Nicole Hancock basically grew up in a greenhouse. As a fourth-generation horticulturist, she has worked in greenhouses, floral shops, and agriculture ever since she was a kid. Her company, Botanicals, started 20 years ago and offered interior landscape design and maintenance and imported ceramic pottery from China and Vietnam. With retail locations in St. George and Sandy, her company has been in a state of major growth over the last 5 years. 

Her dream of expanding into a full-scale garden center was realized in January 2021 when Tri-City Nursery in Kaysville approached Botanicals to share their space and offer plants and products to the public. As Tri-City deals primarily with contractors and businesses only, the collaboration with Botanicals to offer services and products to the public is a natural one. 

“We came in brand-spanking new to the community from St. George in January,” she said. “Our greenhouse inventory started coming in during February and opened soon after.” With 4.5 acres of retail nursery space this new Kaysville location is a much larger operation than their other stores.             

In addition to structural improvements, Hancock has great plans for her new space including a wet wall to accommodate tropical plants and to work with local growers to source her inventory. Hancock also wants to be a source of education for her customers.

“I hate for homeowners to feel like they are terrible at gardening because they are not successful,” she said. “You see people come in all the time and blame themselves when stuff doesn’t work out, not understanding that there could be underlying issues with the soil and other factors. It’s not a personal failure. It’s just a process of education.” 

Horticultural education is in Hancock’s blood as her uncle is Dr. David Gibby, founder of the Master Gardener program which provides intensive horticultural training to individuals via university and college extension courses. Master Gardeners then go out into their communities and volunteer by giving lectures, creating gardens, conducting research, and many other projects. 

Hancock’s vision also includes offering workshops and classes such as planting for wildlife, planting for sustenance such as fruits and vegetables, teaching how to create edible landscapes, planting for cut flowers, and other classes for the community. The space is also available for special events such as corporate gatherings and celebrations.

Botanicals welcomes all even if it is just to peruse the plants and enjoy your lunch amongst the beauty of the atmosphere. Hancock said, “Coming up here, spending time here, helping people here…we are so lucky to be in this business because our job is to literally make the world more beautiful, more peaceful and healthier whether it is the oxygen they get to breathe or the food they get to grow.” 

Botanicals is located at 395 S. Deseret Drive in Kaysville. Visit www.botanicalsdesign.com for more information.