Oasis Gardens celebrates 25 years of growing plants and community

As Oasis Gardens closes the greenhouse doors for another season, owner Monica Harris is reflecting on a milestone few small businesses achieve: 25 years serving customers in south-central Nebraska. The seasonal greenhouse near Loomis has become a destination for gardeners looking for flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets, but Harris said its longevity is rooted in something more important than plants.

“It’s generations,” Harris said. “The children that were coming in here with their parents, they’re bringing their kids in now.”

The business grows many of its vegetable plants from seed and spends months preparing for the busy spring season. Harris said planning begins nearly a year in advance, with seeds and plant cuttings ordered long before customers begin filling planters and gardens. Like many businesses, Oasis Gardens faced challenges this year. A late spring freeze delayed planting decisions for many gardeners, causing Harris to worry early-season sales were lagging. Instead, demand surged once the weather warmed.

Harris said the greenhouse experienced seven consecutive days of sales that matched what the business would normally see during the Mother’s Day weekend rush.