Arch in Bloom is the Destination in Greenwich for Halloween. Don’t Miss It.

Stop by Arch in Bloom this month and be prepared to be scared.

Proprietor Derek D’Andrea, along with a team that includes his sister and fiancée, spent all summer mapping out a Halloween themed experience amid their nursery.

Glenville friends, Luna and Lily Schacter with Brooke Barber at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager

Make Pemberwick your destination at least once this month and behold the life-size aliens, dragons, witches and the towering skeleton keeping watch over numerous varieties of pumpkins.

What better way to showcase fall nursery products than with window displays of creepy life-sized animatronics?

“We do it for the neighborhood. We do it for the town,” D’Andrea said as local school kids called out to each other as they darted around the spooky displays. “In the morning neighborhood kids waiting for the school bus come look at the dragon and enjoy the window displays. The buzz for Halloween is starting. Everyone is really excited. They come to expect it, but we love it. I love the creative aspect and putting it together.”

The window displays really come to life at Arch in Bloom after dark. Don’t miss it! Photo: Leslie Yager

D’Andrea’s enthusiasm for the community and the treat that is in store is genuine. “We love our product. We love our suppliers and love the business itself,” he said. “We’re especially happy around the holidays.”

“None of this would be possible without the overwhelming support from the neighborhood, my family, my sister Christine and my fiancée Jaime’s creative input – and of course the Arch In Bloom Team.”

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s so much fun,” D’Andrea said, adding that some of the architectural details in the display were sourced from the Monger’s Market in Bridgeport.

This year the theme is “Area 51,” with highlights including an alien autopsy and a fire breathing dragon breaking out of his crate.

“We tried to make it look like a government storage facility with green goo on the silo outside of the building,” he added. “We build all of our backdrops and displays.”

D’Andrea said when he was growing up, his father Bill would do holiday themed exhibits at the family nursery on West Putnam Ave by Greenwich Library, and he has followed suit. In fact, the D’Andrea family has been in the nursery business in Greenwich for 100 years.

When Derek found the space on Pemberwick Rd the ideas was to use it as office space. Later he added a retail element, and ultimately created a a destination for community events.

Before the pandemic he hosted a Pumpkins & Pints event that was a smash. After a hiatus in 2020 due to Covid, the event is back on! Mark Saturday, Oct 16th from 12:00pm to 6:00pm for Pumpkins & Pints 2021!

“People can expect food, drinks, apple cider, beer and wine,” he said. “A lot of folks from the neighborhood will walk over, but people can park across the street.”

Also, D’Andea said he anticipated being open for trick-or-treaters!

“Staff will be in costumes,” he said.

The window displays really come to life at Arch in Bloom after dark. Don’t miss it! Photo: Leslie Yager
Smoke breathing dragon breaks out of his crate at Arch in Bloom in Greenwich. Photo: Leslie Yager
Giant skeleton looms over Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
You can’t miss the skeleton at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Night time at Arch in Bloom is even spookier. Photo: Leslie Yager
Night time at Arch in Bloom is even spookier. Photo: Leslie Yager
Night time at Arch in Bloom is even spookier. Photo: Leslie Yager
Give ’em pumpkin to talk about with many varieties. Photo: Leslie Yager
Creep quietly past the pumpkin monster at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Derek D’Andrea at his Arch in Bloom at 201 Pemberwick Rd. Photo: Leslie Yager
Proprietor Derek D’Andrea, along with a team that includes his sister and fiancée, spent all summer mapping out a Halloween themed experience amid their nursery.
The retail space at Arch in Bloom is decorated with an Area 51 alien theme. Step inside if you dare. Photo: Leslie Yager
Fall is the time for planting and there is a wide variety of annuals and perennials at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Color chrysanthemums at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Varieties of pumpkins and gourds at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Witch you were here at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Derek D’Andea and his team sources salvage from Mongers Market in Bridgeport to construct a Halloween set at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
If you dare, step inside Arch in Bloom retail space, which has been transformed into a highly classified US Air Force facility in Nevada, better known as “Area 51” set. Photo: Leslie Yager
Expect to see mummies, aliens and random monsters at Arch in Bloom in October. Boo! Photo: Leslie Yager
Part of the Area 51 themed exhibits inside Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
Spottings of different mythical creatures are pinned on the map. All points direct back to Pemberwick Road. Photo: Leslie Yager
The Jackalope was spotted in Opal, WY in 1988. Photo: Leslie Yager
Photo with the “Megalodon” on Catalina Island in California. Photo: Leslie Yager
Potions and notions brewing in the Area 51 themed display at Arch in Bloom. Photo: Leslie Yager
The impressive variety of annuals, perennials, pumpkins and shrubs at Arch in Bloom are incorporated into the Halloween theme. Photo: Leslie Yager

Arch in Bloom is located at 201 Pemberwick Road. Tel. (203) 550-1235

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