Privacy Policy

Dear Gardener,

At High Country Gardens Shop, we believe that trust is the most vital seed we can plant together. Just as we carefully select and nurture Deer Resistant Plants, Bee Friendly blooms, and resilient Desert Landscaping varieties to thrive in your unique conditions, we are equally committed to cultivating a secure, transparent, and respectful environment for your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, protect, and honor your data—treating it with the same purpose and profound respect as we do your order of Achillea, Agastache, or Allium bulbs.

1. The Information We Cultivate (Data Collection)

To provide you with a seamless journey from inspiration to a blooming garden, we collect information that helps us serve you better:

• Personal Identification Data: Name, email address, shipping and billing address, and phone number, provided when you create an account, place an order, or contact our customer care.
• Transaction & Payment Data: When you purchase our Flower Bulbs, Easy-to-Grow Perennials, or Fall-Planted Bulb Collections, we process payment details through our secure gateway. We do not store your full credit card details on our servers.
• Gardening Preferences & Interaction Data: Information about your browsing behavior on our site (e.g., interest in Full Sun Plants or Cacti and Succulents), wish lists, and customer service inquiries.
• Technical & Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and referring URLs, collected automatically to ensure optimal site performance and security.

2. How We Nurture Your Data (Data Use)

Your information helps us create a personalized and efficient gardening experience:

• To process and fulfill your orders, send shipping notifications, and provide customer support.
• To communicate about new offerings, gardening tips, and seasonal collections (like Bee Friendly Plants or Alternative Lawns) that align with your interests. You may opt out at any time.
• To improve our website, product selection, and services based on the needs of our global community of plant lovers.
• To prevent fraud and enhance the security of your transactions, mirroring the care we take in packaging your plants.

3. Sharing Your Data: Our Selective Approach

We value your privacy and share your personal data only when necessary for our services, under strict confidentiality:

• Service Providers: Trusted partners who assist with payment processing (like PayPal and credit card gateways), order fulfillment, shipping (to most regions worldwide), and IT services. They are contractually bound to protect your data.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, to protect our rights, or to ensure the safety of our community.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or sale, customer information may be transferred as a business asset, with notice provided.
• We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

4. Data Storage & Security: Our Protective Cultivation

Your trust is sacred. We protect your data with the same diligence we apply to sourcing hardy, resilient plants:

• Encrypted Transactions: All payment information is processed through a secure, encrypted gateway using industry-standard SSL technology.
• Data Privacy: We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law.
• Secure Browsing: Our website uses SSL technology to protect your entire browsing and checkout experience.
• International Data: As we ship to a global community (excluding some remote regions), data may be processed in the United States or other locations, always under robust safeguards.

5. Your Rights as a Gardener (User Rights)

You have the right to:

• Access & Correction: Request access to, or correction of, your personal data.
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time via the link in our emails.
• Data Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and contractual obligations.
• Object & Restrict Processing: Object to or restrict certain data processing activities.
• To exercise these rights, please contact us at the details below.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies: Our Garden Tools

Like essential garden tools, cookies help our website function optimally and allow us to understand how gardeners like you interact with our content:

• Essential Cookies: Required for core functions like shopping cart and secure checkout.
• Performance & Analytics Cookies: Help us improve site performance by understanding usage patterns (e.g., interest in Crocus Flower Bulbs vs. Daffodil Bulbs).
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for a personalized visit.
• You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling some cookies may affect site functionality.

7. Policy Updates: Growing and Adapting

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. The updated version will be posted here with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review it occasionally.

Last Updated: October 2023

With green thumbs and warm regards,
The Team at High Country Gardens Shop