I feel like the luckiest person in the world. In my search for a bed and breakfast, not only did I stumble upon Garden Grove - the most delightful piece of property in the most perfect location - but along with it I got the kindness and expertise of Jerry and Paula Welsh. For those of you who have been coming to Garden Grove for some time, you know and love Jerry and Paula too. And, you know how much they love Garden Grove and want to see it thrive.
In my transition to business owner and innkeeper, there are many firsts. Luckily, I was able to land in Harbor Country about a month before the official hand-off of Garden Grove. In this time, I’ve gotten to know Jerry and Paula and shadow them. Paula has showed me how to best care for the garden, where to grow Zinnias so we have fresh flowers to put in guest rooms throughout the summer, where she gets farm fresh eggs and how she saves food scraps to share back with those prolific chickens. Jerry has given me tours of the water lines, gas lines and other utilities in the home, tips on how to make the best blueberry buttermilk pancakes and all his secrets to running a successful business for the past 20 years. And, most of all, they have both showed me what it is to love Garden Grove and all the guests that visit.
I have big shoes to fill, but I feel confident knowing I have a strong foundation to build upon and knowing that Jerry and Paula are just up the road and happy to help me succeed. Congrats to Jerry & Paula on their retirement, and thank you for creating such a beautiful space!