jobs before this and decided that we
liked the agricultural community and
stuck around,” Barncord said.
In 2002, Debbie and Erin opened
Grass Farm Garden Accents after
William Gil and Erin visited a nursery
in Arizona that had demonstration
gardens. William Gil retired in 2007,
but still comes in every day.
The nearly five-acre property nestled
off Highway 101 on Lena Avenue
depicts different gardens, allowing
visitors to envision what they could
create in their own back yards.
The gardens, including French,
English and Asian, contain plant
material, fountains, and statues
reminiscent of those various styles.
A western garden and a section con-
taining unusual varieties of succulents
have been added, along with more
perennials and fruit trees. All the plant
material—including fifty varieties of
trees and hundreds of perennials—
comes from local growers.
“We’re lucky to be near Salinas and
Watsonville,” Barncord said. “Plants
grow well in our climate zone and it
helps our customers as well.”
She said they are the only business in
California that she’s aware of that offers
demonstration gardens.
“The bulk of our customers come
from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo
on a regular basis, but we also meet
people from as far away as Oklahoma to
North Dakota. We try to be a destination
garden site.”
A metal building houses the gift shop,
which contains everything a gardener
might need and more, from bird feeders
and gloves to wind chimes, wall art, fur-
niture, and home and garden décor.
“Most of the inventory is made in the
USA,” Barncord said.
The company’s website and social
media on Facebook and Instagram help
keep new and regular patrons in the
loop about new inventory and upcoming
events. Garden designers also bring their
clients in to view up close and touch
plant life and garden accessories.
Currently, several areas of the
property are getting a new look. Shrubs
are being removed in the Mediterranean
garden to make way for new plants and
trellises and a new counter is being
added to the gift shop.
“We have a lot of people who have
been coming in for years and we try to
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
switch it up and show them something
new and give them some new ideas,”
Barncord said.
Garden Accents employs twenty-two
people, some of whom are seasonal
workers. The average employee stays for
thirteen years while others have been
there for thirty years.
“Business last year increased by
twenty percent,” Barncord said, crediting
the influx of people moving to the area.
“A lot of people come in to shop in
the gift shop mostly. They’ll start with a
succulent and a pot and come back for
a trellis or bench,” she said.
Throughout the year, Garden Accents
offers seasonal events featuring food and
music, as well as gardening classes. They
also provide delivery service, fountain
installation, and custom container
planting.
Garden Accents • 11155 Lena Avenue, Gilroy
Grass Farm • 602 Palm Ave. in Morgan Hill
www.grassfarm.com or call (408) 846-4555
april/may 2019
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