Blooming With Purpose
Bayport Flower Houses in Bayport, N.Y., has carved out a unique niche by rooting its business in sustainability—growing community, loyalty and environmental impact one organic product and ladybug at a time.
Karl Auwaerter carries on a family tradition rooted in greenhouses and community. As the third generation to run Bayport Flower Houses, he’s growing more than plants—he’s cultivating a legacy of sustainability, local connection, and hands-on horticulture.
By Doug Donaldson
On a sunny spring morning in Bayport, N.Y., dozens of children gather at the entrance of Bayport Flower Houses, buzzing with excitement. They’re not here to pick out pansies or browse the greenhouse—they’re here for ladybugs. Specifically, they’re here for the annual Ladybug Breakfast, a beloved tradition in which hundreds of thousands of ladybugs are released throughout the store’s expansive yard and gardens. Children don wings, toss red-and-black confetti and, with a mixture of glee and purpose, take part in a ritual that blends fun, environmental education and ecological impact.
“It started with my own kids dressing up as bugs,” says Karl Auwaerter, third-generation owner of Bayport Flower Houses. “It became a tradition—now we get hundreds of kids each year. They learn how ladybugs are natural pest control and why that matters.”
That’s the spirit of Bayport Flower Houses: blending tradition, family and sustainability in everything it does. In a business landscape often driven by trends and turnover, this independent garden center has found its niche—and its strength—by rooting itself in something deeper.
Bayport Flower Houses’ stand-alone “solar sunflower” powers 68 percent of the store—including EV chargers and outdoor lights. Composting, cardboard recycling, and local materials round out a sustainability approach that’s as practical as it is green.
A Legacy That Grows
Founded in 1932 by Auwaerter’s grandparents, Maria and Paul, German immigrants who began as wholesale carnation growers for New York City markets, Bayport Flower Houses has grown steadily over four generations. The business transitioned from wholesale cut flowers to a full-scale garden center and florist under Karl’s father, Gisbert Auwaerter, a well-known floral designer. Today, Bayport Flower Houses includes five divisions: landscape services, greenhouse growing, a floral shop, weddings and events, and a retail garden center.
“Each generation put their stamp on the business,” Auwaerter says. “My father built the floral side. I leaned into the greenhouse and garden center. Now, my son, who’s 28, manages production as the fourth generation.”
The business remains firmly rooted in family—Auwaerter’s wife and sister run the floral division, and his brother-in-law is also involved. For the family, Bayport Flower Houses is a shared legacy, woven into the fabric of Bayport, a hamlet on the south shore of Long Island, itself.
“We’re deeply connected to the community—through the schools, expos, local organizations,” Auwaerter says. “It’s not something you separate from your life. It’s who we are.”
Bayport Flower Houses has been growing blooms on Long Island since the 1930s. Inside its expansive greenhouses, generations of the Auwaerter family have cultivated both flowers and a legacy of community.
Sustainability from the Soil Up
Auwaerter’s passion for plants is matched only by his commitment to sustainability. That interest was amplified in 2000 when Bayport Flower Houses became part of True Value’s Home & Garden Showplace and aligned more with retail hardware and farming communities.
“We’re on a sandbar here on Long Island. Anything we put in the ground goes right into the Great South Bay,” he explains. “So for us, sustainability isn’t just an idea—it’s personal.”
That’s why Bayport Flower Houses’ product lines are almost exclusively earth-friendly—from pest control solutions to fertilizers. Auwaerter compares it to probiotics: “You’re not dumping nitrogen and wiping everything out. You’re feeding the soil biology, like eating yogurt for your gut.”
Auwaerter was an early adopter of brands such as Coast of Maine and Espoma’s Bio-tone lines, and he’s constantly testing new eco-friendly solutions. One of the most popular? Neem-based sprays like Bonide’s Captain Jack’s Neem Oil, which act as both pesticide and fungicide without harming beneficial insects.
The store’s sustainability philosophy extends beyond the items on its shelves. Bayport Flower Houses generates about 68 percent of its energy through solar panels, composts organic waste, recycles all cardboard and uses local materials whenever possible—including composted horse manure from a nearby farm. Even the outdoor lights and EV chargers are powered by the store’s solar system, dubbed the “solar sunflower.”
Karl Auwaerter welcomes young guests to Bayport Flower Houses’ annual Ladybug Breakfast, a colorful celebration that blends environmental education with community fun
Educating Gardeners—One Conversation at a Time
Sustainability isn’t always an easy sell, especially when it requires changing long-held habits. But Auwaerter sees education as a cornerstone of the business.
“It takes time. It’s about conversations—whether it’s in the store or out at the diner,” he says. “We teach people that having a brown lawn in August on Long Island is healthy, that blazing green isn’t always the goal.”
Bayport Flower Houses offers workshops, classes and one-on-one advice for customers transitioning to more sustainable practices. Staff are trained to talk about natural alternatives and help customers reframe their expectations.
“People come in asking for something synthetic, and we explain the alternatives. Most of the time, they leave with a better solution—and a better understanding,” Auwaerter says.
The store also leans into display gardens and merchandising to showcase sustainable practices, such as pollinator-friendly perennials or deer-resistant natives in decorative containers. An on-site children’s garden highlights low-maintenance, eco-conscious plantings that both educate and inspire.
At Bayport Flower Houses’ annual Ladybug Breakfast, kids don red-and-black wings and toss confetti before helping release more than 200,000 ladybugs across the garden center’s vibrant landscape
Community Roots and a Resilient Business Model
Auwaerter is quick to note that sustainability isn’t always the most profitable route—especially when it comes to stocking native plants or biodegradable pots. But the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term margins.
“What we’ve built is a deeply loyal customer base. People come here because they believe in what we do,” he says. “It’s not just about selling plants. It’s about building a culture.”
Bayport Flower Houses has even turned its greenhouse into a winter farmers’ market space on Saturdays during January, February and March, keeping community engagement high even during the off-season.
“We want the kind of customer who comes in 60, 80 times a year—not just once for curb appeal,” Auwaerter says. “Those are the ones who build sustainability, both for their gardens and for our business.”
From ladybugs to solar panels, from family roots to community leadership, Bayport Flower Houses is more than just a place to buy plants. It’s a living example of how sustainability, authenticity and a little local color can blossom into something much bigger than business.
