We stopped on our way home and never expected to find a place this special…read more We stopped at Simply Succulent on our way home from our weekend trip to the Fort Bragg area. We thought we'd look around for a little while and then continue home to Chico. Instead, this ended up being the best part of our entire weekend. Rella Gadulka has owned and operated Simply Succulent since 1995, 31 years, and after spending time with her I completely understand why. You can't Google 31 years of hands-on experience and knowledge. Chico has a few big box stores where I can buy succulents, but they are basically all the same. Same plants, same varieties and nothing really different. Walking into Simply Succulent was a completely different experience. There were plants I had never seen before everywhere I looked. What impressed me even more was the way Rella helped me choose what to buy. When she found out I lived in Chico and knew how hot our summers get, she showed me what would survive and what wouldn't. She actually talked me out of buying some plants I wanted because she knew they wouldn't do well in our heat. I quickly figured out that Rella is very protective of her plants, and I loved that about her. She grows these plants herself and actually cares what happens to them when they leave with you. She isn't just trying to make a sale. She also knew I wanted to propagate, so she started showing me plants that already had lots of little "chicks" or babies growing around them. She showed me which ones I could take home, separate and eventually turn into dozens of plants. Instead of trying to sell me more plants, she was basically teaching me how to make more myself. I also loved that she had cuttings from so many of her plants. If you can't afford the larger established plant, you can buy a cutting and grow your own. It didn't matter to Rella if you were spending a few dollars on a cutting or several hundred dollars. She still took the time to help you. She even gave me her email and told me I could contact her anytime if I had questions once I got home. Who does that anymore? My love for succulents started 8 years ago after my daughter died. I wanted to keep fresh flowers at her cemetery site, but I couldn't afford to replace them every week. One day I noticed another person visiting their loved one had succulents around their site. I asked them about the plants because at the time I didn't even know what a succulent was. It didn't take me long before I had surrounded my daughter's site with succulents too. What started because I couldn't afford fresh flowers turned into one of the most healing things I could have ever done. I learned how to grow and propagate them and eventually started sharing them with other people who had lost someone they loved. Rella had no idea about any of this while she was helping me. She had no idea how much it meant when she was showing me plants covered in babies that I could turn into dozens more. I honestly could have stayed there all day listening to her and looking at plants. Unfortunately our 3-year-old grandson was getting fussy and apparently he didn't share Grandma's enthusiasm about spending the rest of the day at a succulent nursery. Then we went to pay. We had picked out several hundred dollars worth of succulents and that's when I saw the sign saying no cards, cash or checks only. My heart sank. I don't carry a checkbook anymore and didn't have that much cash with me. I honestly felt sick thinking we were going to have to leave all these plants behind. Rella didn't even bat an eye. She told us to take the plants home and send her a check Monday. I seriously couldn't believe what I was hearing. We were complete strangers. We had never been there before. We don't even live close. We live hours away in Chico and this woman was willing to let us drive away with several hundred dollars worth of her plants without paying her anything that day. Who the hell does that anymore? Rella does. She told us that this world needs to be more trusting. That literally gave me chills. What got me even more was when she told us that she has trusted other people to send her payment and some of them never did. Yet she still chooses to trust people and believe they will do the right thing. After 31 years in business, she hasn't let the people who took advantage of her change who she is. I just hope nobody else ever takes advantage of her kindness. Eight years ago a stranger at a cemetery introduced me to succulents during one of the hardest times of my life. Eight years later, another stranger trusted me enough to send me home with several hundred dollars worth of those same plants just because she believed we would keep our word. There are still some pretty damn good people in this world. By the time we left, Rella didn't feel like just the owner of a nursery we happened to stop at on our way home. She felt like someone we had somehow added to our family.

This place is so magical!!! Rella is incredible and so knowledgeable. Incredible selection and…read morevalue. 10/10 would come back to Mendocino Co just to come back here

We are blessed with a long and fruitful growing season and my go to shop to take advantage is Hare…read moreCreek. It's got a great location, a knowledgeable and personable staff to go along with an immense selection. Normally I'm one to ask far too many questions and be a challenge , but today it was just for one particular item. The staff member asked me what I was going to use it for and he helped guide me in the proper implementation. I highly recommended Hare Creek for all of your gardening and landscaping needs, plus they are very adept at fixing and servicing your power tools. Only in Fort Bragg #shoplocal

I've been going to HCN and the other area nurseries for the past 4 years. Compared to the other…read morenurseries, HCN has a larger selection of plants, especially trees. Plus, they have the saw and yard care power tools shop. I gave them three stars because the staff just aren't always helpful. We consistently get inconsistent info about plants and shop services, no follow up re:special orders, and there are some staff we know to just avoid. Go knowing what you need to get, get it, and get out, and you'll be fine. Otherwise, it'll be hit or miss.

Dirt Cheap is becoming my first stop in Ft. Bragg for anything garden and landscaping related. I…read moreappreciate the owner's knowledge and friendliness. It's a pretty small place but they pack a ton of stuff in there. I also appreciate how they seem to stock a lot of local products.

Great product. Great service! Thanks for being so accommodating and having such great product…read more It's great to have stuck a quality store in our little town.

Hare Creek Nursery and Saw Shop ROKK! (I'm an 80's Dude. Trust me, it's the TOP compliment!)…read more The story "grows," so please read on. OH... I will be placing the same review on the Yelp for Hare Creek NURSERY, as it looks like they have their own Yelp. You only need to read one or the other. (Or you can read both if it helps their business!) SO... I brought an old, neglected Poulan 4000 chainsaw to Hare Creek Nursery and Saw Shop in Ft. Bragg today. (We are moving to our place in the area permanently this summer after YEARS of visits and my wife growing up here and so on...) I brought it in for a service and sharpening at around 11:00am, after the saw sat unused for almost 20 years. (My little electric saw has sufficed over the years "down there.") The Woman at the counter was super helpful, and explained how the diagnostic fee worked and would be applied if the saw could be serviced, but she also gently let me know that the age of the saw and the lack of attention over 20 years could be an issue. After she told Suburban-Me why I couldn't fit a larger bar to it. Because I asked. (At least I knew what the bar was...) Said they would call me early next week with the news, as they weren't super busy. (Stoked! Because I actually called them last August, and was told I could drop said saw off but it might be 4-5 weeks before it was done. Which I now understand. And still should have just dropped off.) So maybe an hour and 15 minutes later, as my daughter and I were finishing lunch at Laurel's Deli, (another GREAT place with ROKKEN service), I got a call from Hare Creek Nursery and Saw Shop. (Because cell service!) Saw was done. Had some issues, but they got it sharpened up and running and should be good for a few more years of real work. I was kinda shocked. They HAD me for the sale of a new Husqvarna. But they salvaged my old saw. (Which was my Father's, and before that my Great Uncle's.) When I picked it up, the Senior Manager came out and told me that when I dropped it off, he overheard me say that I had some trees down on my property that were a problem. So he said he "put the shop on it since it was slow anyway." That is legit SERVICE, the way it should be. That is old-school CLASS, the way it USED to be. THAT is how you create a customer for LIFE. One who will his new Husqvarna from Hare Creek.

By far the best place on the coast for outdoor power equipment repair. Experienced and…read moreknowledgeable mechanics and a well-equipped shop. I like to fix my own stuff when it's within my ability, and the staff here often help me do so. They have plenty of business and are happy to help people DIY the easy stuff. Great place to buy equipment as well. They can help you decide which model is best for what you want to do, and get you started right.

Beautiful, healthy trees that are thriving in our yard. Super easy to communicate with and willing…read moreto answer questions. Most highly recommend.

Just received my Mikawa Yatsubusa, a lovely 2-footer in a a 1-gallon container. The plant came well…read morepacked and well protected. My compliments to the growers and the packers! Gerry McD

Small space but filled with beautiful house plants, art, and other related housewares and gifts…read more The owner, Sage, was a guest presenter at the Fort Bragg Garden Club. Sage is very knowledgeable and helpful. Her sense of design really makes this store pop.

Nice shop, friendly people. Unfortunately, every plant I purchased there died. My experience was…read morenot a good one. Expensive selections.

We have four lumber/hardware stores in our small town and I have to say Mendo Mill is a gem. I…read moretraveled around looking for a part and this spot was helpful, professional and just a revelation. I was greeted as I came in and asked if I needed help. I asked for help figuring which one was the proper match and two of the staff came to my aid, which was wonderful. The part was perfect and priced right. I highly recommend this spot for all your needs.

I always try to buy local and support local businesses. I have shopped at Mendo Mill for about 15…read moreyears now and recently I have been extremely disappointed in the customer service and satisfaction. They just have a very poor regard for loyal and long term customers. I will no longer pledge my business to this company. On the other hand, Rossi's in town is very welcoming to their customers and the people bending over backwards to earn your business. I'm not a huge customer and I'm sure changing my loyalty will have little to no effect on their bottom line, but if you have an option go to one of the other reputable, customer service oriented hardware store.

Winnie Patrone did the most incredible job for my wedding flowers. She grows all of the flowers…read moreherself and you can tell by how fresh and glowing with love they are! She is such a kind and friendly person to work with and she made my vision come true and went beyond! She made the most beautiful and fragrant flowers collars for my dogs, and I can't even put into words how gorgeous my bouquet was. Every part of the wedding that Winnie touched was magical. I can't recommend her enough!

Winnie was wonderful to work with for our wedding. She created a gorgeous bouquet, ceremony arch…read moreand aisle floral arrangements using hyperlocal and seasonal blooms, wildflowers, and greenery she grew in her garden or foraged locally. Perfectly captured the vibe we wanted.

Enjoyed some browsing -- and a few purchases -- at Astoria Home Store, a relatively new store in…read moreFt. Bragg. Eclectic mix of home decor and gifts. Enjoyed chatting with the owners and wish them the best with their venture. Am rarely in Ft. Bragg so won't do a lot of in-person shopping but glad I can also shop via their website.

My favorite eclectic boutique in Fort Bragg. Not just for the tourists where everything is…read moreoverpriced! Carries some of the most sensational scents I have ever experienced. Scents like prosecco rose, blackberry absinthe, linden moss, crane flower,saijo persimmon, coconut milk, wood fire, yashioka gardenia, vervaine olive leaf.. I could go on and on. These are smells that are new to the senses. They make you swoon...really. I've watched other customers and they have the same reaction. Even some of the candle containers are works on art! Available in soy candles, diffusers, lotions and sprays. In addition wonderful homemade baby clothes and gifts, birthday party supplies (the kind you won't find anywhere else-gold leaf birthday candles and small circus statue holders), garden and kitchen gifts and numerous vintage items. Cant believe it took me two years to find this shop. Having raised 4 children I was never into candles or diffusers but now I'm hooked - can't leave without one, and no wonder..I no more get them home and one of my daughters has to have it. Treat yourself and your senses and visit Astoria! P.S. I'm not in any way affiliated with the owner (in fact although she is wonderful..I've forgotten her name. Sorry :)) just wanted to state this as I don't like it when friends of a new business review on yelp...not always honest.