Herbaceous smells, bees flying by. An employee asks if you need any assistance. A small pond for water plants houses frogs and butterflies.

Walking through Lexington’s Wingard’s Market in the evening feels like a blend between visiting a local farm and grandmother’s, likely because the business is built on the owner's grandmother’s property, and the gift shop was her house.

In the 1960s, Margie and Judson Wingard had extra azalea bushes from their garden and decided to sell them for 50 cents each. Now, Wingard’s Market sells shrubs, houseplants, flowers, local produce, pottery, boutique gifts and other tools to help a garden flourish. Their daughter, Delores, and son-in-law, Wally Steinhauser, are continuing the legacy after purchasing the company in 2005. Their son, Zach, has built his own business giving eco tours across the state in partnership with them.

“We knew we wanted to retire to the South,” Delores said.

The couple inherited a simple shrubbery business from Margie and Judson, expanding it into multiple buildings. The produce market on the right wing promotes local farming and small businesses, while the plants throughout the market are bought wholesale and resold. One of the most popular produce items, pecans, used to be harvested right from the original owners’ property, shelled then sold. Now, Wingard's pecans are sourced from Golden Kernel in Cameron, S.C.

“We started with what we thought made the most sense and used what I call ‘incrementalization,’” Delores said.

Wingard’s recently won #1 Best Plant Nursery in USAToday’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2026; however, Delores and Wally said they have no idea who nominated them for the award, but their customers and followers voted daily for weeks to get Wingard’s the national recognition.

“This was something that started with an email I thought was a scam,” Wally said. “It just goes to show the power of community. We wouldn't be here without them.”

Delores and Wally aim to give back to their community that supports them, having held fundraisers in the past, and other events in which locals enjoy food and beverages from local restaurants, along with music, art and community.

Next year is Wingard’s 60th anniversary, and another celebration is in the works.

“The business is almost 60 years old and grew from a hobby,” Wally said. “It’s stood the test of time.”

Wingard’s Market is located at 1403 North Lake Dr. in Lexington. They’re open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’re closed on Sundays.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Wingard's pecans used to be harvested on the property, but are now sourced from Golden Kernel in Cameron, S.C.