Loch Greenhouse Is Blooming Just In Time For Spring Planting Season

BY NANCY GAGNET | MIRROR REPORTER — Flowers are bursting with color at Loch’s Greenhouse in Swanton. Owner Fred Loch spends spring, summer and fall selling the flowers he has tended to throughout the year. “What sets my business apart is the combination of colors of flowers we put in baskets and keeping them healthy – the plants are priority No. 1,” he said. Located just west of the Toledo Express Airport, Fred wants people to know he’s close by and he has a lot of beautiful plants and flowers in stock. “With The Andersons going out of business, a lot of people are searching for a nursery nearby – I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” he said. The business, which is located on 4 acres of property with 30,000 square feet of greenhouse, is filled with a large variety of annuals, succulents, vegetables, herbs and tropicals. The nursery carries perennials including grasses, shrubs, hibiscus, peonies, roses and black-eyed Susans. Flats and hanging baskets are available as well as gardening supplies and a wide variety of beautiful silk arrangements. In the fall, the greenhouse features mums and pumpkins, and holiday flowers and unique garden items are available at Christmas. Don Smith, of Springfield Township, has been buying his flowers from Loch’s for 12 years. He previously lived in Swanton and said his wife, who does most of the planting, changes flowers from year to year, but tends to plant geraniums, petunias and marigolds. “We’ve always been happy shopping there,” Smith said. “We like Fred. He has good products at good prices and his staff is always very friendly, cooperative and helpful.” Fred has owned the business for 30 years. He originally worked with his father, Fred Sr., who farmed produce on 30 acres of property. After reaching a point at which the local grocery stores being serviced wanted the farm to ship to stores further away, Fred Sr. decided to close rather than expand. “At first, we tried selling retail produce, but that didn’t go, so that is when we purchased the greenhouse,” Fred said. Abandoned for five years, the greenhouse needed a lot of work. But Fred and his family got busy, cleaned up the space and built the current business. “I had never grown a flower before, but things slowly started to take off and we added more greenhouses,” Fred said. “Now, it’s pretty successful.” Loch employs a staff of one full-time and six part-time workers. Loch Greenhouse is a member of the Maumee Valley Growers Association. A loyalty program is also offered in which customers receive $10.00 off for every $200 spent. Hours of operation through June are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In July and August, the hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Loch Greenhouse is located at 11301 Airport Hwy. For information, please call the greenhouse at (419) 825-3733 or visit www.lochsgreenhouse.com online.