Chickens roam the property and greenhouses at Scarsella’s in Laurel Hollow.
Scarsella’s Flowers, Greenhouses and Home on 25A in Laurel Hollow began as a simple flower shop in 1932. Originally owned by the Scarsella family, the business grew zinnias and geraniums in the field and greenhouses and sold them out of a small shop.
Horticulturist Randy Statham bought Scarsella’s in 1989 and has taken great strides to expand its offerings to include landscape design, interior design and floral arrangements for weddings and events. Like an ever-changing season, the business is constantly growing.
Statham, who is passionate about food, gardening and recycling, has extensive plans for this spring when he will bring Scarsella’s into a new, multifaceted dimension, while sticking to the original purpose of Scarsella’s: to grow plants. Along with zinnias, sunflowers, witch plants, Christmas greens and a multitude of annuals and perennials, Scarsella’s will now grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and flowers for potpourri.
Proprietor Randy Statham tends to the organically grown herbs in the greenhouse at Scarsella’s in Laurel Hollow.
The property is two and a half acres, all open to the public. One and a half acres is formal gardens where flowers are grown for floral arrangements. Flowers for potpourri, including roses, will be grown and dried on the premises, and will feature old- and new-world varieties specifically used for their scents.
Statham is also looking to create a line of herbs that can be used for food, for drying and in floral arrangements. In his own home, he always has fresh herbs on the kitchen counter, so herb bouquets will be offered at the shop year round. Scarsella’s is planning to grow at least 30 different varieties of herbs, which will be sold to the public and to local restaurants. A huge mint garden is already established.
Apple and plum trees along with blackberries and raspberries will be planted for their fruit and flowers, which look great in floral arrangements. Vegetables will be limited to varieties of peppers, which will be dried and sold in bunches for cooking, as well as arrangements.
Chickens and eggs are not for sale, but decorative chicken coops with interesting breeds of chickens dot the property. Due to the trend in homesteading, Scarsella’s builds chicken coops for clients and teaches them about raising chickens for eggs. Statham is a firm believer in recycling, so everything at Scarsella’s gets recycled or composted, included the chicken poop, which is turned into compost for the gardens. There is very little waste.
Scarsella’s has bees as well, and is working on a line of honey. The bees pollinate the flowers; everything works together.
Plants and flowers are grown year round from seeds and bulbs in three historical, antique greenhouses that were relocated to Scarsella’s sometime during the 1950s from private local estates. Built by Lord & Burnham, the greenhouses date from the late 1800s to around 1926.
Organically grown herbs in the greenhouse at Scarsella’s in Laurel Hollow.
Statham grows everything organically and is an expert in biodynamics. He will be offering a variety of workshops to educate the public on growing plants and food and hopes to have farm-to-table events soon.
“It’s really exciting to see the possibilities,” says Statham. “I think it’s magical.”
