Michelle Talsma Everson
A garden is not really a garden in Phoenix. It is a discussion of the terms heat, light, soil, water, shade, and timing. People who have learned to pay attention and to plant with the desert, no against it, are often the reason why the plants that thrive around in Phoenix do so. They are aware that the beauty of the Southwest may appear more like a cactus ‘ delayed blooming after months rather than a mowed lawn.
That way of thinking has been gaining popularity at Dig It Gardens, a family-owned garden center on 16th Street in Phoenix, for almost ten years. Dig It, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Ryan and Jessica Jerrell, began as a plant shop and gradually expanded into a more complex collection of things: a nursery, a design resource, a gathering space, and a reminder that living also in the desert can begin with asking more questions about what we grow.
According to Ryan,” Plants have a way of slowing people over.” They ask that you watch out. They impart patience. They give something to give people, and they also help to make a place feel more alive.
Teaching How to Use Deserts
Plant care in a desert city can be intimidating. Sun exposure, reflected heat, soil conditions, irrigation practices, shade, and seasonality are all factors.
Customers can find advice tailored to the Valley’s climate as well as cactus, succulents, inside plants, trees, shrubs, nutritious plants, pottery, and garden supplies at the nursery. Owner Ryan owns the indigenous plants he grows.
The business benefits from Ryan and Alex Washburn, both of whom are Dig It’s basic manager and head horticulturist, who have combined plant and horticultural expertise for almost 40 years. Collectively, they teach Phoenix gardeners how to choose plants that work in the Valley and how to adapt to their climates and homes.
Finding the ideal plant for the right location can lead to fewer plant failures and more desert-friendly outside spaces. The team has completed landscape design and installation projects in the Valley, from brief refreshes to complete transformations.
According to Washburn,” Plants should not stress out your life.” They are supposed to bring joy, they say. Our goal is to unravel the mystery, impart what we’ve learned, and inspire confidence so that others can make the magic happen.
They also have a plant hotline, which is a quick reference for questions and concerns regarding plant care emergencies.
A Unique Kind of Nursery
Ryan, who began his plant career at Tip Best Nursery in Mesa, founded Dig It in 2015. He had a vision from the beginning that was distinct from a conventional garden center.
The inspiration for the project came from places like nurseries, scar shops, neighborhood musicians, music, decorative goods, and places where visitors feel at ease spending a while. Plants are incorporated into the vignettes in the shop, and pottery is a part of the landscape. Along with artwork and original ideas from employees and community members, Ryan’s individual art collection is woven throughout the property. Additionally, music is played throughout the space.
According to Ryan,” I wanted Dig It to have personality.” ” A place where plants, art, music, great conversations, and a little weirdness could all coexist harmoniously”
Visitors may bring a cactus, a houseplant, or a pot and depart with a fresh acquaintance.
Dig It’s development took place in a manner that gardens do frequently, but no precisely according to plan. The space evolved into a venue for weddings, showers, commercial gatherings, retreats, and community events after one of Dig It’s second 10 customers, Andrea Hardy, requested that she get married there.  ,
Hardy saw something in the space, which the team didn’t, and they responded with “yes.” She gave Dig It a chandelier that also hangs in the space as a wedding gift.
According to Jessica,” some of the best things we have done came from listening to people, being open to new ideas, and letting the community show us what this place could become.”
Plants that grow people
Dig It is even a family tale for the Jerrells. Afterwards, Jessica joined Ryan’s business and assisted in the company’s growth while raising their two sons. One phrase has come into play in how they view that work: Plants Grow People.
Plants do more than just fill a space, according to the Jerrells. They impart care, patience, resilience, and attention. They connect people to their desert, neighborhoods, and homes.
We want people to feel a much better after spending time with us, Ryan said at the end of the day. They might have found a plant they adore, picked out a nice pot, peeled off Mama the shop cat for a walk, came up with a garden idea, or had a fruity chat with a member of our team.
Dig It offers another way to consider what it means to grow in Phoenix, or any city, where growth is frequently measured by roads and skylines and is planted with intention.  ,
In Phoenix, Dig It Gardens is located at 3015 N. 16th St.  ,
Visit digphx.com for more details.
