It's flower season. You've been admiring
your neighbor's roses from afar thinking how nice it would be to
finally get some time to fix up your own garden. But it can be such
a hassle to find time to go to all the different stores and nurseries
to find just the right plants and flowers. It seems to take a dozen
trips around town to finally get what you want. Isn't there a better
way? How about just one trip to the Plant Farm at Smokey Point?
If you've ever driven down Interstate
5 around Arlington you've probably seen the Plant Farm at Smokey
Point. It's hard to miss — not just because of the big pink
sign, but also because of the way it brightens up the entire roadside
with lush flowers and plants.
The plant farm is located on 53
acres (6 for the store and 47 for the farm) just off exit 206 and
has just about everything a gardener could want, from roses and
flowering trees to garden statuary and birdbaths.  When
you arrive, you'll want to grab one of the big blue oversized wagons
to begin assembling your collection. You'll notice right away how
healthy the plants are. This is no accident. Owner Joel Hylback
explained, "Our emphasis is quality plant material. 80% of
what we sell is plant material and a large percentage of what we
sell is grown here. We do this mainly because the quality of what
we can grow is better than anything we can buy." Joel should
know. He's been in the business a long time. "I worked in a
retail nursery from about the time I was in junior high school.
Some years later, that nursery became available so I bought it.
In 1993 we acquired this property. As we grew it became apparent
that it would be better for us to focus our energies and resources
on this location so we closed the smaller location. Our goal is
continuous improvement. We don't sit still." 
The staff at the plant farm doesn't sit still either. Always moving,
they're busy advising customers, tending to the plants and improving
the grounds. They're well trained and understand their business.
Understanding the business is important
to Joel. "It's what brought me to Cascade Bank," said
Joel. "We came to Cascade Bank because the growth of the plant
farm was causing our previous bank to be uncomfortable. They didn't
understand our business. Cascade's business bankers came out here
to talk to me and learn about the business. That communication is
the key — it's what I value about my relationship with them."
The plant farm has grown rapidly over
the last five years. "Cascade came up with a financing solution
that helped with our cash flow situation. They came out and we brainstormed
different possibilities right here in the middle of this field. That
kind of communication is what's important to me."
So if you're looking for help growing
a beautiful garden you'll want to visit the Plant Farm at Smokey
Point.
If you're looking for help growing
a beautiful business, call Cascade Bank at 800-326-8787.
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