With the vibrant pink and white petals recently emerging to life from the branches of the city’s iconic dogwood trees, spring is officially in full bloom in Dowagiac.

The plants are not the only spots in town sporting bright, colorful flowers this time of year, though.

This week, Dowagiac’s O’Larry and Mildred Collins reopened their business, Creekside Greenhouse, for the season. The shop, located at 324 Pokagon St., offers a variety of potted plants and flowers, including daylilies, pachysandra, myrtle and vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers.

This year is the 18th season since the Dowagiac couple opened Creekside Greenhouse, said O’Larry, who also owns downtown’s Art enah Suit, an art studio and used men’s clothing store.

“Mildred is the green thumb,” O’Larry said. “She was the one who got me into it.”

The woman worked at greenhouses for nearly her entire life, she said. Before opening Creekside, she was considering buying an existing greenhouse business near Hartford, though the deal eventually fell through, Mildred said.

However, another opportunity sprung forth after the couple learned the vacant Pokagon Street property was available to purchase. After buying the lot, they set out to transform it, assembling two greenhouses on the property.

In the years that followed, O’Larry and Mildred have built several additional greenhouses, including one O’Larry designed himself. They purchased an existing greenhouse from another operation years ago as well, splitting it into two structures.

With the greenhouse open from May through October, the couple begins preparing plants for the upcoming season in March, with O’Larry handling the soil and Mildred doing the planting, O’Larry said.

In addition to pre-planted pots and hanging baskets, the couple will also plant a bouquet of flowers, decorative grasses and other plants in baskets that customers provide, he said.

Over the years, the greenhouse has developed a stream of regular customers who pour in to purchase plants. Business booms from Mother’s Day at the beginning of spring to fall, when people purchase flowers such as mums and hydrangeas, O’Larry said.

“We have customers come all the way from Chicago to buy our plants,” O’Larry said. “We put a lot of work into them, and they are really healthy.”

Creekside Greenhouse is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 7 p.m. Sundays. For more information people may contact O’Larry at (269) 414-2120.