Green Thumb Nursery - Lake Forest — Local services in Lake Forest

PLEASE BE SAFE!

I've been going to this store for a couple of years (or maybe more) by now, but we have bad problems with their employees who got aggressive during our visit there. This was brought up to management during the incident, but it seems a year later the same employee is harassing us, except this time he yelled saying they do not allow dogs ("NO NO NO NO NO DOGS ALLOWED". Next day, I called the location to clarify if whether the dog policy has changed or not. Gabby verified that dogs are allowed and welcome, that they even have treats for them. This is the type of location that typically offers sales/discounts if you bring your dog to the store. This is the kind of vibe they have, however they have one employee who has been singling us out and now that I know he is lying, I realize the issue is beyond a dog policy. My partner was shaken and I am disturbed by this kind of behavior not only from an employee, but from as a person in general. Upon finding their store's page on Yelp through my research, I realize now that their staff truly have some problematic behavior or attitude there. We were regulars (you can imagine we won't be returning in the future. Who wants to be treated that way? We no longer feel safe there), I've kept an eye out for the employee to avoid him (whether we had our dogs with us or not), but so far I have not seen him telling off anybody else about their dogs. Seems we were personally targeted. If you are planning to visit, be aware that while they welcome dogs there will be hostility from one of their employees. If you decide to go, watch out for an old white man assigned to the rose bushes. Management will not defend you. Maybe bring pepper spray in case his aggression escalates so you can protect/defend yourself

I now leave this review as a precaution for anyone interested in going. Please be safe!

12/30/24 update: I voiced my grievance to vent and to get clarification on whether their dog policy has changed or not in a post on their Facebook page. I already left the group so maybe that's why I can no longer see it. If it's there, that's great but there's at least a copy of his statement here if anybody needs to refer to it. Fortunately, I took a screenshot of one of their "Digital Marketing Director" James Kricked Parr's comment who was gaslighting me for a potential racial discrimination incident with their employee who I now recognize (through the picture on their website) is Patrick. This is likely the same James P who has been responding to everyone in the store's Yelp page. Through Yelp, I also found out that Patrick has been mentioned in complaints about his hostility/aggression so this tells me that this is an ongoing issue for him and my partner and I were NOT an isolated incident. Additionally, this also tells me if this were to happen to another customer, there's a huge chance they will disregard it like they disregarded us. Whether they are aware of Patrick's behavioral problem or perhaps this is the kind of work culture they have there, I'll take gaslighting as a refusal to investigate his behavior. It's family owned, chances are these employees have been working there for decades and they will protect their own blindly (either that or maybe this is how management behaves and their employees are just reflecting management's behavior? ‍ idk), even if it's a possible liability. To erase any doubt that dogs are in fact allowed in the store, I am also including screenshots of James Kricked Parr advising other people in the store's Facebook group that dogs are, indeed, welcome. The comment was written 22 weeks ago which is the last week of July 2024. Here is a quotation from his comment:

"Well behaved, leashed dogs are allowed at Green Thumb Nursery and we have treats available at the registers most of the time for our puppy friends"

But yea, huge plant selection,...

Absolutely Outstanding – My Go-To Nursery

Note: This review and the photos are for Green Thumb Nursery in San Marcos, not Lake Forest. Unfortunately, the review was posted to the wrong location due to a direct link. I imagine Lake Forest is wonderful as well.

I can’t say enough good things about Green Thumb Nursery in San Marcos. Their plant selection is incredible—healthy, diverse, and thoughtfully curated. The pricing is more than fair for the quality you get, and in many cases, far better than what you’d find elsewhere.

What really sets them apart, though, is the staff. Every employee I’ve interacted with has been knowledgeable, helpful, and clearly passionate about what they do. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, they take the time to guide you and make sure you’re getting exactly what you need.

Everything I’ve brought home from Green Thumb has thrived. I recommend them to anyone and everyone looking for anything garden-related—and I always steer people away from the big box stores. There’s just no comparison in quality, care, or experience. Please see the below, photos of broccoli, subsequently replaced by cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, fava beans And even some California poppies just for fun in my raised bed in our...

This place is great for the decent selection compared to the large box stores, but the prices are awful like others have said. They DO have an option to receive coupons (one weekly, usually 10-20% off your purchase of $70-100) via text or email, but with the recent debate of how Laguna Hills/Lake Forest is going to redo the interchange, most of these emails/texts are spam multiple times a week asking you to contact your local representative to vote a certain way regarding road paving. Extremely annoying. I recommend signing up, getting your coupon and immediately unsubscribing.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: They have the worst plant return policy out of any nursery I've ever been to. 1 year, exchange ONLY or store credit, no money back. Their receipts also only say "Taxable nursery" so you are stuck hand writing on your receipts what the heck you purchased immediately, otherwise there is no way to look up what you bought from them. Armstrong has a lifetime warranty on all trees+shrubs, Home Depot/Lowes is one year, money back.

A cool option they DO have is ordering from Monrovia online and having your plants delivered to them for free. Saves on shipping if there is something...