If there's an individual who best personifies sustainable landscape practices, permaculture, it's Mike: Unique's, well, rather unique owner. Straightaway, his MO is the antithesis of transactional; it's more zen, quietly high-minded, if you will. A community shaping healthy ecosystems come way before commerce. If you're lucky, you meet Mike. If time allows maybe you get to know him: the little boy he's a caretaker to. The Roadrunner Mike shares his breakfast with. The down-on-their-luck types he's given shelter to. Perhaps someone might've referenced his Saturday radio program. (Mike won't, given his humility.) Or, his Wednesday assistant happens to gift you half a dozen brown and green eggs from the hen who roams the yard. Then it begins to dawn what an honest-to-goodness treasure we have. That is if you get it. Apparently half the Yelp posters don't. Just like our very environs, Mike shouldn't bend to your needs. An issue cited by a couple reviewers--the scattershot hours Mike keeps; "the gate always closed"--is a nonstarter. That owes itself to a 60-something who's forever hustling; taking care of people. Hauling down to San Diego, or up to the Central Valley for increasingly harder-to-find healthy trees. Locals know: When immersing in a desert landscape, patience, being mindful, not to mention showing respect for surroundings allows the beauty to emerge. The payoff comes your way. Without doubt, the same can be said of Mike and Unique. read more

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I wasn't sure what to expect since the reviews seem to be all over the place... but wow what a gem! If you want orderly plants all in a row sparkling in plastic perfection like Home Depot, maybe you should go to Home Depot. This is for the folks who like a treasure hunt, maybe the folks who love thrift stores and vintage cars, and see beauty in diversity. Yep, it's a little bit messy, but staffing shortages abound everywhere and here is no exception. We used a gift certificate to pick out a few apple trees and a bunch of sages and other things, which all looked a bit rough around the edges because of the season. Once they got settled in at home they're all thriving, and one sage has even re-bloomed way ahead of schedule. I'm so glad we visited, it was such a treat to see this little oasis! read more

I know it's hard to find any professional worker in Yucca and surrounded. We schedule with Mike to come over and do his service. No calls, no answer, no show-up and basely No No No. Hopefully, soon business will be more series in the area. I wish for more computation. read more

Mike is equally an amazing human and local plant Guru. I'm not normally a review writer, but I thought I should jump in here because he seems to be a bit misunderstood... I've lived in the Pioneertown area for over a decade, and have always relied on Mike's expertise and knowledge of local plants and trees to populate my properties, not to mention the pleasure derived of shooting the shit about shrub subspecies and mulch algorithms. The guy is truly a wizard, and as an added bonus he looks the part. What you've got to understand is that Mike takes care of both the sales and landscaping sides of the business by himself- that's digging holes to plant trees, driving around the southwest locating and purchasing inventory, manning the counter, and hosting his morning radio show. He's always trying to find employees and he never can. That's the unfortunate reality of life out here though- Desert Brain is a real affliction that sucks both the drive and willingness to do anything out of people- and yes, it should be further studied and researched. But until a cure is found, Mike remains a one man show. So can it be frustrating that the Unique Garden Center is often closed? Of course. But that's part of what makes it unique- when you do manage to locate Mike, it's a wildly different experience than walking into the local Home Depot and being sold a tree that might survive a week in the desert that was ordered from a bulk sale by some halfwit in a corporate office building on the outskirts of Atlanta who doesn't know his coniferous from a hole in the ground. If instead you think of finding Mike like a fishing or hunting expedition then it becomes somewhat more relishing- nothing is more savory than the hunt for a rare beast whose capture is well worth the hours or days of trolling or hiking through unfamiliar territory. So do yourself a huge favor- minus the hiking, trolling, and unfamiliar territory- and grab a cold beer from your ice box, crack it open, have a seat on your chesterfield, take a swig, pick up the phone, and dial Mike. Leave him a message, and when he does get back to you, well, hot damn, all I can say is buckle up my friend. read more

Mike can be a bit hard to get hold of but when you do- he is the best. Super knowledgeable, and has better trees than elsewhere. He also knows when and where to source Joshua trees. He did a GREAT job landscaping our place. read more

Horrible place! Their plants are bug infested!!!!! Had to have my car cleaned professionally because it was so bad. Exterminator came to spray outside of house because bugs were crawling everywhere! Unique's assistant said owner would call my back because she didn't have the authority to credit the bug infested plant... even after she told me to throw it away!! It's been a couple months and NO RESPONSE. HORRIBLE PLANTS AND SERVICE. MANAGEMENT WON'T RETURN CALLS! STORE IS NEVER OPEN. BEWARE!!!!!!!! DON'T BUY FROM THEM...UNLESS YOU WANT A CAR AND YARD FULL OF BUGS!!!!!! read more

When I first moved to the high desert, I'd buy plants and have them die even with tons of TLC or have the rabbits devour them in one night. Then I discovered Unique Garden Center and Mike. At times he's advised me not to get a particular plant (a pretty pink flowered shrub that is "cotton-candy" to rabbits) because of the area I live in as well as how and what to plant that will work. When I was panicking because of my beloved trees looking poorly, he made a house call & told me how to remedy the situation and within weeks they were all on the mend. Talk to locals about who to go to for knowledge about plants in our area and they all say the same thing: go see Mike at Unique, and I couldn't agree more. read more

This is the most knowledgeable and best quality work for gardens and landscaping in the Yucca Valley/Mojave desert. Some of these reviews are hilarious, because the low ratings are the annoying city people that come to the desert and expect and demand service like they want in the City. This is an old school Yucca Valley business and he has his own way of doing things and its the right time, every time. Support local business and long term legacy businesses in Yucca Valley, just because the hours are not 24/7 does not merit a rude review. Very great business, best place for plants, advice and getting help with yards. read more

BEWARE ! still waiting for half the plants i paid for. been 8 months. never answers phone, never at place of business. my handshake is my contract...so he says. don't shake his hand ! should be ashamed of himself and his son....mike & nick..... shame...........shame.................shame.............shame.........shame read more

This business is never open period. I have been a resident in the area for over four years and drive a distance of over 20 miles one way. After countless attempts finding the gate closed I stopped. I can drive by this business any hour of the business day and the gate is closed. He has this radio show every Saturday morning on a local radio station. He tells people to call him and reports the store hours. Good luck on both counts. read more

I like this place the plants are quality ,they have a lot of knowledge , if ur looking for something special, Mike will find it and call u when he has it , hours are a lil hard ,but over all very happy with this place read more

Where are all the great reviews on this place? The owner is very informative and I was able to drive home with confidence! The prices can be steep; most plants start at $18.00, but they are very healthy and will take to the soil and flourish with ease. I am very happy to be a loyal customer here and love the variety this place offers. Check them out now! read more

Went to Home Despot garden center- no one knew how much anything cost or what was cold hardy for North Joshua Tree- that their 'expert was out.' which was what someone had told me LAST time i was there...Luckily we ended up at Unique. Mike was patient with our lack of desert gardening skills and spent nearly an hour with us for our measly purchases! The kicker was his credit card machine ran out of tape and said just come by next time and pay our $175.00 bill. You don't really get service like this anymore. read more

I can't even give this place a proper review I've tried coming here twice and it's always closed!!! They need better hours!!

This place has no hours. Drove there several times, closed at 10 am and 3:45 pm afternoon. No way to run a business.

They have been extremely helpful! They've helped me with how deep to dig, how much to water and how much sun or shade they need and when I ran into Mike elsewhere, he asked how my gardenia's were doing! read more

I've been going to Unique for 15 years. I'm super introverted and, admittedly, I have purchased plants at Home Depot just so I could get in and out without talking to anybody. People that aren't weird will really appreciate Unique because there are people there that are full of knowledge about desert landscaping and they will talk to you! They have the knowledge you seek! I've bought many plants at Unique over the years. I did not always ask for advice so some have been lost due to cold and wildlife. Most have survived, though, and I have a lovely little forest of mesquite trees and desert willows. I recently picked up a DVD about landscape design and watering systems from the Summertree Institute and Unique's owner, Mike, is in the section about setting up watering systems. He is clearly an expert. Automatic watering systems and xeriscape are crucial out here and Unique is the place to go for professional design and installation. I am a DIY girl so I go there for the plants and cacti and because it's fun to look around and see what they have. read more