The Mountain Man
Mann’s Country Gardens
By Tricha Martin

Owner: John and Kelly Mann
Address: Box 401 RD #2, Bird Creek Road
Gillett, Pennsylvania (directions on Web site)
Phone: (570) 537-6676
E-mail: info@mannscountrygardens.com
Web site and directions: www.mannscountrygardens.com
Hours: Before Thanksgiving: Tuesday through Saturday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.          After Thanksgiving until December 24: Monday through Thursday 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.; Friday and Saturday 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. Sunday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.; Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, January and February; Reopens March 1st

Tis the Season at Mann’s Country Gardens!  Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, Mann’s has something for everyone. Their season kicks off with the tapping of the maple trees. Kelly and John work closely with Kelly’s parents, Barry and Pat Bradley, previous owners of Bradley’s Farms, located outside Elmira, to produce a wonderful variety of maple products.

In the meantime, Kelly is prepping her gardens for one of her favorite activities: fresh-cut flower arrangements. During the spring and summer she sells perennials, shrubs, and cut flowers. Her specialty is fresh arrangements with a mixture of flowers from the various gardens on their property. She makes arrangements for weddings, receptions, birthdays, anniversaries, and any other special occasion (advance orders required). As the growing season dies down, the Christmas tree farm business picks up. John is busy trimming trees, keeping weeds down, and getting things ready for the Christmas hustle.

Do you remember when you were young and the whole family went out to pick out a Christmas tree? Well, the folks at Mann’s pride themselves on that very tradition. With more than a thousand Christmas trees available—pre-cut or cut-your-own—in eight varieties, it’s easy to find the perfect tree. Afterward, warm yourself by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa in their new pavilion. A darling two-story gift shop, located on their property, is filled with seasonal gifts such as candles, pictures, gift boxes, maple products, and much more.

The merchandise:  Maple products galore. Maple syrup, maple cream, maple-sugar candy, maple-crumb sugar, maple nuts, and even maple cotton candy. The gift shop carries dried flowers, McCalls candles, Mossy Oak-licensed products, Christmas decorations, and personalized ornaments. Also available: cider, honey, cheese, and baked goods from a nearby business. More than twenty kinds of gift boxes are filled with gourmet foods, pictures, trinkets, quilts, wall decorations, and many other things. During the holidays you can find fresh wreaths, garlands, bows, light-post swags, over-the-door swags, mailbox huggies, arches, crosses, hearts and centerpieces. Fresh flower arrangements and greenery can be specially ordered. Stop by and catch the Christmas Spirit with the smell of fresh pine and tradition!