Business ‘blooming’ at Dayton’s Flower

Dayton’s Flower & Garden Center, 4474 Cleveland Massillon Road, Norton, is extending its spring hours.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN staff

NORTON  It all began nearly 70 years ago with Christmas trees. Thousands of them.

And then in the spring, customers knew to look for azaleas and rhododendrons.

Del and Dorothy Dayton grew their business on good sound advice, meeting needs of the community, and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Their daughter, Susan Dayton, is carrying on the tradition of her parents and her uncle, Eugene Artrip. Now, Susan works all hours to make sure customers have the best quality and affordable prices at Dayton’s Flower & Garden Center, 4474 Cleveland Massillon Road, Norton. With partner Joseph Rogal and some other smiling hard-working experts, this spring they have been busy about the greenhouse digging in the dirt to get everything ready just in time for Mother’s Day and spring planting.

The flower and garden center is celebrating 69 years – all at the same location, no less.

“My Dad was big on quality,” Susan Dayton said. “My Dad always wanted first class service and quality. He wanted people to have fun and be happy with their purchases. If they were not happy, he wanted to know about it.”

Since 1956, the Dayton family has been helping to beautify Norton, Barberton and the surrounding areas with the highest quality in nursery stock and plant materials.

Dayton’s is a full-service garden center and nursery worth a visit any season and especially now leading up to Mother’s Day. Bursting with color and overflowing with selection, it’s difficult to choose one gorgeous pot or hanging basket over another. A walk around the rows upon rows of flowers, trees and other plants in front of the store and the colorful blooming flats, pots bursting with life, and attractive classy wall pots in the greenhouses reveal the large selection of azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, perennials, shade trees, ornamental trees and much more. Dayton’s has everything you need for your lawn, garden, landscaping and indoor living. Even canning supplies, seeds, mushroom compost, fertilizer, mulches and soil mixes are available. Zinnias and begonias are especially popular at this time of year, Dayton said.

Dayton and her siblings grew up in the business. In late December, Dayton Nurseries closed its doors 2.5 miles down the road along Cleveland Massillon. The two businesses had run separately since 1991. Susan Dayton said some customers have been confused since the other business closed and she wants to make sure everyone is aware that Dayton’s Flower & Garden Center is still very much going strong and growing many varieties as well as hard-to-find items.

Because of growing labor costs, Dayton works to keep costs low for customers. She plants and grows most of what they sell to keep prices reasonable.

Unlike the box stores, stepping into Dayton’s Flower & Garden Center makes you feel embraced with a quaint and homey atmosphere as soon as you walk through the doorway. A variety of Tiffany Lamps are for sale and help create the comfortable ambiance. Many different kinds of bird baths will be available just in time for Mother’s Day. Lawn ornaments, gazing globes and other fun decor are available.

For more information, call 330-825-4176. Visit daytonflowerandgarden.com. Email info@dayton flowerandgarden.com. Look for Dayton’s Flower & Garden Center on Facebook.