40 Years Growing!
Founded in 1980 by Tobi and Sally von Trapp,
The von Trapp Greenhouse has supplied gardeners' dreams for
the past 40 years on Waitsfield Common in Waitsfield,
Vermont. Tobi grew
up on a dairy farm across the road, so he has a strong background
in agriculture. Sally has an Associate Degree in Horticulture
from Temple University in Pennsylvannia. Our combined backgrounds
have enabled us to carve out a niche in central Vermont growing
unusual plants of exceptional vigor.
Unlike garden centers, which purchase the majority of their
plant material as finished product from outside sources, The
von Trapp Greenhouse grows all of its own plants from seeds,
cuttings or divisions. The local zoning ordinance precludes
us from selling supplies or accessories in the agricultural/residential
zone where the business is located. Consequently, all of our
energy is put into growing extraordinary plant material. The
von Trapp Greenhouse offers over 500 cultivars of annuals,
over 500 cultivars of perennials, and about 100 cultivars
of herbs and vegetable plants.
Our operation includes six greenhouses (approximately 12,000
square feet of growing space) and a network of coldframes
to provide protection for frost tolerant annuals and young
perennials.
Seed sowing begins in mid-January and continues through
May. By late March the greenhouses are filled with seedlings. The
business opens for spring sales around May 1st and remains open
daily through September; we are closed July 4th. Our display garden is open to the public
for viewing throughout this period during our business hours.
Spring is an incredibly intense time for us. Four full time
and two part time seasonal employees are hired each year
to get all the work done. Some of these employees have worked
at the greenhouse for many spring seasons, dovetailing the
spring greenhouse work with other resort area jobs during
the fall and winter months. Jewls Cohen assists her husband catering
special events. Milo Fischer is director of the ski school
at Sugarbush's
Mount Ellen. Tei Schneider is an avid gardener, skier, and cyclist. Sam
Andersen is Tobi's right hand man throughout the growing season. During the
winter months he can be found running the Green Mountain Express lift at Mount
Ellen at Sugarbush Resort.
We have a terrific staff — all incredibly hardworking people who love gardening.
Our daughter, Emily von Trapp, has inherited the plant gene. She has established a cut flower business selling bouquets of specialty tulips during the winter months, followed by mixed bouquets of field grown cut flowers and lilies during the summer months. Her flowers can be found at Mehuron's Market in Waitsfield, Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier, Waterbury Village Market, Shelburne Super Market, and The Jericho Market. See her flowers on Facebook and Instagram at von Trapp Flowers.
After months of 10 to 12 hour days, seven days a week, we are definitely ready for the quieter months of fall and winter when fall clean up, maintenance, forcing bulbs, and the ordering of seeds and cuttings for the following spring are the only demands on our time.
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Photo credit: Dency Kane