Rooted in Tradition, Reaching for the Future: Mandy’s Spring Nursery Grows into Canopy Saratoga
When Todd Smith looks out across the grounds of Canopy, his family’s new venture in Saratoga Springs, he sees more than a garden center. He sees the next branch of a tree planted nearly a century ago — a family legacy of cultivating growth, both in the soil and in the community.
For Todd and his son Ford Smith, Canopy is the natural evolution of Mandy’s Spring Nursery, the family’s renowned horticultural business based in South Granville, New York. Mandy’s is known for its landscape design, garden center, flower shop, and event barn – Gables and Gardens – they host 36 weddings a year on set aside farmland where the spring feeds ponds and weeping willows. Mandy’s has long been a staple for those who appreciate the art and science of growing. But for the Smiths, Canopy represents something new: a place where nature, design, coffee, and community all meet under one roof.
From a Spring to a Legacy
The story begins in the 1930s, when Todd’s grandparents purchased a dairy farm in South Granville during the hard years following the Great Depression. That farm came with a natural spring — and a woman named Mandy, who lived above it. The family named the property Mandy’s Spring Farm, and in the 1980s, Todd’s father, Peter Smith, transformed the land from dairy to nursery, founding Mandy’s Spring Nursery & Landscaping.
“We’ve been cultivating and working that same land ever since,” Ford said. “Everything we sell at Canopy will, in some way, be grown there. It’s part of who we are.”
Todd, who has a BS in landscape horticulture from Cornell, spent decades building the business into a trusted name across the region. His clients — many of whom have been with the family for generations — inspired the move to Saratoga. “Some of our best customers have never been out to Granville,” Todd said with a laugh. “They think we run everything out of the back of a truck. We wanted to show them what we really do.”
The Birth of Canopy
That vision has taken root in Saratoga Springs, just a mile from where Todd grew up. The new Canopy by Mandy’s Spring is more than an extension of the business — it’s a reinvention. The name itself speaks to collaboration and community: “A canopy isn’t just one tree,” Ford explained. “It’s all the trees together, creating something larger. That’s what we want this to be — a space for everyone to grow together.”
The store’s sign reads Canopy — by Mandy’s Spring, a nod to its deep roots. Inside the experience is unlike any other in the region. The stunning timber-frame building, designed
with help from Beardsley Architects of Albany, building on the initial concept design by SD Atelier of Saratoga Springs, was handcrafted by the Smiths themselves. “We didn’t like the metal connectors we could buy,” Ford said. “So we made our own — every detail is custom. You’ll see little nature scenes etched into the steel. We care about the details.” Peter Smith’s craftsmanship is woven throughout as well; at 83, his steady hands helped shape the project in countless ways, including building the copper-roofed cupola that Ford designed.
A Garden Center Meets Gathering Place
At its core, Canopy is still about outdoor living — plants, design, and landscapes — but the offerings extend far beyond the traditional garden center model. The store features curated home goods, a children’s section, and small-batch candles made by local craftspeople, as well as a soap cutting station. Houseplants, garden tools, and seasonal décor will line the shelves. The team hopes to add a flower bar where guests can make their own bouquets — with plans to grow it into a full in-store florist boutique offering complete floral services.
Perhaps the most unexpected — and most anticipated — element is the Greenhouse Café, a full espresso and bakery bar nestled within the store. Inspired by European garden centers where food and flora coexist, the café invites visitors to linger. “In the U.K., more than half a garden center’s revenue can come from food,” Todd said. “It’s about creating a place people want to be.”
Originally from Australia, Leonie Smith—Todd’s wife and business partner—has overseen every detail of Canopy’s retail and plant offerings. For the holidays, she’s filled the space with poinsettias, handcrafted kissing balls, wreaths, and living Christmas trees—including a 16-foot centerpiece tree to be raffled off during the soft opening, with installation for the winner or donation to a local charity.
Ford Smith has been the creative force behind Canopy’s interior build-out, designing and building the café espresso bar, bakery case, and the marble-topped point-of-sale at the front of the store. He also crafted the nearly 10-by-10-foot shelving units that anchor the space. “We want to be that ‘third place’—not home, not work, but somewhere people can connect,” Ford said. “Come for the coffee, stay for the plants, the design ideas, or just the atmosphere.”
Design, Service, and the Human Touch
Beyond its retail offerings, Canopy will also serve as a design center for landscape planning and consultation. Todd, sees the space as both a showroom and a creative hub. “Everything we do is about well-planned, outdoor living,” he said. “Spaces that feel alive, peaceful, and intentional.”
That sense of intentionality runs deep in the family’s philosophy. “We’re not trying to sell you as much as we can for the lowest price,” Ford emphasized. “We’re trying to sell you quality — things that make your life better and your space more inspiring.”
Website: www.canopysaratoga.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canopysaratoga/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canopysaratoga
Customer service, too, is at the heart of the Canopy experience. “At Mandy’s, we literally walk through the garden with our customers,” Ford said. “That’s the kind of personal touch we want to bring here. You can’t get that at a big-box store.”
Canopy’s success reflects the dedication of longtime employees, craftspeople, and the skilled H-2B team from Mexico — many of whom have worked with the Smiths for years. Their skill and craftsmanship shine through in every detail of what has become the family’s most ambitious and challenging project yet.
Growing Together
As the finishing touches are made on the building and espresso machines hum to life, Todd and Ford reflect on what it means to grow a fifth-generation business. “It’s rare,” Todd said. “But we love what we do. And we’re ready to share it with more people.”
In a way, Canopy is both a culmination and a beginning — a bridge between Granville’s rich agricultural heritage and Saratoga’s vibrant, modern community. It’s a space where craftsmanship meets creativity, and where the next generation of the Smith family — and their customers — can continue to grow, together, under the same canopy.
Visit: mandysnursery.com
Follow: @mandysnursery and @canopybysaratoga
Location: Canopy by Mandy’s Spring — Saratoga Springs, NY