Blue Ribbon Farm

Where: 10147 Hover St, Longmont, CO 80501 (303) 774-7717

Web: https://www.facebook.com/BRFarmLongmont

When: Every day from 9am to 6pm during their retail seasons -

Retail Seasons:

• May-July: Bedding plants
• Sept-Oct: Huge selection of mums
• Dec: Christmas trees, wreaths, boughs and garlands

Tucked away across Hover St. from Roger's Grove and the Boulder County Fairgrounds, Blue Ribbon Farms is our preferred spot for gardening necessities every spring. And it's always a pleasure to visit, with bursts of floral color and scents at every turn. 

Locally owned and operated by the Sipes Family, Blue Ribbon is the kind of friendly, low-key place where they remember your name -- and sometimes even your dog's name. They also know their stuff: if you're in need of any advice, whether it's about what soil to use or what to plant in your vegetable bed, just ask any staff member. They're happy to help. You can be sure that everything they sell is carefully hand-selected for the area (unlike at big box stores where it can be hit and miss.)

Good to know: Blue Ribbon sells Christmas trees every holiday season -- a great local alternative to the supermarket.

Serendipity Mercantile

Serendipity Mercantile closed their doors in 2016. Sad! :(

Where: 635 Third Ave.

When: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm

Web: facebook.com/serendipitymercantile

Longmont has several large indoor flea markets around town, but Serendipity Mercantile is by far the most pleasurable shopping experience. Located in a historic building one block off of Main Street, part of its charm is the brick walls and the large windows. 

Serendipity also offers a more curated collection of vintage and antique merchandise than its competitors (i.e., there's less crap to sift through). I love to browse their selection of antique and mid-century furniture, and if you like kitschy kitchenware, this is definitely the place. Serendipity also has a large selection of vintage clothing and jewelry (perfect for Halloween costumes).

In the back of the store, there is a small collection of vinyl (my husband's first and only stop) and a section of architectural salvage (old doors, shutters, and hardware). While much of the merchandise is pricy (these folks definitely know the worth of what they are selling), there are plenty of deals to be had as well.