This nursery has an enormous selection of plants. I've been there a dozen times and I'm still in awe as to how many plants they have. They also have a nice selection of garden tools, supplies, and whatever else you need for gardening. They even have an enormous indoor plant section. Prices are a bit higher than other places but you can't get the selection and variety anywhere else either. There just so many plants... read more

It looks me 5 attendants and nearly an hour just to get one bag of perlite. I paid about 2x more for it than I would have anywhere else. Unless you don't mind paying way more than necessary, I would recommend avoiding this place. read more

This review is for the management. I've been coming here for three years and always appreciated the great selection of plants and products. The workers are also helpful and courteous... but the manager is incredibly rude. Every time I've heard her talk to her staff or a customer, she's rude -- condescending, outright hostile and aggressive, very unpleasant like she prefers problems. There are no neutral interactions with her. I'm shocked the owners would keep her in this position because they're certainly losing some repeat customers. read more

We found a garden bench we wanted they were helpful getting it to our car. Also found a few more plants for the garden.

This is probably the biggest nursery in Olympia, so if you're looking for something, start here. While mom pushed her cart around, I sat with the dogs hanging out on some patio furniture. There's also a nice water feature near the streets and off the parking lot, surrounded with plants so you can dream of what you'd do to your garden if you had the size and the budget. The dogs liked the coolness of the area. Nice place to catch your breath. read more

Brought photo with receipt within warranty period. Insisted i dig up dead plant to make sure I planted it correctly. Told.owner my other one like it looks great. Told owner I live across town and couldn't picture work. Nope, and she walks away while saying have a good day. No discussion. I said give me a break, obviously plant is dead so apparently they don't stand behind their warranty. She told me to leave store that I was being rude. I said no I just want good service. She says "I haven't been rude" although she's the one that walked away rudely. I have been a customer many years but will not frequent any longer. read more

Bark & Garden Center - Poor customer service. - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow! I moved to Shelton 3 years ago and this place has been on my list since I first drove by, but their hours have made it impossible for me to visit until yesterday when I finally had a chance to stop in just before they closed. I was blown away! Seemed like at least half of the store had been closed off already since the summer season is nearly to a close, and it still took me 40 minutes to walk through! From outdoor plants to houseplants and outdoor furniture and decor, I have never been to a one stop shop with such an expansive offering of incredibly unique selection. Most beautifully curated nursery I have ever had the pleasure of exploring! I must find a way to come next spring when the entire place is filled. Will have to plan a day off work to be able to go within their hours, but I'll probably need that long just to be able to walk each aisle anyway! I didn't actually purchase anything because the prices are OUTRAGEOUS (hence 4 stars instead of 5) but hey, life goals to be able to afford to shop here. Based on the prices and hours it definitely caters to a rich house wife demographic (no hate...#goals...just sayin') but I still highly suggest going even if just for the experience! I will say the plants in each section were absolutely THRIVING, so at least the money you spend seems to be going towards caring for the plants rather than lining someone's pockets. The prices really are so high that at first it appeared pure greed. Clearly I still haven't gotten over the sticker shock. There were a number of employees and a few checked in on me as I walked around so I was surprised to see other reviews mentioning poor service. Maybe it just means they are hearing the complaints and actively working on resolving the issue? Anyway, long version short - incredible selection at equally incredulous prices (twice as much as the nurseries in Shelton!) so definitely worth going, but unless you are quite affluent it's probably best to budget this place for those unique, difficult to find plants or decor. read more

A few encounters w plentiful staff which never approached my husband & me seeking to help us. We practically had to beg to locate specific plants ( most customers seem to wander about w their carts & choose plants on a whim). Sorry --not sorry--/we won't be back! read more

My husband and I have been coming here for yrs. Often times just to walk around. It's THE place to be when it's cold outside and you want to escape somewhere warm, and you're surrounded by beautiful, well taken care of, plants. The staff are great at answering questions or helping when you have something you're wanting to accomplish. I recently went in looking for plants that I could put in the large planter with my crepe myrtle until we have a house we can put it into the ground at. Very pleased with my setup. The plants here are thriving so obviously they're taking very good care of them. Most importantly, they're dog friendly. Our pup tags along and sunbathes on the top shelf of the cart while we walk around. It's probably her favorite place too. read more

See all

Good selection but a number of large expensive plants I've purchased from them in the last year have had diseases that ended up killing them or essentially destroying them. Most nurseries will at least offer you a store credit if you show them pictures of the diseased leaves and prove you got it from them, but not Bark and Garden Center. They're also incredibly rude, as many other reviewers have noted, and talk to customers in a condescending way. Many employees behave as if they do not want to be there and snap at the slightest request. This round of diseased honeysuckle (and my interaction with management) is the last straw for me, I'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on. read more

Bark & Garden Center - Diseased honeysuckle - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Olympia, Washington

BUYERS BEWARE. Bring cash DO NOT USE CARD. Their card machine rebooted during my transaction (apparently this happens a lot), I immediately checked my bank before even leaving the store to find that my card was triple charged, they refused to refund me even though I showed them the statement, stating "nothing shows on our end, this happens sometimes just wait for it to go back into your account" Which it never did! Currently my bank is disputing this. Although they have a great selection here their staff is rude including the manager Leslie, they need to fix they're card machine because my 54 dollar order easily became 162 without a care in the world to them!!! read more

Gorgeous store, I looove walking around their property. Big selection of houseplants along with outside plants. Staff is kinda rude, and in general not very helpful, but the store itself is worth the visit. read more

When this was the Bark And Garden Center there was a great selection. And if you are ready to dig around the inventory you might get on just fine. However if you need assistance you would have been greeted with disdain, as if you the customer were in the way. Today (24 Dec 24) was a different story all together. The Bark and Garden Store recently changed ownership and is now owned by Watsons. We were greated four separate times and assisted with questions about various trees we were wanting to purchase. We walked out with two trees we planted imediately. They did not have the trees on my list, but they stated they would order them on their next order. Professional communicaiton from start to finish. Helpful but not over bearing (no hard sales). I am so glad there is a culture of customer service now since it is the closest nursery to my home. I look forward to seeing their inventory expand as they settle into their new location. If you have avoided The Bark And Garden Center because of a bad customer service experience, it is time to try this store again... as Watsons! read more

We've been shopping here since moving to Olympia many, many years ago. I recall when it was a sleepy little business, the size of the store part of the complex. It's so much larger today. There is a very good selection of darn near any plant you can imagine. Yes, the prices are higher than the "big box" stores. But I feel the selection and quality is better here vs them. The staff is very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable (try that at a big box store) One negative - getting out of the parking lot with out nearly getting creamed from west bound traffic on "Mud Bay" road can be difficult. I wish the B&GC would trim back some of their landscaping at the entrance/exit. read more

Always LOVE this place ... so many plants that it is dangerous to go with a credit card. Lol. Never had an issue with any plants I purchased here. After I moved to Lakewood... I still drive down to purchase from them! Top notch group! read more

I have a treacherous relationship with this place. It's nearby, and they do have good things I want and need, but almost every time I go in there I overhear a woman who seems to be the owner (not sure, but she's been there as long as I can remember) speaking horribly to an employee. The employees are nice and try to be helpful, but this woman is a looming presence. I always walk out of there feeling sad and wondering how she thinks it's okay to talk to people like that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So if you go in, be extra nice to the staff...they've probably been berated a dozen times already that day. read more

They have such an amazing variety of houseplants. I've purchased at least 10 plants and they are all still thriving. I will agree that the prices are a little higher than other places, but I think it's justified in the condition they come in. Sure, some have some yellowing or pest problems, but they're plants! I've never had a bad experience with any of my visits here. The employees are extremely knowledgeable about their stuff AND they can tell you if they have something in stock and in the pot size you're looking for! read more

If you're looking for a variety of house plants, like me, this is the place. They also have plenty of plant pots to choose from. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I can spend hours there just looking at all the beautiful plants, flowers, pots etc..... oh, and the prices is, I think, pretty good. read more

Love coming here to shop for plants and gifts. Very helpful staff! I bought several plants from various stores last spring, and the ones from Bark and Garden did the beat throughout the summer. Great selection of bird feeders, wind chimes, and gardening supplies! read more

We have frequented this business for years, literally spending thousands of dollars on everything from cherry trees to little annuals. I have always thought "really expensive but good local business so I will support it." And I've never returned anything until this afternoon. We had a poor experience with a rude staff member. Not sure how far I will need to drive next spring for plants and trees, but I will travel as far as necessary to find a new supplier. Will not return after that experience. The best part was the snarky "have a nice day" comment as I walked out, said in that unmistakably rude tone designed to communicate that she meant the opposite. Hope she enjoyed that moment because I've been a good customer over the years but I won't be back. read more

It's a shame that such a magical place has such atrocious customer service. It's almost impossible to find someone to help you when you are there. They are incredibly rude and condescending on the phone. They are understaffed. The lines to check out are ridiculously long. And my biggest gripe is that the website says certain items are returnable, but when I called to ask a question, I was treated in a lowly manner and told that I could not return the item. So basically, they don't honor their own policy. I grew up spending time in nurseries and greenhouses, so there is nothing more disheartening than experiencing one where the magic of the plants does not meld with the vibe of the wizard behind the curtain. read more

My only time at this store was an aggravating waste of time and I posted a Yelp review to this effect. The owner of this business wrote back telling me of her/his disappointment and that if I returned to this store they would make sure I was treated better. This is a nice thing to say on Yelp to telegraph to other potential customers how committed they are to customer service - NOT. My question is this: How will they know who I am, if and when I return? In reading over other Yelp reviews it seems either that customers love this place or despise it - which is kind of alarming on it's own and suggests that perhaps on site management needs to pay attention to some retail basics - like help customers shop the store - not act like customers are a necessary inconvenience. Talk is C-H-E-A-P. read more

#1] They are WAY overpriced for the plants they carry.. [some of them in not very good shape by the way] !! #2] The people that work there look so bored or totally uninterested in helping you find anything- and most of them have absolutely NO knowledge about any of the plants [plant in sun, plant in shade, feeding of them, etc.]. They also seem to 'duck', hurry away, when you call out, needing help [what are they there for anyway ??]... #3] The lines are RIDICULOUSLY LONG - with snappy and unpleasant 'cashiers' behind the counter...making us never wanting to go back there.. read more

Sad to see so many plants in this bad of shape. I can't bring myself to justify spending the amount of money Bark and Garden center is asking when the plants look like this. The customer service is just as bad if not worse. read more

See all

Most staff not wearing masks. Inventory is good though. Even if folks are vaccinated they can still pass covid to people that haven't received their second shot or can't get the vaccine. It's super unprofessional to not follow covid guidelines and shows that you don't really care about the well being of your customers or your other staff. read more

Poor and Rude Customer Service!!! Support regarding purchases is disappointing. Because of this and my subsequent look at others' reviews, I will not give them my business in the future (Apparently, this has happened to others). A few weeks ago, I bought over $400 worth of clumping bamboo plants from B&G. Two out of the six plants are starting to look unhealthy. I took photos of these along with a photo of one of the healthy-looking bamboo plants and went to Bark and Garden today to show these to staff and ask for help/questions. A cashier called a person named Leslie to the checkout area telling her a customer had questions about bamboo. (I was the only one in the area/I didn't see any other customers at the time she was asked to help me). I showed her the photos to get her input. In the meantime, another customer had walked up behind me. Leslie answered my first question but then immediately turned her attention the other customer. When I said I had another question, she became impatient and rude. I managed to ask my second question but due to frustration at her short attitude, I forgot my third question. I left the building and about five minutes later remembered what it was and returned to ask the cashier for more help. She again called Leslie and asked her where she was in the store (so I could go talk to her). I heard Leslie on the phone rudely reply, "I'm with a customer. She'll just have to hang out there). She sounded unhappy and did not give a time frame in which I must wait, etc. I told the cashier that due to Leslie's attitude, I was leaving. I am absolutely unhappy that, after the amount of money I spent, I received the treatment I received. read more

Unless you are independently wealthy you might want to skip this place and head to the Home Depot or other nursery or garden store. Yes, they have beautiful and healthy flowers/plants and a nice selection but so do other nurseries in town and for literally, HALF the price. They charged 1.99 for small annuals that almost every other place in town charges .74 to 1.29 for. So, what is the extra they are charging for? Great service? Well, I don't know because I never had one worker stop by or say hi or interact with me. I just feel like I am overpaying every time I come here. I think I am finally done for good unless I am looking for an unusual plant that isn't offered anywhere else. read more

While the plant selection is vast, the workers are pretty useless. After spending an hour looking at plants I decided to just get a couple of herbs and a geranium. Went to the checkout and one of the herbs didn't have a price on it. Both were from the same company and I stated that they were all $4.99 each. They didn't believe me. I said there was another Rosemary just not as sturdy as this one and it had $4.99 on it. There were 2 young women (17-22 yo). They said I could go back and get the other herb to show them. After I spent about 10-15 minutes trying to find the other herb I finally returned and they were chatting. They work there! They could have gone directly to find the plants to 'prove I wasn't lying' and then charge me the $4.99 that I told them. They then asked if I wanted to buy the one I had just gotten to prove the price, HELL NO! Train your employees to know their workplace and insist on providing customer service! Owner and manager are not customer service oriented. read more

I went here to make a list of plants I have grown successfully indoors in the past. As much as I love plants and know a good amount about them, I always manage to kill the ones that live inside the house! The reason I don't have any plants now is due to one of my former roommates putting indoor only plants outside in the freezing cold while I was at work. Bark and Garden center was definitely a great stop! It had most of the plants on my list available. For the most part, I don't need a ton of help shopping for plants. But when I happened to bump into an attendant, I asked if they had a purple variety of Wandering Jew. They did! I was very happy. She also gave me the name of a website I could go to to check for plant toxicity. This was a big help because I have small children and one would put things in his mouth! I had a great visit and will definitely be back very soon since my mother wants 3 varieties of crocosmia bulbs for her garden! read more

See all

The best place on Earth! So many varieties and such a great shopping experience. It's my go to garden center.

Their stuff's expensive, but I love their deals/sales! Perennial clearance at the end of summer made my garden. The workers have always been helpful when I ask for advice, it seems like they all have green thumbs. Check out back of the greenhouse- there are almost always cheap ($1-3) or free plants! I got a cat mint and a daisy and they cost me nothing! read more

I really used to enjoy the large selection of unusual plants. Today I felt I was just wading through a disproportionate amount of tasteless, imported, over-priced garden decor that makes the place look more like a K-mart than a destination for gardening enthusiasts. read more

It was my first time going to this wonderful garden center. The selection of flowers and trees are amazing, but it can get a kick at your budget. Also the customer service there wasn't great as I thought it was. But the stars are for the flowers and trees! Overall, come here if you are willing to make a beautiful garden that's pricey. read more

See all

I LOVE this place! It has the largest and most diverse inventory out there. The things I've purchased have flourished and they're also very helpful read more

This store has an attractive selection, but they fail at customer service. Even worse, their delivery team is an absolute joke. I ordered 60 bags of playground wood chips and their delivery person showed up with an enormous jacked-up pickup and an over sized toy-hauler type trailer. Grumpy delivery guy wasn't able to get his ridiculous rig into my yard, even though other large vehicles like moving trucks had no problem. Now I get to spend my evening carrying a bunch of bags to where they should have been dropped off. read more

We have shopped here for years. We went in to pick up a few herbs & a few house plants. There is a front sign & an exit sign. There is no sign stating you will have to sign a contract as I was told saying "you will take care of your plant & not bring it back". I have purchased things here before, including some gladiola bulbs last year, that I did not complain about or bring back. Plants are by nature not a 100% guarantee purchase. However, signing a surprise contract at checkout to buy a houseplant at a garden center is absurd! The clerk said " you don't look happy" as I paid almost $100 for my order. I said, "I am not!". There are other places to buy house plants without an adversarial environment. See! pictures of the entrance & exit signs plus the contract. read more

See all

This nursery is so nice and well maintained so many options and great prices for the plants the employees are knowledgeable and friendly we got three vine plants for under $20 each and they are a really good size can't wait to see the selection in spring read more

Bark & Garden Center - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Olympia, Washington

See all

Man, no idea why people hate this place so much. I love it. I've gotten at least 40 houseplants here and have yet to lose one of them. The staff has always answered my questions and been super friendly. And the plants are priced in line with many other shops. I often come here on my work break just to get some plant time. I honestly love it here. I've brought friends here who have also had great success. Heading there now! read more

Bark & Garden Center - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Good selection and friendly checkout. I got a couple perennials on sale at the end of the season that I M THRILLED with.

I visited two separate times, purchased multiple houseplants both times and I was accompanied by spider mites both times I brought plants home! If you want to infest your entire house with spider mites, bark & garden center is your place!! read more