Other Portage greenhouses

Schram’s Greenhouse
7313 S. Westnedge
269-327-5347

Polderman’s Florist and Garden Center
8710 Portage Rd.
269-327-3656

Corstange Greenhouse
1749 E. Centre
269-325-1094

Elzinga Greenhouse
6328 Lovers Lane
269-324-1891

The Garden Spot
7601 Garden Lane
269-323-8882

Meschke’s Greenhouse
2205 Stanley
269-327-7562

Peterman Greenhouse
1006 Schuring
269-327-3931

Tuesley’s Greenhouses
1090 Orchard Drive
269-329-0894

Bedding Plants by Posthumus
7639 Garden Lane
269-327-3536

Romence Gardens: A family tradition in Portage
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I have been gardening for many years…mostly in shady, wooded areas. Every year, I ask the same questions…what is going to grow, look showy, and last all season with the minimum amount of work? And every year, I come up with… impatiens. This spring, I wanted to expand my options, but I also wanted to think about perennials that might work as well. I decided to ask an expert.

Jeff Romence is a landscaping expert in Portage. The Romence family has been running a greenhouse business in Portage for four generations. The business that is now known as Romence Gardens evolved from the family celery farm, which was located on the corner of Romence and Westnedge. Romence Gardens moved out to the edge of Portage at 9660 Shaver Road when urban sprawl overtook the corner of Westnedge and Romence. Best Buy and National City Bank now occupy the spot where the house, barns and garden center once stood. Romence Road, one of Portage’s main streets, is named after the family farm.

What does Jeff Romence recommend for my shady garden? He suggests the perennial hosta in all its many shapes and forms. Hostas are becoming one of the mainstays of Romence Gardens’ business. Romence Gardens has always sold hostas in pots, but the company has now expanded the hosta business to include bare root hostas in bulk which can be found at the Garden center but also as a mail order business. The extensive list of varieties they supply can be found at www.romencegardensinc.com.

Hostas will work well in any garden. They are mounding plants with green leaves and a spike of lily-style flowers that bloom in July and August. There are several remarkable things about hosta: they grow well in sun and shade and look good all season long; they are very well suited to Michigan; they come in several shades of green, from yellow green to blue green; and they come in many sizes with many leaf shapes. They are easily divided and new hosta beds can be created from the divided plants. The most remarkable thing about hosta plants, however, is that they are virtually indestructible. That appealed to me the most.

Jeff Romence also can help homeowners plan landscaping for their new or existing yards. Using a computer design program, he adds virtual landscaping to the photograph of the house. The homeowner can then use the plan Jeff has developed to make decisions about plant, tree and shrub purchases.

Romence Gardens is open year round. Among all the home gardening and landscaping products, customers can find a fertilizer that Romence Gardens had specially developed for Southwest Michigan. Jeff Romence, his brother Joe, sister Shelly Whisman, as well as their father, Bob Romence serve customers daily at 9660 Shaver Road in Portage. They are proud of their heritage as a long-time Portage business. Jeff is passionate about continuing to serve the Portage community. He says, “I am most proud of what we have achieved over the years as a family.”

Romence Gardens
9660 Shaver Rd
Portage, Mi
49024
269-323-8310
www.romencegardensinc.com

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