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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