VIDEO: Belmar Garden Spot Blooms on Main Street

A former teacher has brought his love of horticulture to Main Street in Belmar.

The Belmar Garden Spot, a new nursery, was established just two weeks ago by David Keady, a former social studies teacher at Keansburg Middle School.

“We hope to provide the community with a place where garden enthusiasts can have their planting needs taken care of,” Keady said.

Keady could usually be seen with a hand truck and plants at the middle school, where he advised the Horticulture Club after classes. He showed his students that gardening has long-term rewards.

“Years after they moved on, former students would tell me that they still had the plants they nurtured in the club,” Keady said.

Planning for the nursery began last fall, when Keady said he found his future 511 Main St. location vacant. He had honed his knowledge of gardening from also working in centers for years and decided to go into business for himself. 

The Belmar Garden Spot offers a variety of plants and services, including:

• Annuals
• Perennials
• Tropics
• Palms
• Grass
• Shrubs
• Trees
• Spring/Winter Cleanup
• Stone pavers/walkways

In the future, Keady plans to expand and include a farmers market, ceramics, lawn sculptures and other items for outdoor décor.

A majority of the plants offered are evergreen – meaning they stay green all year.

Customers will notice that parts of the nursery are set up for show.

“We set up certain plants and arrangements to show customers what it might look like in their backyard. We want them to see these and say 'This might look great in my yard,' " Keady said.

The Belmar Garden Spot is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call 732-894-9900 or visit www.belmargardenspot.com.

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