34 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | farm with a compost pile, animals, a massive cutting-fl ower garden and a welcoming invi- tation to visitors for summer camps (2023 is sold out!), pick-your-own-fl owers days, a cut- fl ower CSA program, tours and a fall festival. Best Place to Buy Pollinator-Friendly Garden Plants Finding Nectar Nursery 15550 CO-72, Arvada 720-667-7854 fi ndingnectar.com If you’ve noticed fewer birds and bees in the backyard than you used to see, a good way to encourage them to come back is to put in a garden of plants that attract them: Pollinators go where the food is. Brad Kuhn’s Finding Nectar Nursery makes it easy, because he only grows the pollinator- friendly plants that encourage cooperation among species; the bees, birds and butter- fl ies eat heartily, then fl y off to scatter pol- len and seeds elsewhere. It’s nature’s way, and beautiful to look at, too. Best Gardening Supply Store Nick’s Garden Center & Farm Market 2001 South Chambers Road, Aurora 303-696-6657 nicksgardencenter.com Open since 1987, Nick’s is a longtime staple that’s much more than just a place to pick up plants, soil and shovels (though it has plenty of those, and much more to offer). In the fall, it’s where families fl ock for freshly roasted green chiles and to pick out pumpkins for Hal- loween. It even has its own haunted house! In the spring and summer, there’s a plenti- ful selection of fresh produce, and you can often catch live music when you visit. Then, come winter, it’s all about Christmas trees and fresh wreaths. This is a store where shopping is more than an errand; it’s an experience. Best Plant Store Plant Garage 1000 Acoma Street 720-361-2321 plantgaragedenver.com Both indoor and outdoor plant lovers will need to pinch themselves upon en- tering Plant Garage, because it’s simply a dream come true. Fill up on beginner and advanced care indoor plants as well as succulents at this spot, which also carries a wide variety of mulch and soil and even offers landscaping services. If you ever have an issue with a plant, snap a picture and send it to Plant Garage’s Instagram (@plantgarage_denver) and you’ll receive tips on how to revive it — or just take it to the store for advice. Fair warning: Any time you go in, you’re sure to leave with a new plant. Best Place to Buy Flowers Rowdy Poppy 303-862-0407 rowdypoppy.com Kim Zimmerman founded this sustain- ability-focused fl oral design house and urban micro-farm in 2018. From special- occasion bouquets to weddings to its plant subscription service, Rowdy Poppy excels at making eye-catching creations with a modern, avant-garde aesthetic. While we love Rowdy Poppy’s visual appeal, what really makes it stand out is Zimmerman’s commitment to using both farmed and foraged local fl ora whenever possible and her drive to reimagine how the fl ower in- dustry operates. Whether you’re treating yourself or someone else, fl owers from this online spot are a sure way to brighten any day. Best Help Going Sustainable Juniperseed Mercantile 28 East Arapahoe Road, Littleton 5641A South Nevada Street, Littleton 720-282-9338 juniperseedmercantile.com Onetime science teacher Tiffany Norton found her interests in chemistry and craft- ing merge when she decided to reproduce the homemade cleaning products and herbal remedies her German grandmother once used. Inspired, Norton put science and old-fashioned wisdom to work, creat- ing a line of sustainable, earth-friendly lo- tions, soaps, body-care products, cleaning solutions and more, and selling them under the moniker of Juniperseed Mercantile. Since that modest start, the business has expanded to include a brick-and-mortar shop and separate workshop venue where visitors can see her staff at work mixing potions. Juniperseed’s products are 100 percent handmade, mostly vegan and/or organic, and bottled using refi llable, recy- clable containers. Best Body Composters The Natural Funeral 102 West Chester Street, Lafayette 720-515-2344 henaturalfuneral.com Much as it’s a great place to live, Colorado is also a prime place to die. Nearly every burial option is available in this state, in- cluding natural organic reduction, also known as body composting. When Colo- rado legalized the practice two years ago, the Natural Funeral was ready to go with in-state body composting and a staff that knows how to truly honor a life. Dust to dust. Shopping and Services continued from page 32 continued on page 36
