strong economy. We’re watching that, like everybody else,” notes Anderson. “We have evolved our thinking around gardening and landscaping. The people in this area, they like to do things themselves and we want to help them do that.”

Three years ago, Anderson began with the traditional perennial, annual, tree, and shrub offering laid out on a section of the family farm. Now, Labrador Home & Garden has expanded to a complete garden center, including a checkout stand, covered pergola, large greenhouse, and more. This season they’ll be adding an outdoor fireplace and seating areas to give visitors ideas for hardscaping, including featuring natural stone for walls, sidewalks, and more.

“People don’t get enough time outside. We want to help people get ideas to work on their own property,” stresses Anderson. “We’re customer service focused and education focused,” he adds. “People love to shop in garden centers. There’s not always the time or money though, so we work with you, answer your questions, to help you enjoy it.

One way Labrador is doing that this year, on top of offering master gardener expertise through garden center manager Toni Sherwood, is through a partnership with professional landscape designer Peggi Redalen, owner of Elements of Design. “We’re excited about working with Peggi. In landscapes, plants are used for a reason. She’s researched all of that so it’ll be something without problems that you’re going to enjoy.”

Anderson is quick to point out that his staff is just as willing to listen as it is to offer suggestions. “If someone has an idea, we’ll listen. We want to be here for the duration, here for the community.” During the 2011, customers begged for more native plants. Labrador listened and now carries hardy native species that will thrive here without special fuss, chemical fertilizers, or pesticides.

Also added are sustainable rain garden plants, featuring native shrubs as well as wildflowers and grasses. “You can design a rain garden so you can help improve local water quality while creating a beautiful, natural garden.”

The natural and sustainably-minded transition has been a big one for Labrador Home & Garden. “We have been changing our vision to be more inline with what we think the environment needs,” notes Anderson. Already in partnership with sustainable practice growers and suppliers, Labrador will offer specialty annuals grown in wheat-based, compostable pots and herbs grown in compostable pots made from rice hulls, bamboo and straw, to keep petroleum-based black plastic pots out of our landfills. ““There’s an organic way of doing things,” Anderson stresses.

Labrador also is keen on offering up a wide array of vegetables, herbs, native plants, and unique, hard-to-find plants. “There are a lot of things you can get,” emphasized Anderson. “We don’t want to be a big box store. We want to customize in knowledge and service. We want to have what they won’t necessarily carry and concentrate on unique plants you don’t see everyday. If there’s something you want, that we don’t already carry, we’ll also do special orders. We’re going to keep adding ideas to be a one-stop shop.”

Trees and shrubs are scheduled to arrive this week, with annuals, perennials, and vegetables arriving soon. Opening day at Labrador is April 27. In addition to plant materials, they offer unique, handcrafted birdhouses made with all-natural materials, concrete garden statuary, bird baths, and fountains, ceramic and earthenware pots and planters, cast outdoor fireplaces, and more.

Hours will vary, depending on the season, but will be posted in upcoming advertisements, as well as on their website: labradorhomeandgarden.com. They’re located at 26993 Seivers Drive, just off Highway 43 south between Rushford and I-90.

For more information, contact Labrador Home & Garden at (507) 864-2158 or email at Info@labradorhomeandgarden.com.