The Gift Garden Marks 50 Years of Flowers, Gifts, and Community in Bennington

By Anne Archer, Vermont Country correspondent.

Businesses can change a lot in 50 years, but for The Gift Garden in Bennington, after surviving five decades and a pandemic, it is still going strong. Three things have remained constant: sensational service, quality product, and community support.

The Gift Garden, formerly known as Flower’s by Lorna, owned by Lorna Cole, was established on February 9, 1976, by, at the time, Bette Marcotte, later known as Bette Gershaneck. Located in the former Winslow building at 343 West Main Street in the Historic Hotel Putnam Block, The Gift Garden made its home there for 40 years as downtown Bennington’s full-service florist.

Starting at The Gift Garden in 1989 and working for Bette for 27 years, Beth gained a great deal of knowledge and experience in the floral industry, from designing and purchasing products to marketing the product and gift lines. Beth’s husband, Dwain, also worked for Bette, doing daily deliveries and processing cut flowers and plants when received.

In January of 2015, the Wilwols purchased The Gift Garden from Bette and remained at the 343 Main Street location for a year. At that time, the Putnam Redevelopment project was going to begin. The Wilwols searched for a new home for The Gift Garden and, with much luck, found its present home at 431 Main Street, just seven doors away from its original home.

“When we first looked at the space, we thought, wow, this place is huge, with 900 more square feet of retail space than the original location, but it really didn’t take long to fill it,” Beth said. “We expanded our flower line, plant line, and gift line.”

The Gift Garden has an extensive fresh floral line, with deliveries available every day of the week except Sundays. Fresh flowers are the number one seller of any item in the store. “We purchase fresh products from local Vermont farms when available, and we also buy from farms all over the world, including Canada, Holland, California, Florida, and South America, to name a few”, the co-owners said.

Learning from a mixture of schooling, design, reading, and hands-on experience, the Wilwols create festive and lush floral arrangements with an extensive variety of florals for every occasion.

By listening to their customers’ wishes, Beth and Dwain are able to add personal touches like an heirloom vase, a special ribbon, or a mylar balloon, or some trinkets that may have been handed down for generations, each piece creating beauty, elegance, and meaning.

Delivery is always available. They deliver as far north as Manchester, west as Wilmington, east as Raymertown, NY, and south as Williamstown, MA, but to get the full experience of The Gift Garden, you must stop in and take a look around—you don’t know what you are missing.

Inside, customers are greeted by a bouquet of fragrance. There is a refreshing scent around every corner.

The Gift Garden has an extensive line of gifts, from soaps and lotions, soft plush animals, children’s clothing, plants, home decor, and locally handmade chocolates from The Village Chocolate Shoppe, to gifts for new homeowners, birthdays, and baby and bridal showers in all shapes and sizes, all at a reasonable price point.

While the husband-and-wife team work long hours at the store designing floral arrangements, delivering flowers, purchasing products, and merchandising the inventory, they always find time to give back to the Bennington community.

The Wilwols have participated in Wreaths Across America, delivering over 100 wreaths for veterans’ graves at Saratoga National Cemetery.

Every November, the Wilwols hold a Thanksgiving Cash & Carry fundraiser, where a portion of The Gift Garden’s sales is donated to a local nonprofit. Past recipients include the School of Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales, Bennington Cancer Center Community Crusaders, The Fallen Outdoors Team Vermont, and Vermont Paws & Boots, to name a few. They have also partnered with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and donated to the expansion of the cancer center.

During the past 50 years, The Gift Garden has seen many changes, but the floral and gift shop has remained committed to quality service and community, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

For Christmas year-round, take a short walk down the street to visit The Gift Garden’s sister store, The Gift Garden’s Holiday Cottage. The gift boutique keeps Christmas alive during every season while embracing the holiday of the moment. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, whatever the occasion, The Gift Garden’s Holiday Cottage knows how to decorate and celebrate.