New owner for garden center in Carlton

Paula Nesbitt starts The Vintage Apple Garden at former Bertsch’s site

Photos by Tom Rivers – Paula Nesbitt is pictured with her daughter-in-law Jillian and granddaughter Isabel at The Vintage Apple Garden, which opened today at the former Bertch’s Good Earth Market on Route 98.

CARLTON – The change in long-established businesses continues in Carlton with a new owner at the former Bertsch’s Good Earth Market.

Paula Nesbitt today opened The Vintage Apple Garden at 1582 Oak Orchard Rd. She is running the business with her daughters-in-law Jillian and Tiffany, and Paula’s daughter Nicole.

The site will continue to sell flowers and gardening supplies. The Nesbitt women are adding a gift shop and antiques. They will have produce – peaches, pears, apples and vegetables, as well as cider – when they are in season.

“I appreciate beauty and I want to share that with people,” Nesbitt said today. “I love to create.”

Nesbitt also wants to make the site available for small parties. She expects a fairy house will be ready on Thursday, and she said that should prove popular with little girls. She also wants to have tea parties at the location.

Paula Nesbitt is pictured inside one of the greenhouses at the business.

Dave and Sharon Bertsch and their daughter Heather Tabor and her husband Jim opened Bertsch’s 14 years ago.  Dave Bertsch will continue to have a part-time presence at Vintage Apple.

Nesbitt said she grew up with a love for gardening instilled in her by her father. Now that her five children are grown, she said she can pursue her gardening and business passion.

“It’s time to take a new journey,” she said about the business.

She is working alongside her daughters-in-law Jillian, who is married to Nick Nesbitt, and Tiffany, who is married to the younger Steve Nesbitt. Paula’s daughter Nicole, a sophomore at Colorado State University, will also be a leader in the operation. She is studying agriculture business and greenhouse management.

The change in ownership at Bertsch’s is the latest in the Point Breeze area. The Cardone family sold the Harbor Pointe Country Club to Lynn-Ette and Sons in March and most of that site has been turned into farmland.

Gatlen Ernst in March also acquired the Lake Breeze Marina, which had been owned by Doug and Janice Bennett.