The Gardener

I have been receiving emails from The Gardner for many years now. My first visit was for a book signing yesterday. It is a beautiful store. All of my senses were awakened by the sights and aromas. The employees were very polite and helpful and I can see how sometimes this level of formality can border on unfriendly or lacking warmth. I wish I had more time to explore.
P. S. Just be aware the restroom is unisex. I entered after a child and his dad had occupied it. It was as I imagined after said occupants. Since the store has so many unique items, I wonder if they would be able to find a fun plaque or sign to place on the wall behind the commode to remind those who stand to Please Place Seat Down.

This is just a fun place to stroll through, even if you don’t end up buying anything.
They have something for everybody and the layout is really unique and inviting. A lot of really neat artisan and handmade items. Great selection of Japanese gardening tools, which aren’t easy to find off of the internet.
They are expensive. But, they aren’t selling crap. That’s the trade off ghasts and ghouls. If you want something that’s gonna last and looks good, it’s gonna cost you.
It blows my mind sideways that people pluck down $ 10+ a day for a crappy sugary «coffee», but give the sticker shock face when they see a $ 50 handmade item. (steps off of soapbox)
The staff rocks and the inventory is ever changing. It always smells good. A hidden gem in a sadly pretentious portion of Berkeley.
Anyway, we dig The Gardener.

Got the run-​around from the management regarding selling artwork. Pretty inconsiderate.

Oh em gee Meridith.
All the items here are amazing. I spent all of my hours parking in this one store alone! I really like their assortment of plants (especially the air plants). I spent most of my time reading the aeration book sitting next to these plants to get more info on them.
As far as I’m aware of, I had yet to see anything under $ 15 so you can only imagine how expensive things can get here. However, if you’re a gardener or have a passion for plants and aesthetics then this store is right up your alley.

I was here back in November visiting from Los Angeles and I must say it is such an adorable shop. Such cute jewelry, gifts and home décor all in very good taste. This was hands down my favorite place on this little street of shops. I will be back if I ever make it to berkley again.

This year is the BEST in years! I buy most of my presents (year round) at the Gardener and this year I found presents ranging from elegant $ 7 birds to $ 20 whimsical cards. The staff was especially helpful in finding presents for young nephews and small things for neighbors. I love seeing the continually-​changing displays of housewares, books, and textiles, always providing inspiration. Treat yourself to a trip during the holidays!

Rude, contemptuous employees. We shop there a lot and I’ve decided that we will no longer contribute to funding the existence of such individuals. Sad too because we prefer to shop locally. I’ve never been treated so poorly by a sales associate — all for trying to buy over $ 300 worth of merchandise. If the owner is reading this, please reconsider the employment of the dark haired young woman with the glasses who works in your 4^th street store. She does not deserve a job that requires her to interact with other humans. We have been regularly customers for years and will no longer be until she is no longer employed by your establishment.

very beautiful store with nice employees and hard to find products. they carry a variety of garden-​related and garden-​inspired products. i love diptyque candles except i have to say that the diptyque candles here are a little overpriced. i don’t spend $$ on candles except as gifts. online and in san francisco they’re $ 60 for a standard candle, but they’re $ 65 which isn’t really a big deal considering the hassle it is to make to san francisco.
there are those cute little air plants and soap brands like claus porto and even soaps from croatia.

The Gardener has changed over the years. From offering a wonderful selection of interesting things for gardeners to items geared more toward gift giving and pricey furniture and jewelry. I have been able to find some delightful small items for the kitchen and some Santa Maria Novella soaps which I was thrilled with so I’m a happy camper but The Gardener I remember from a short while back really is no more.

Walked in here today for the first time. Now I want to move in here. I do.
Interesting and lovely variety. Pricey and reasonable, depending on what you’re looking at. They seem more interested in having interesting merchandise than following a preset price range. Refreshing.
Came away with some lovely and perfectly balanced drinking glasses $ 6/​each). Left without the $ 1500 patio chair I really wanted… for now.

Artsy, fun, and unique. While there’s a lot of pricey stuff in here, you’ll likely find that ‘something’ for that hard to shop-​for friend. My only problem was there were too many lovely soaps and candles to choose from! You could easily spend a good hour in here just checking out all the goods. What a fun shop.

For years my mother & I have been been patrons of this store, unfortunately today that all changed. I witnessed an overly aggressive, snarky employee be incredibly rude to someone in the store this morning. It seemed unnecessary and definitely not «in the holiday spirit». The store has a great variety of nice giftable items, but so do many other shops whose staff is not quite so abrasive. This young woman should NOT be working with the public.

For years this was my favorite store. I would come several times a month to browse. Perhaps it just me, because I want less stuff, I never see anything I want to buy or wish I could buy. It is still a nice store but it seems empty and what they do have on display is not as unique as it was was several years ago

For a place that has some extraordinarily high prices for home wares, this is a great place to find succulents! The tiny 2″ plants were $ 3, and the larger 4″ plants were $ 8 and I thought I saw some larger plants but I am not sure they were for sale. Their selection of succulents was more eclectic than another succulent nursery nearby, which is interesting, considering it’s a chichi store. My only complaint is that they have a small stock of plants, which for a place called The Gardener, you’d think they’d have a more plants. Regardless, I purchased several plants. I’ll definitely return to check out their stock again.

³¹⁄₂ –4
Interesting selection of merchandise. Somewhat obtuse.
Wonderful design to the interior of the store.
Not always so easy to find anything to buy here for my taste.
Absolutely beautiful wooden bowls that would be great as a wedding gift.
Some new Martha Stewart endorsed hoses in nice colors.

Consistently good quality and unique items. Like to stop in whenever I am on 4^th Street — have been doing so for years. Beautiful wrap for gifts too. This location has more of a range of products than the dinky space at the SF Ferry Building.
Jewelry is pricey, but usually don’t go there to shop for jewelry. Other items within a reasonable range of prices, some surprisingly affordable.
Another favorite local small business.

We always stop here as it is a progressive and relevant place to buy decorations and garden plants. I haven’t taken the leap to start planting cactus but we often think they are beautiful and look easy to maintain.

Looking for the perfect gift…
GO to the gardener. Its a bit pricey but i love this store!

The Gardener is a beautiful shop that I love to visit when I’m on Fourth Street. It’s true, many items here are unbelievably high priced. case in point: a 3-​piece set of nesting bowls, $ 425. Yeesh.
But a closer look will reveal that many things at The Gardener are actually within a reasonable price range. They carry a variety of great books on edible gardens, succulents, and everything Michael Pollan. They also carry a small assortment of plants, unique artisan containers, and beautiful hand-​crafted tables and chairs.
Current favorite:
Adorable egg-​shaped French milled soaps in a variety of scents– choose any six to be housed in an adorable half dozen egg carton, $ 25. Yay, Easter!!!
*Note: Additional stores in Healdsburg, and in the SF Ferry Building :)

This is my favorite shop in town — and this is coming from a non-​gardener. The Gardener seems to scour the world for items made by local craftspeople. It’s like Smith & Hawken meets an upscale, more refined/​sophisticated version of Cost Plus minus the food department. The Gardener is in a different league than Cost Plus, but they share the idea of bringing together goods from around the world.
You’ll find Diptyque candles, poetry books, cookbooks, delicate gemstone jewelry, scarves, toiletries (soaps, lotions), handprinted dish towels, flower bulbs, plates, glasses, notebooks, lunch bags, garden furniture and more. Gorgeous items can be found throughout the store. It’s hard to say what you’ll see here (because the inventory is so unique, diverse and global).
Right now you can find ornaments throughout the store, including some amazing palm garlands and Peruvian woodwork ornaments.
My picks:
* Handmade copper Indian prayer bells
* Eco-​friendly metal lunch boxes
* Pablo Neruda poetry books