Hill's Gardens Retail Manager Tony Hill points out the coloring on one of the flowers started in Hill's growhouse. The nursery will open sometime this month, likely the third or fourth week of the month. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Blue frost salvia is a variety carried at Hill's Gardens. Many of the vegetables and annuals sold at Hill's are started from seed on site before being sold to customers. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Hill said a major misconception customers sometimes have is thinking a plant can be ordered for them to arrive in a day or two. Hill's Gardens either starts all of the plants it carries from seed itself, or carries others from different greenhouses in the state that grow their own. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Retail Manager Tony Hill said Hill's Gardens starts getting ready to open for the season in February each year. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Succulents have steadily grown in popularity over recent years, Hill said, so Hill's Gardens has increased its inventory to reflect that. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

While cold weather increases the gas bill, Hill said he "doesn't mind a little snow in April," as it takes some of the pressure off of getting the nursery ready to open for the season. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Hill's Gardens employees "burn the candle at both ends" to get ready to open the nursery, Tony Hill said. A lot of hours get put into planning, ordering, growing and organizing everything the business offers. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Hill said he wishes they could start planting and growing earlier to keep things from piling up as the opening gets closer, "but you can't fool Mother Nature," he said. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Hill unloads a shipment of pots and containers Tuesday at Hill's Gardens receiving center. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune