When host Rebecca Kolls is not gardening, she loves browsing in small, unique garden shops. In Minneapolis recently she discovered Bloomsbury Market. The owner, Sotera Tschetter, used to be the set designer for the pop star Prince. Now she uses her creativity for garden design.
From the outside, it isn't obvious that the bright flower market used to be a three-car garage. The name was created in honor of the Bloomsbury Arts Group, popular in England during the 1930s. Sotera has blended this unique European style with her Midwestern charm.
The rustic decor inside was created with items that Sotera collected during her world travels. She's proudest of the garden hardware area; she designs and manufactures fences, arches and trellises.
"After only 13 months, Bloomsbury market is producing more than 110 products, which are shipped all over the world," says Sotera. "We ship our merchandise from New Jersey to Japan."
Bloombury Market Hardscapes
Sotera's garden hardware provides Bloomsbury customers with an alternative to the typical wire and picket fences. Her goal is to create architecture that blends in with the flowers and plants yet still offers accent and structure to the garden.
"All of our designs are forged by hand-wrought iron, which means bent metal," says Sotera. "I do the sketches for the patterns. Nothing is computerized, so our products have a very natural feel and they're only created in limited quantities."
Bloomsbury Market also produces squirrel fences that serve as a decorative border.
"We add a little bit of the more interesting panels between the plain ones to make a more decorative, ornamental border," says Sotera. "In our garden, they're being used to keep the raccoons out of the pond."
Another unique product Sotera designed is a conservatory. This copper-coated form is brushed with patina finish to give it a weathered look. Many people like to use them in springtime gardens and then, after spring passes, move them inside as a sort of terrarium.
Bonnie Blodgett discovered Sotera's designs while writing her garden newsletter. Now she has a yard filled with Bloomsbury Market products.
"I think it's the way that she pragmatically blends ... style and aesthetics," said Bonnie. "Gardeners constantly improvise. I mean, I can pick the fencing up and move it around and build a trellis out of it if I feel inspired. It's a very practical idea."
Speaking of practical, the most commonly asked question about these fences is if they really keep rabbits and squirrels out of the garden.
"They're more for show than critter control," says Sotera.
Sotera has this advice for anyone adding her designs to their garden: "Don't overdo it. Make the plants be the main thing and accessorize with hardscapes mainly for practicality. If your plants are overgrown and leggy, then bring in some fences or trellis to serve dual utilitarian and aesthetic purposes."
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