It all begins with an idea.
Phoenix Garden Center (formerly Gallatin Valley Garden Center) has been a beloved staple of the Gallatin Valley since 2003. Owners, Travis and Keri Baar are life-long Bozeman residents now raising their four kids in the Valley.
After Eighteen Seasons at the old Gibson’s lot at Babcock and Main, the Baars are expanding the operation to include the Fall and Christmas seasons. In the Fall of 2021 the Garden Center moved to a permanent location in Four Corners at Cobb Hill Road and Huffine. The goal for the property is a world-class garden facility open year-round, that meets all the gardening needs of the Gallatin Valley community.
Through all the years of being open, the Garden Center has grown a wonderful relationship with Visser’s Greenhouses who provide the vast majority of our bedding plants and hanging baskets. We highly value our relationships with businesses and individuals in our community, and love seeing our “regular” customers.
Travis re-named the store Phoenix Garden Center in 2025.
Now Phoenix Garden Center currently has 5 Greenhouses, and is building a retail and office space. The little yellow barn from the original property owners has been lovingly restored and is used as a multi-purpose building. Many plans are in place for the expansion of the property, and we’re looking forward to unveiling them as they come to fruition!
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Travis Baar
OWNER & ACTING GM
My job is to manage a lot of details, while investing in building & developing a team. I've been at the helm for 22 seasons & am really proud and excited about what we've done and where we've grown to. My main goals are to formalize a sustainable structure for the store, develop the property, facility & customer & employee experience for the community!
The most fun thing is to have a team of happy employees that work well together. They carry the business. It is fun to watch customers & their kids enjoy the space - the enchantment of children enjoying displays, plants, cats & taking that joy home. It's emotional! The deepest root is to create a business that is innovating, improving, creating more life and less drama.
My Advice: “A little bit at a time. Everyone's little is different.” Do what you want, and enjoy what you do! It's more art than science, so just enjoy the journey.
My favorite plant? I cannot pick just one. Currently, I love Crimson Cloud and Paul Scarlet Hawthorne, Prairie Fire Crabapple & my two Gingko Biloba who have survived the Montana winter!
My Hidden Talent: To be consummately hopeful
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Nicholas Romeo
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
I am an outdoor enthusiast, spending most of my time away from work floating down a river looking for big trout or bowhunting the backcountry. I enjoy getting to remote places that not many other people go and particularly love backpacking. As the assistant general manager at PGC, I love interacting with our amazing customers, and talking plants and soil all day long.
I love the energy and enjoyment out customers have and the fact I get to work most summer days with no shoes on!!
My Advice: “If it’s not helping… it’s hurting” -Cheryl Bennett
Favorite Plant: Nepenthes Pitcher Plant
My hidden talent: I was a luthier previously (maker of string instruments) and can build guitars and basses from scratch!
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Jen Pulchinski
PERMANENTS DIRECTOR
I manage the permanents department & am one of our plant specialists.
The most inspiring part of my job is to be continuously learning. It never stops!
My advice: Follow what speaks to your soul.
My favorite plants: anything medicinal.
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Carlie
BUYER/ HARD GOODS LEAD
My role at Phoenix Garden Center is do manage all of the Hard goods and the Gallery Section, from ordering to merchandizing. Hard goods includes everything that’s not a plant, from fertilizer to garden tools and gloves. The Gallery is our Boutique-style section with all kinds of gifts, home goods, and more!
The most inspiring part of my job is knowing that I can make a small difference in our community that can impact people in a positive way. Whether it is the Garden Center Library program we offer, or even carrying sustainable products that people can’t find otherwise.
Favorite Plant: Rabbits Foot Fern
My hidden talent: I can paint match pretty much any color! with a few try’s ;)
I am always open to suggestions on products!
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Sonja Jacobson
MEDIA & MARKETING
I coordinate Marketing & Media for the Garden Center. Mostly, I run around taking photos of flowers and drops of dew & order signs, among other things.
The team here has so much enthusiasm. It is contagious. I just try to document that.
They say in life "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". With plants, what you kill makes you stronger.
Favorite Plant: Duck weed.
My hidden talent: I can do math in my head. (But it's not always right)