Drive down US-26 and somewhere between John Day and Prairie City (at 65153 to be precise) in Eastern Oregon this spring and you will discover a delightful oasis of blooms cascading over a venerable 1927 chain-drive Mack truck carrying the marks of time and weather. You have found Better Blooms and Gardens! Slow down, cruise on in, and wander among the plants and garden décor lovingly curated especially for the local area by Julia Justice.

It all started in 1998 with some tomato plants grown from seed. Julia was working in the woods and, finding jobs scarce, decided to start a nursery. Every year, Julia and her husband, Ken, just added more and more. As their three girls came along, the nursery also grew and required additional work. Ken, while holding down a full-time job, has always been there for the transplanting, watering, and “baby-sitting” all of the growing plants. The three girls, as they have grown up, have been active participants in the business, doing age-appropriate tasks as they matured, learning valuable life lessons along the way.

While Julia has never had an overarching mission and just wanted to help support her family doing something she loves, her ethos is rooted in community. The community supports her business and she supports the community—it’s a full circle revolving around mutual respect.

The scope and variety of plants on offer is impressive, surpassing even the most well-stocked big-box garden emporium. From bedding plants to vegetable starts, the variety is staggering. Add to that, there is an amazing assortment of berry bushes, including blueberries and gooseberries. The nursery also offers rhubarb plants. Better Blooms and Gardens even ventures out of the garden and has an incredible selection of shrubs, fruit trees, shade trees, and evergreens. For those who want to add a bit of whimsy to the garden, Julia also has hanging baskets and container gardens for sale, as well as decorative rocks and bark. And, to start all of this garden magic, they sell various soils and soil additions and amendments.

Growing up in Eastern Oregon, Julia has knowledge of the area and what grows well locally, and this knowledge has only increased over the years. One of her goals is to keep growing her knowledge and making sure her customers become successful gardeners, returning year after year. She also endeavors to keep up with customer demand and also keep her customers up to date. She regularly posts on Facebook as stock arrives and has a lively social media presence.

When you check out Better Blooms and Gardens on Facebook, you will see photos of the blooming plants and some of the fanciful and imaginative garden décor. You will also notice a charming black cat named Pop. He was taken in from a previous owner and Julia did not know if he would adjust to the nursery. Not only did Pop adjust, finding his place as mouser in chief, but has become a customer favorite, cozying up for pats, brushings, and treats.

Better Blooms and Gardens , which started as a labor of pragmatism and love, is now an integral part of the local community and will continue to grow and evolve, all under the watchful eye of a cat named Pop!