The offerings and the philosophy
Welcome to the Golden Garden. Named after the transcendent magic of the golden hour just before sunset, surrounded by a garden full of plants, the Golden Garden was born out of the love of nature and its ability to heal the human soul. Understanding these principles, owner and founder Tanya Bartels has created an environment in which both plants and people can thrive.
The Golden Garden is located within and behind a historical building in the heart of Long Beach’s “Retro Row” shopping district, in a collaborative and innovative retail space known as The Hangout.
Providing local support to gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all kinds, Golden Garden stocks a wide array of live plants, pottery, gardening tools, books, propagation supplies, seeds, dried florals, and nature based home decor. Golden Garden also offers an array of creative and educational workshops, hosts community plant swaps and cleanups, and deeply cares about connecting people through the lens of nature.
Around back, you’ll find the garden: A distinctively peaceful oasis on an otherwise busy street. Surrounded by more plants than people, one is able to sit with a cup of tea at the tables in the garden and connect with friends, read a book, or watch as delighted shoppers discover the cacti, succulents, and California natives.
A potting station lines the brick wall ready for you to get your hands in the soil and experience the joy of gardening. So much good energy and joy have been created in this garden, you’re bound to feel it when you walk outside and sink into the sunshine dancing through the leaves of the mighty Jacaranda tree.
Within the walls of the Hangout, Golden Garden occupies the front corner of the store, with the plants happily waving at you through the giant front windows. Circle around our main plant stand for an assortment of abundant varieties to see which plant chooses you. And don’t worry, we won’t leave you without some help. You’ll find names and care tags on the majority of the plants, and we send each plant home with our plant care guide. For those who have turned their plant love into a lifestyle, or are looking for a gift, here you can find tools, books, planters, propagation glasses, watering cans, composting bins, organic seeds, and more.
A structure built from vintage windows came together to encapsulate a collection of dried and preserved plants and flowers. Here we explore our love of nature and plants in creative and timeless ways. Bundles of dried flowers, leaves and seed pods get arranged to create one-of-a-kind bouquets.
Pressed flowers become framed, preserved portraits of nature. This is where the end of a cycle is celebrated and honored. This aspect of our work recognizes the power of transformation, and the unending value of nature.
