It’s almost spring at the nursery

Come rain, sleet, hail, or snow, experience suggests there’ll be a few eager gardeners outside the Greenery when the doors open Thursday at 10 a.m.

The family-owned nursery atop Dilworth Mountain is set for its 33rd season, and owners expect almost as many looky-loos as actual customers on the first day of business.

“A lot of people just like to come up here for the first feeling of spring, to see all the wonderful flowers we have ready to go,” owner Tell Segler said Monday.

The Greenery always opens the first Thursday in March, regardless of the weather.

“Our whole operation is geared to a production schedule,” Segler said. “At certain times, we have to move stuff out to the retail area to make room for other plants.

“So we move along more by the calendar than by the weather,” he said. “Come snow or whatever temperature, we’ll be open.”

Normally, particularly hardy plants such as primulas and pansies can be placed outside in gardens this time of year.

But with the weekend weather forecast calling for overnight lows of –7 C, and just a few degrees warmer than that into next week, Segler suggests even the outdoor placement of these plants be delayed slightly.

This year, an expanded section of the store carries a broader selection of decorative metal objects to enhance the look of a patio or garden.

“Whether you’d call them art objects or just paraphernalia, we’re seeing they’re becoming very popular,” Segler said. “It’s all about making your outdoor space more inviting.”