Tucked away down a country road in New Boston, TX is a hidden gem. It’s a greenhouse and garden center, but it’s also much more than that. Little Country Greenhouse, owned by Bruce (the self-proclaimed “bloomin’ idiot”) and Patricia Pardue, is a family-friendly gardening destination. They have multiple greenhouses filled nearly year-round with beautiful plants for your home or garden.
It’s been a tradition of ours to visit the greenhouse almost once per week, year-round, for the last few years. We’ve grown to love this place. So much so that we had our daughter’s birthday party there, a fairy garden celebration. Our favorite greenhouse is the one that houses a beautiful koi pond, the parakeets, and some beautiful staghorn ferns that are thirty years old! My children love watching the parakeets and checking on the koi, while I browse their excellent selection of house plants.
Butterfly Cottage
During the warmer months (summer into early fall) the garden center also hosts a butterfly house! This tour is free, just be sure to call ahead to reserve a slot. It’s enchanting to walk slowly through the enclosure, noting the caterpillars munching away, the chrysalis’ near the sidewalls, as the fully mature butterflies float all around you. Please do not touch the butterflies, chrysalis, or caterpillars. There is a place for donations at the end of the tour and I’d encourage you to add a small donation to keep this beautiful gift to the community going.
New this year, they have added a country store with a wide variety of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, a hydroponic growing system, and some Brahma chickens! The rooster for the Brahma, once fully mature (which takes up to two years) will be nearly 36 inches tall! You can walk around the chicken and rooster enclosures, and be sure to say hello to Big Man.
Inside the Shop
Our favorite way to cap off our visit is to head inside the shop, which is also home to their old-fashioned candy shop and ice cream store! They also have coffee, which I grab in the cooler months to enjoy while walking around.
Little Country Greenhouse is a wonderful, family-friendly, destination year-round. I’ve even heard that Bruce has a special connection to Santa Claus and he sets up a workshop right on site! All of the employees are very helpful and Bruce and Patricia are always happy to help answer any plant and gardening questions. Be sure to follow them on Facebook HERE to catch some of their weekly videos, which will be sure to put a smile on your face.
Five things to see at Little Country Greenhouse:
- Big Man the rooster.
- The Butterfly Cottage in the summer.
- The parakeets.
- The Koi fish and pond.
- The (seasonal) selection of carnivorous plants.
Nichole is a freelance writer located in southwest Arkansas, who loves all things outdoors including gardening, hiking, backpacking, and canoeing. She is a homeschooling mother to two, and they are entering their seventh year of homeschooling! They are an adventure and outdoor-loving family of four, who are often embarking on day trips and road trips to chase some shenanigans. As a family, they love supporting small and local businesses, especially local bookstores and coffee shops. Nichole hopes to inspire others to see the wonder and adventure in both the big and the small, close to home and on the road. You can follow their adventures on Instagram by following them at @coleyraeh.
