Joshua Tree Gardens

Landscape Design Build

For Monty and Suzanne Deel, owners of Joshua Tree Gardens and long-time eastern shore residents, the garden center they started in 2005 has a two-fold purpose: offer attractive and superior garden and outdoor decoration products, and provide a meaningful place of employment for people with disabilities.

Joshua Tree Gardens is a nursery and home and garden store located in Cambridge, Maryland and was named after the Deels' son, Joshua, who is 20 years old and has Down's syndrome. He works at the store, and the Deels have lived in the community since he was born. "We have employed other people with disabilities in the past as well," Suzanne says. "Gardening and caring for plants is something that they can enjoy and accomplish well."

G. Scott Robinson, founder of OUInc, has made a mission out of preserving the environment while providing economical irrigation and lighting choices for his clients. “We want to create a stewardship to help conserve water and preserve our environment,” says Mr. Robinson. “Most people have no idea such valuable commodities are being abused.”

“Shopping at Joshua Tree is like spending a day away on vacation.”

The Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is also a desert plant that grows in the unforgiving terrain of the - Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States, so the Deels liked the dual symbolism of the name. The name creates conversation with the occasional customer, thinking they sell actual Joshua trees, or who stop to ask if the Deels are U2 fans, Suzanne says.

Joshua Tree Gardens provides everything for an outdoor living space, including colorful patio and deck furniture, fencing, pergolas, plants, containers, garden statuaries, fountains, beautiful pottery, water features, bulk materials, mulch and plenty of advice. If visitors have any questions, the Deels are quick to offer assistance. Joshua Tree Gardens also offers landscaping assistance and patio and fencing design.

Joshua Tree Gardens is the exclusive distributor of Walpole Woodworkers for the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Walpole Woodworkers is a nationwide company that offers the highest quality product line available anywhere, and the Joshua Tree Gardens staff is trained to advise upon and install anything from this product line. The Walpole products include every kind of fencing (metal, wood and synthetic materials), pergolas, arbors, sheds, swing sets, furniture, lighting and outdoor living supplies.

"We have realized steady growth over the past five years and took a great leap with the addition of the Walpole line," Suzanne says. "They produce unique, high-quality, American-made products, and we're really excited about being the exclusive distributors for Delmarva."

The Deels pull out all the stops when the holidays arrive. The center is stocked with everything a festive homeowner could need, from ornaments, poinsettia plants, holiday centerpieces, fresh wreaths and garlands to the tree itself—the Deels pride themselves on their selection of award-winning Fraser fir Christmas trees. Customers can enjoy hot spiced cider and cookies and have their wreaths professionally decorated while they browse.

"We have a great holiday following," Suzanne says. "If you come at Christmas time it's quite an experience for young and old alike. Usually Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus visit several times during the season."

"Shopping at Joshua Tree is like spending a day away on vacation," she adds. "We pride ourselves on customer service. Whether you come to our store or we come to your home, we always go the extra mile for our customers, and many have become our longlasting friends."

Joshua Tree Gardens
3009 Old Route 50
Cambridge, MD 21613
410-228-4900

Pictured: Suzie, Monty and Joshua Deel
Photography: Bob Gosselin