![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/10\/Green-Loft-Sign-300x200.jpg\")
While she has no formal background in horticulture, Ms Winton said her love of plants was the key driver for wanting to set up the shop in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a plant expert, I\u2019m a plant lover, this is something I have wanted to do for a long while,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve grown up with a gardening family, always loved plants and had a beautiful garden and when we built the new house and had lots of space and filled it with green.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt brought so much joy to our lives and I thought it was time to share it.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the wide variety of plants available is the core of Green Loft\u2019s business, the store also offers a range of other homewares, art, lanterns, Etsy cards and ceramic and woven goods.<\/p>\n
With all the products sourced from a range of places, Ms Winton said she tried to create an environment that was a bit different to what people had seen before.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people come in they can expect a fabulous experience, gorgeous plants and great atmosphere,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough I\u2019m not an expert, I give them the rundown of what they need to do, whether they need to store it in sunlight or water it more once they buy a plant.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a plant for everyone and I figure, if I can grow it, they can grow it.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the plant store is first and foremost a business, Ms Winton said it\u2019s been a great way to boost the community\u2019s morale.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I can make people happy with them adopting a new plant and creating a continued happiness that\u2019s my job done,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe live in a very different time and things are so sad at the moment and a little retail therapy may be some people\u2019s only out.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they come away feeling uplifted and can get a little bit of happiness it\u2019s a win, win for us all.\u201d<\/p>\n Green Loft is located in the warehouse behind The Cheesecake Shop every Thursday and Saturday from 12.00pm to 5.00pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TUCKED away down a bluestone lane just off Sturt Street, you can step into Ballarat\u2019s newest indoor plant store, filled to the brim with greenery, art and homewares. After opening the doors just over a month ago, Green Loft\u2019s owner Melissa Winton said the nearby community and her existing clients have been a huge support. […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/10\/Green-Loft-Inside-300x200.jpg\")