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My son Brody considers Mary Jo like she is family!
My son Brody considers Mary Jo like she is family! She has a very structured and educational approach to daycare! I would highly recommend Buds and Blooms to anyone looking for quality daycare!

Appreciation and Peace of Mind
I cannot express the appreciation and peace of mind we had sending our daughter to Mary Jo’s program.  This was our first experience with childcare and I was comfortable immediately!  Our daughter came home happy every day after playing and learning at Mary Jo’s.  A change in jobs meant a change in childcare for us and we will miss and always be grateful for the time our daughter spent there!  Highly Recommend!

Can’t say enough good things!
“Our daughter loves Mary Jo and going to daycare with her and Donna! I’m not sure I could go to work if we hadn’t found this daycare. Can’t say enough good things!”

Thank you for all your hard work and truly caring for the children, we are forever grateful! 
Dear Mary Jo: Last night we received Lauren’s end of the year testing scores showing her growth from the beginning to end of the 2015-2016 year.   What can I say, you guys have set our daughter up for such success with a huge head start. When we started school her reading was in the 91 percentile, and finished in the 81 percentile, way above average, and way above the district level. Her Math is outstanding she stared in the 78 percentile and ended in the 83 percentile. She knew all her letters, numbers up to 100, how to count by 10’s, 5’s and some 2’s all before she entered Kindergartner.  Her teachers were so pleased with her, and how much she already knew she quickly became a helper. By the end of the year she was taking kids out in the hall to help with reading and math. Brad and I couldn’t give you enough praise.  As a young child, I struggled with reading and hated to read.  Not Lauren since you guys instilled reading at a young age she loves to read, and reads every night before going to bed. Thank you for all your hard work and truly caring for the children, we are forever grateful!

The staff takes the kids in as though they are family...
“Buds and Blooms is one of the best daycare in TC. The staff takes the kids in as though they are family. The kids learn, play, and grow every day.”

I was so nervous about sending my first baby to daycare.
I was so nervous about sending my first baby to daycare. I had called many places, and they were either full or I didn’t want to send my kid there! I finally called Mary Jo and told myself that if she was full, I was going to have to quit my job. Sure enough, she had a spot. All three of our kids have gone to Mary Jo’s. I have always been 110% satisfied with their care. I even went to Mary Jo when my son was born for advice on how to get him to sleep! She takes such good care of the kids. It is awesome not having to feel nervous about having your kids in daycare. She teaches them so much! They have all learned their letters, songs, alphabet, etc. I know my oldest daughter even learned state capitals there! Mary Jo is awesome. I am going to miss going there when I don’t have kids there anymore. All of our kids talk about all the fun things they did there and her yummy food, too!! Please feel free to reach out to her for my info if you would want to talk in person and hear how great she is. 🙂

Mary Jo runs this out of her home. She has been running a childcare center for 20+ years. She and her staff are wonderful. She provides meals, snacks, and drinks. She knows what she is doing! She and her staff are very down to earth. It’s also nice to have our kiddo in a center that is smaller, and I feel more flexible. The kids get outdoor time in her backyard, and also occasionally in her regular home upstairs. The child care area is in her basement, but I feel the kiddos get plenty of outdoor time, even in winter. We keep snow pants and boots there. She doesn’t follow the public school calendar, which has been useful to us. There are fewer long stretches of days off. It took me a long time to post something because I wanted to keep her place a secret! But she has a long wait list too apparently, so sorry for those who are looking. We love Mary Jo, Ms. Cheryl, Akaylia, and Teal! Thank you all for working in childcare.

Darla Balas

Buds and Blooms Daycare with Mary Jo Mitchell

There is only one Buds and Blooms and there is only one Mary Jo, and if you’re lucky enough to live in Traverse City and get a spot in this daycare, you will feel like you won the lottery. Our son was so happy there and well cared for – now he’s in school and still talks about how much he misses Mary Jo and all his friends at Buds and Blooms.

Mary Jo has a lifetime of experience in childcare, and treats every child with love, kindness and respect. She is lovingly referred to as “the child whisperer” … because somehow she and her wonderful staff can elicit the kind of good behavior from our children that we can only dream of (when we actually get any sleep).

She provides all kinds of educational and creative activities for the kids, makes everything special and fun, and prioritizes the kids’ health, an airtight schedule, and lots of outdoor playtime in THE cutest backyard playground. All the kids sit around and eat together, take walks, laugh and play, and are simply the most darling little community I have ever seen. Our son had a giant smile on his face every single day we picked him up, and even referred to going to daycare as a “party” because he had so much fun there. And he actually napped there (but never since… sigh).

Mary Jo is extremely professional, reliable, and personable. She’s a clear communicator with parents and kids alike and she is full of sage advice and humor that makes sharing these early years with her so very precious. I will never run out of good things to say about her, and I know I’m in good company. We will always consider Mary Jo a blessing and part of our family!

Tara S. – Traverse City, 12/10/25

Nosh H

This daycare is amazing! I started sending my daughter there when we moved to traverse city 2019. I was lucky that she had an opening and somehow I felt that it was god’s way of letting us know we were not alone in here. Mary jo is kind, well educated and beyond wonderful with kids. as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I signed her up there as well. this year my oldest started preschool and they were surprised of how much she knows including her numbers, counting, alphabet and colors in addition to her social development, she is not shy and very outgoing. my kid is thriving in preschool and I owe that to MARY JO. both of my children loves the staff and the environment, feels like family. Mary jo feels like family and I would recommend this daycare to anyone looking for the best child care.

I’d recommend Buds & Blooms to everyone.  The owner Mary Jo is wonderful – she’s professional and very organized, yet easygoing and accommodating to each family’s specific needs.  She and her two helpers are so kind and caring, and my daughter loves them.  They provide a solid structure with daily routines and educational lessons, alongside plenty of creativity and playtime including songs, crafts, outside walks and play in the backyard (which is a child’s dream playground).  I have only positive feedback on our time with Buds & Blooms and will always be grateful for our experience with them. Becky