Bucks Country Gardens

A gardener’s dream.

By Alina Makhnovetsky

Tom Hebel knew he wanted to be a landscape architect while still in junior high. Since then, Hebel has been in the business of crafting art with landscapes, green lawns, plants and flowers. One thing Hebel did not perceive, is how big and involved his landscaping love would become, especially once taking the sole ownership of Bucks Country Gardens and growing the Doylestown location year by year, from a mere nursery into the elaborate wonder store and design center it is today.

Besides housing a full time landscaping design center, which focuses on residential and commercial services, Bucks Country Gardens also maintains an array of unmatched choices inside its massive garden center. The nursery and green house boast everything from healthy annuals, standard and strong perennials, exotic plants and even specimen size trees, from a weeping cherry to pin oak or river birch. The store also upholds a vast department, which Hebel calls, lifestyle, where garden ornaments, home décor items, patio furniture and even Christmas spirit can be found.

However, chiefly differentiating Bucks Country Gardens from other suppliers is the enthusiasm Hebel and his dedicated team share in pleasing the client. Their effort is immediately evident. For example, there is a deliberate avoidance of a telephone-automated system; instead a cheerful employee picks up the line. Then there is the “white glove” delivery policy, which means your order will be tactfully placed where you intended it, and not abandoned on the curb in boxes.

Moreover, Bucks Country Gardens is now also tapping into a market previously ignored. This spring, the garden center is introducing a new concept for those who are passionate and like to get their hands dirty. We Design, You Dig will provide avid gardeners and enthusiasts with a one of a kind design for their grounds and let them break up the earth and plant their dream garden, with minimal assistance, but plenty of guidance. “It’s that particular customer that is underserved in our industry,” says Hebel. “We have a complete design/build firm, but we often found people just want the design and enjoy doing the work themselves,” explains Hebel. Intuitively paying attention to the needs of their customer, Hebel and his design team invented a way to combine their resources. A designer is even available for a house call and clients have the choice of implementing as much or as little of their own input into the concept. Taking advantage of Hebel’s design team also grants access to the expansive nursery and garden center, initiating a one-stop devise and plant strategy. “We sell things that make people happy,” confirms Hebel, for whom this is clearly the favorite part of the job. Another part Hebel undoubtedly enjoys is envisioning the project and seeing it come to life. “Its art really, creating something from nothing,” Hebel says.

As part of the Doylestown community since the early 1980’s, Hebel dedicates his business to lending a helping hand to many organizations throughout the area. “I take it as an honor and responsibility,” explains Hebel, who is an active member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Hebel also takes a personal interest in land preservation and historic preservation projects. “We have the resources to be supportive in lots of ways,” says Hebel of loaning trees to Groveland Elementary School across the street for 6^th grade graduation and sending flower centerpieces to Peace Valley Nature Center for their annual banquet. “This community is so involved in many worthwhile cultural, educational and supportive non-profit activities and we enjoy being able to say yes when we’re asked to help.”

Bucks Country Gardens may just be the most familiar site along North Easton Highway, and the evolving ideas, unparalleled experience of the staff and constant stream of creativity and supplies keep this garden center forever in bloom.

Bucks Country Gardens is located on Route 611 at 1057 N. Easton Highway just north of Doylestown. For more information, call (215) 766-7800 or visit www.buckscountrygardens.com.

Alina Makhnovetsky is a freelance writer and lives in Philadelphia, PA.