09/20/2026
🦌 The End of an Era at Nick’s Family Garden Center 🦌
This is a bittersweet post for our family to make.
For as long as I can remember, we have always had whitetail deer here at Nick’s Family Garden Center. I’m 33 years old, and they have been a part of this property my entire life — and even long before my time. For more than 40–50 years, our family has cared for deer here, along with many other animals throughout the years.
The deer, though, were always something special.
Many people know Nick’s Family Garden Center for our plants, flowers, landscaping materials and everything else we offer, but generations of families also remember coming here just to see the deer. Parents brought their children, especially around the holidays, and some of those parents were once children themselves who came here to see them.
Over the last couple of years, we were down to our final two bucks. Sadly, we lost one several months ago, and this past week, our last deer passed away.
With the growing concerns surrounding diseases affecting deer, New Jersey regulations no longer allow us to bring additional deer into the state under our circumstances, meaning we are unable to continue what has been a part of our property and family for generations.
After more than four decades, we have now removed the deer yard.
It’s difficult seeing something that has been here my entire life disappear, but we are incredibly thankful for all the memories that were made here. If you came to see the deer as a child, brought your own children to see them, stopped by during the holidays, or simply enjoyed seeing them whenever you visited us — thank you for making them part of your memories too.
As one chapter closes, another begins. The former deer yard will become part of the continued growth and expansion of Nick’s Family Garden Center, and we look forward to what the future holds.
Thank you, as always, for supporting our family and our family business through every generation and every chapter.
We hope these pictures bring back some good memories. 🦌❤️
God bless,
George & the Nick’s Family Garden Center Family
