Jackson County’s one and only licensed plant nursery may be small, but it brings a lot to the table for its size.
Brooke Lewis loves houseplants; Penny Lewis loves perennials and annuals. Together, they make up the cleverly named Scenic Root, located just a few miles outside of Edna.
“I like what I like, and Penny likes what she likes,” said Brooke.
Since opening two years ago, Scenic Root has offered a variety of plants to customers. Houseplants, outdoor plants and more recently, they added carnivorous plants, which can be difficult to find in South Texas.
Brooke wasn’t always so good with plants. It really started while her husband was building their home.
Brooke’s father-in-law built a porch for the new home.
“Penny had such a green thumb with outdoor things, and I was like ‘This porch.
I’m going to try my hand at plants.”
Starting with low maintenance succulents that she says are “Easy to keep and thrive on neglect,” Brooke eventually moved into houseplants, and then teamed up with Penny to form Scenic Root.
Now, they offer much more than plants. Penny and Brooke also mix their own soil.
“Having a good soil is like having a good foundation,” said Broke.
Their customers also benefit from care support in perpetuity. Monstera not thriving? Venus Flytrap looking wilty? They are just a phone call away to guide people,helping them succeed, and the plants survive – and more.
“We don’t just want them to survive. We want them to thrive,” said Brooke.
Carnivorous plants, like the Venus flytrap, can be especially finicky, requiring really specific and unusual care to do well, but they are happy to go the extra mile with those who want to keep them.
To help those who would like to try their hand at keeping carnivorous plants but didn’t know where to start, Scenic Root held a Sip and Snaps Carnivorous Plant Workshop at Lavaca Bluffs Winery in Lolita on June 21. They helped participants build their own “bog bowls” with multiple species of the bug-eating plants, and armed them with the tools they need to keep them happy.
They will also hold their grand opening and ribbon cutting starting on July 3 at 12 p.m., and continuing on the, 4, and 5. Refreshments will be served.
