nursery / gardening
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nursery
A business where plants, especially ornamental plants and vegetables, are grown and often also sold.
Ich habe in der Gärtnerei neue Blumen für den Balkon gekauft.
I bought new flowers for the balcony at the nursery.
The word is formed from 'der Gärtner' (the gardener) and the ending '-ei'. The ending '-ei' often refers to a place where a craft or business is carried out, as in 'Bäckerei' (bakery) or 'Metzgerei' (butcher’s shop).
Die örtliche Gärtnerei ist bekannt für ihre große Auswahl an Rosen.
The local nursery is known for its large selection of roses.
To describe movement, use 'in die Gärtnerei' with the accusative. To describe a place or stay, use 'in der Gärtnerei' with the dative.
Wir fahren am Samstag in die Gärtnerei, um neue Kräuter zu holen.
We’re going to the nursery on Saturday to get new herbs.
Common verbs used in connection with a Gärtnerei (nursery) are 'eine Gärtnerei betreiben' (to run a nursery), 'in einer Gärtnerei arbeiten' (to work in a nursery), or 'Pflanzen aus der Gärtnerei beziehen' (to obtain plants from the nursery).
Meine Tante betreibt eine kleine Gärtnerei am Stadtrand.
My aunt runs a small nursery on the outskirts of town.
The meaning 'Handwerk des Gärtnerns' (craft of gardening) is very rare and more likely to be found in formal or literary language. In everyday speech, 'Gärtnerei' almost always means the business where you buy plants.
Sein Buch über die hohe Kunst der Gärtnerei war ein großer Erfolg.
His book on the high art of gardening was a great success.
horticulture
'der Gartenbau' and 'die Gärtnerei' both have to do with working with plants professionally. 'Gartenbau' refers more to the whole field or subject: growing vegetables, fruit, ornamental plants, or designing green spaces. 'Gärtnerei' usually means a specific business where plants are grown and often sold. More rarely, it can also mean gardening work in general. The words are easy to confuse because both have to do with plants as a profession. For the industry or training, 'Gartenbau' is more appropriate; for the shop or business, 'Gärtnerei' is more appropriate.
Frau Klein kauft in der Gärtnerei neue Tomatenpflanzen für den Balkon.
Ms. Klein buys new tomato plants for the balcony at the nursery.
Nach der Schule möchte Paul Gartenbau lernen, weil er gern mit Pflanzen arbeitet.
After school, Paul wants to study horticulture because he likes working with plants.