Lily's Carle Place Garden Center — Local services in Town of North Hempstead

I visited Lily’s today hoping to find specific anthurium plants, but my experience was disappointing and left a lot to be desired. Despite a neat and somewhat inviting storefront, the interior tells a very different story. The store felt half-empty, with large bare shelves that made it look more like a shop going out of business than one preparing for customers. The handwritten price tags and signs throughout the store looked amateurish and unprofessional. There were no clear sections or labels - nothing to indicate which plants were annuals, vegetables, or indoor types. It felt thrown together without thought for the customer experience. The indoor plant selection was minimal - just some sad-looking pots stuck in a corner. I asked the only staff member present if they had anthuriums, and not only was he unfamiliar with the name, but I had to show him the only two they had. Neither was blooming, and both were overpriced given their lackluster condition. They advertised a 20% discount on tropicals, but aside from one single plant, there were no other tropicals in sight. Similarly, there was a sale on Monstera plants (buy one, get one half off), but I found only four Monstera plants in the entire store. A sale is meaningless if there’s barely anything to sell. There was also a 20% sale on artificial flowers, but like the rest of the store, the selection was limited and uninspired. I noticed a decorative item that I liked, but it was placed so high up and out of reach that I didn’t bother asking the staff member, who had already demonstrated a lack of product knowledge and initiative. When I asked about the overall lack of inventory, the staff member vaguely told me they were “practically done for the season” and new stock wouldn’t arrive until August. If that’s the case, they should consider temporarily closing or at least informing customers of their limited selection upfront. They’re open daily from around 8 or 8:30 AM (9:30 AM on Sunday) to 5 PM (6 PM on Saturday), but simply being open doesn’t equal a good shopping experience. The lack of organization, poor presentation, near-absent customer service, and minimal inventory make this store feel like an afterthought. Unless they invest in proper signage, knowledgeable staff, and actual inventory, I can’t recommend this place. It might have potential, but right now it’s not delivering...

Stopped in 5/17 because I needed some potting soil and have driven past thousands of times. There was a really nice young guy in his 20s or early 30s not sure if he was the owner but he was extremely outgoing & friendly. I watched him help two different senior citizens and he was patient & seemed knowledgable. There was a point were he suggested someone grab another batch of flowers because it ended up being the same price. He offered to bring my purchase to the car if I pulled my car round back. The way he carried himself and his patience and demeanor mean even more these days during this pandemic because everyone seems to be more on edge and in a rush. Most importantly the flowers were all beautiful and seemed to be great quality I look forward to stopping back in to grab flowers for our garden but didn't want to pick any out without my family being there to select from the many different...

The owner, Maria, could not be nicer and the plants are all fresh and healthy. It’s a small place but filled with a beautiful selection. There’s even a little gift shop with tasteful items....