Chuck and Mary Ellen started Shady Hill Gardens in 1974, in the greenhouses in Batavia. Those greenhouses had been built in the early 1900's, as a cut flower range and at the time, had been vacant for several years. As cut flower houses, the greenhouses had ground beds in them, with no cement aisles and very few benches anywhere inside. Obviously, these greenhouses have been modified inside for our present uses.

Shady Hill has gained a reputation as geranium specialists, after more than 20 years of breeding, propagating and collecting geraniums of every size, shape, color and scent. Although geraniums are the largest crop, Shady Hill also grows a full line of bedding plants, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, perennials and poinsettias, during the holiday season. As with the geraniums, we look for different, unusual and uncommon plants and cultivars in all of the crops that we grow.

The bottom line on Shady Hill Gardens is that we are plantsmen, and as such, are interested in growing and selling quality plants. You will not find too much in the way of tools, fertilizers and other gardening accoutrements, but what you will find is a wide array of usual and unusual plants, that are grown in our greenhouses and some knowledgeable advice to help you with your gardening needs. Stop out soon and see either one of our 'acres of geraniums.'