Wheeler Gardens

Mark Wheeler started Wheeler Gardens out of the back of his pickup truck in 1987. On the weekends, he'd head on over to the old Smitty's Supermarket parking lot on West Battlefield Road and sell fall mums. Today, he's now growing more than 17,000 mums for fall sales and even supplies the ones you see at Silver Dollar City and Big Cedar Lodge. Throughout the years, Wheeler Gardens has called several other locations home, but you can currently find its main shop tucked away on Bedford Avenue in East Springfield. (Fun fact: Wheeler Gardens is right by the 417 Magazine office, and it's always a bright spot on our daily commutes.) Wheeler Gardens grows more than 80% of the products it sells at its farm in Ozark, which you can visit during one of its spring and fall sales. And don't sleep on the gift shop at the Springfield location, which is a treasure trove filled with an impressive selection of pottery.