coastal shopper and news 20250827 8 page.indd

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - September 10, 2025 - Coastal Shopper & News - Page 7

we will, communicating clearly, and following through. We hire and invest locally, and we stay rooted in St. Marys, committed to the growth and beautification of our community.

running a shop or the hassle of Facebook sales. Some of the things we’d love to see include:

• Concrete planters and statues • Trellises • Potting benches • Raised beds • Ceramic garden accents • Water and fire features

We’re not your traditional landscaping company—in fact, we’re the opposite. And we couldn’t be more excited to grow with you.

Hi, I’m Erin Welsh, owner of River Tides Landscape Services and our newest venture, River Tides Outdoor Emporium. Like many of you, when I first moved here I struggled to keep plants alive. My career had always been in technology, not gardening, and I couldn’t believe I was failing so badly after

having some success with plants in other climates. I wanted someone to help me create a vision—an actual design—for an outdoor space I could work toward. In stead, I spent a year and a half calling companies who didn’t show up, or who disappeared after the first visit.

When it comes to landscaping projects, we make sure there are options for everyone. You can choose a full installation with us, spread projects out over time, or even take a DIY approach. No matter your budget, we can build a plan that works. Now for the really exciting part: this fall, we’re opening River Tides Outdoor Emporium in downtown St. Marys! The Emporium will be a garden design center where you’ll find plants that actually work in our environment, along with the education and support to help you succeed with them. We’ll also host classes, workshops, and community events. Beyond plants, you’ll discover high-quality garden tools, organic products, planters, accessories, and more. And my favorite part—we’re opening our doors to local craftspeople. If you’re a carpenter, mason, potter, concrete finisher, metalworker, or even a creative DIYer, we’d love for you to be part of the Emporium. Bring your ideas, and even use our reclaimed materials to create unique pieces. We want to give local artists a place to showcase and sell their work—without the overhead of

Eventually, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started taking classes and quickly fell in love with the science behind plants—botany, horticulture, the whole world of how things grow. It pulled me in completely, and I realized I had found my next career. I still learn something new every day, and I don’t plan on stopping. So, what is River Tides? It’s always evolving. What it looks like today won’t be the same five years from now, and that’s the exciting part. At its heart, River Tides believes landscaping should be smart, sustainable, and simple. Our mission is to create beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor spaces that honor the local environment, repurpose materials with purpose, and serve our community with integrity. We design with intention—choosing plants that thrive here, minimizing maintenance, and creating resilient spaces that support pollinators like bees, butterflies, humming birds, and other beneficial insects. We believe just as much in how we treat people as how we treat the land. That means respecting clients, employees, and partners, showing up when we say