For the past year, something more meaningful than plants has been growing in Carthage. The Garden Center by AOS, owned and operated by local couple Ricardo and Laura May Araya, has spent the past year cultivating not only a stunning selection of greenery, but a “one-stop shop” for gardening and landscaping in the Sandhills.
As The Garden Center approaches its one-year anniversary, Laura said that the best part has undoubtedly been interacting with the community.
“Over the past year, we have formed amazing relationships with customers and vendors. We love Moore County and are so proud to serve this community,” reflected Laura. “We feel like the community has really embraced us, and we are so grateful for the support and for the patience and understanding we have received as a new, small, family-owned business that is learning as we grow.”
To commemorate this milestone, the Arayas are having a one-year anniversary celebration at The Garden Center on Saturday, April 12. They welcome the community to drop in, say “hello,” and check out all the center has to offer.
Since opening its doors, The Garden Center by AOS has aimed to provide a unique and personalized shopping experience for gardening enthusiasts and professional landscapers alike.
“Our main goal this year was to be responsive to the needs of our customers,” Laura said. “We have strived to create a space where people can come and have a personalized shopping experience.”
Moving forward, the Arayas are excited to further engage with the community.
“We now offer landscape design services and consultations with our expert horticulture specialist who will do detailed, hand drawn landscape plans,” shared Laura. “We are so excited to start offering more classes throughout spring and summer!”
Those interested in signing up for classes are encouraged to sign up for The Garden Center’s newsletter to be the first to know when registration opens.
Laura explained that expert horticulture specialists and retail associates are dedicated to ensuring that each individual who stops by The Garden Center gets the attention they are looking for. Whether customers are looking for advice on plant selection, a better understanding of hardscape materials, or just browsing for inspiration, help is always just a question away.
The Garden Center by AOS caters to both individual gardeners and landscape contractors, offering all the necessary supplies for garden and landscape projects of any scale.
The interior plant building is filled with unique tropicals that Laura says are “ready to bring beauty and joy to your home.” Other than the tropical houseplants, all of The Garden Center’s outdoor plants and trees are sourced from North Carolina nurseries, and their orchids are locally grown in Seagrove.
Along with a wide variety of plants, the garden center offers some surprising best-sellers, including river rocks and boulders. They have also started carrying pavers and irrigation supplies, which are new additions to their inventory.
Laura explained that an added benefit of shopping at The Garden Center by AOS is that their landscaping company, Araya Outdoor Solutions, offers delivery and installation services for any products purchased. Many clients of Araya Outdoor Solutions visit The Garden Center for inspiration, where they can view and select plants and materials for their landscape projects. The AOS team then takes care of the hard work, including delivery and installation.
As a “thank you” to the community, military and landscape contractor discounts are available.
“We are still so overwhelmed by all the love and support. We feel so fortunate and so very grateful,” said Laura, smiling. “It is everything we envisioned and more. We have grown and learned so much this past year, and we look forward to continuing to be a responsive service in our community.”
For more information or to sign up for The Garden Center by AOS’s newsletter, visit www.thegardencenterbyaos.com. The Garden Center’s address is 6652 U.S. 15 501 HWY, Carthage.
~Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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