It’s New to Us by Jean Stratton

SPRINGTIME DISPLAY: “At Madden’s, you will find friendly service, thousands of perennials, shrubs, and ornamental and seasonal plants, and a tremendous selection of pottery.” Melinda Madden, owner of Madden’s Nursery & Landscaping, holds a gorgeous full-sun hanging basket, overflowing with petunias, geraniums, and verbena in shades of lavender, pink, and purple.

Quality Plants, Shrubs, Trees and Pottery Offered At Madden’s Nursery & Landscaping

People are getting the itch to get ready now. They’re coming in to look and see what’s available for their garden.”

Melinda Madden, owner with her husband Peter Madden, of Madden’s Nursery & Landscaping, looks forward to helping customers with their choices and is always ready to advise on the appropriate plant, tree, or shrub for a specific spot.

“I like to help select the right plants for a customer’s landscape and garden. Sometimes, they will even bring in a digital picture of their yard, so we can help decide on plants. What’s right for sun, shade, which ones need a lot of water, which are deer-resistant, and so on.”

When the Maddens opened their business at 4312 Route 27 in Little Rocky Hill in 1995, Ms. Madden was fresh from a career as a multi-media coordinator for corporate meetings in New York City. A young mother with no horticultural experience, she began an intensive learning program.

Garden Center

“Peter had been in the landscaping design business, and it was always his dream to have his own garden center,” explains Ms. Madden. “Although I had always loved flowers, I had no real horticultural experience, so I signed up for courses at Rutgers. “

Not only did she learn about plants, she came to love them. Growing them and seeing them thrive has become her passion.

“I just love this business! It truly is my passion. Watching tiny seedlings grow into lush, beautiful plants is exciting. I love the beauty of the garden center, and I love making my customers happy with all the beautiful flowers we grow.”

Customers will find an amazing display of plants, shrubs, trees, pottery, and plants are conveniently displayed according to categories. For example: plants needing sun, shade, lots of water, little water, deer resistant, etc.

“We grow all our own plants, both annuals and perennials, and 90 percent of shrubs and trees,” explains Ms. Madden. “This was always our plan to compensate for changes in the economy, and it enables us to maintain the same prices for years. Two years ago, my husband and I bought 20 acres of buildable land in Franklin Township, and enrolled it in Farmland Preservation, and it can never be developed. This is where we grow our plants. So our product is truly New Jersey-grown!

Customers are anxious to know what is safe to plant now, and she reports that “Cooler crop annuals, such as pansies, petunias, dianthus, geraniums, snap dragons, and verbena can be planted. Also, all shrubs and trees can go in now.

Most Popular

“Our big business is perennials and annuals,” she continues. “I am as passionate about our selection of perennials as I am about our annuals. Popular perennials, such as coreopsis and hosta, can be planted now. Hosta likes shade, as does astilbe, also a perennial. The most popular annual for shade is impatiens, which can also take a little sun. Lobelia also likes shade. Perennials such as day lilies and cone flowers like sun. Then, there is something like alyssum that takes morning sun and afternoon shade. It can get complicated!

“By the way,” she points out, “impatiens, which is so popular, is best to plant after May 15, when there is no danger of frost. However, if people can’t wait, then they can plant them now and just put a sheet over them at night if there is a frost risk.”

Another plant that is a real favorite is vinca, she adds. “An annual, this is just a great plant. It looks like impatiens, likes full sun, is drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant. How great is that!”

Salvia, ageratum, and marigolds are other deer-resistant plants, she notes, “And we are also known for our great collection of coleus, with 50 different kinds, and our selection of sedum.”

Lilacs, azalea, rhododendron, and all the flowering trees are available now, and currently, there is a special 25 percent savings on trees, shrubs, and pottery through April 30.

Madden’s is noted for its super selection of pottery from around the world. “It’s one of the largest collections, in any size, color, and shape you can imagine,” says Ms. Madden.

Soothing Activity

She thinks of her business as offering people a soothing activity in the midst of a stressful high tech society. “In a business like this, it’s back to basics. People like to come here; it’s low stress, and there is beauty here. Customers come in, and they feel better. After 9/11, people wanted to do a lot with their gardens, and right now, there are a lot of customers who want to do it themselves, do the actual planting. They want to stay home and enjoy their backyard and garden.”

Madden’s also sells gardening supplies, such as bags of mulch, peat moss, top soil and fertilizer. Vegetables, such as peppers, cucumbers, and tomato plants, will be available May 1, and delivery is also available for everything.

Customers come in for the full spectrum of plant material, adds Ms. Madden, whether it is for everything to landscape their entire property or just for a window box. “When customers come here, they expect to see a vast selection. We are known for that, and some people come in weekly just to see what is new here. A lot of customers will also come back because they say ‘I know you’ll give me an honest answer.’ We are set apart by that, and by our big selection, the quality, and our prices.”

Ms. Madden is pleased that her children enjoy helping out in the garden center on weekends and vacations. “Madden’s is a true family-owned and operated business. We’ve come a long way, and I absolutely love what I do. I love seeing the plants grow. I love coming to work. All winter, I’m working in the greenhouse, and I like that. But what is best is when the customers come in and see all the flowers.

“At the height of the season, my work day starts at 4:30 a.m. in the greenhouse, and it may not end until 7 or 8 p.m. I come home sweaty and tired; my kids say I smell like dirt. Sometimes in the spring, I feel as if I just work, eat, and sleep. But I can’t imagine doing anything else!”

Hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 to 7, Saturday 9 to 7, Sunday 9 to 6. (732) 297-6566.

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