Ellington, Conn. – When mums burst into color each fall, the Back to the Roots Mum Patch offers more than a garden stroll. Owned by longtime friends Heather Rabida and Crystal Rothe, the patch continues a two‑decade tradition started by the Cohen family, who ran the business for about 20 years before retiring.
Family roots run deep
“Our family friends, the Cohen family, they ran this for about 20 years. They started it, established it, and then they were ready to retire,” Rabida explained. “We loved it so much that we wanted to take it over, and they offered it to us, so now we continued it: their tradition.”
The owners work year‑round to ensure the mums shine this season, describing the experience as a celebration of fall. “We love fall,” said Rothe. “Just driving around the farming community, you have the silage smells, the corn, the straw, everything just kind of put together.”
Planting schedule guides shoppers
The patch is organized so customers can pick mums based on their expected bloom dates. “At the end of June, they all get planted out here on the mat,” Rothe said. “From the end of June until now, they all have different dates as far as when they grow to their, you know, to flower.” This staggered schedule keeps the garden vibrant throughout the autumn months.
Kids grow alongside the mums
Rabida and Rothe’s sons, Wyatt and Tucker, have spent their childhood among the rows of mums. The boys, both about three years old, now help welcome visitors alongside Ollie, the Rabida family dog. “Her son is three and a half, mine is three,” Rothe noted. “It kind of works out perfectly for them to grow together. And, you know, they love to help people.”
Returning customers enjoy watching the boys mature. “People come and they’re like, ‘Oh, I remember when they were babies,’” Rabida said, adding that Ollie has become a local favorite.
Open daily for fall shoppers
The Back to the Roots Mum Patch welcomes visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Ellington until the mums sell out. Whether families are looking for a seasonal centerpiece or simply a pleasant walk among the blooms, the patch offers a blend of horticulture, heritage, and hometown hospitality.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
