I got a call this week from Kevin Carroll from Greenleaf Nursery, a large wholesale grower. Kevin is VP in Sales for the Texas Division in El Campo. He told me that Plants For All Seasons had made their wine list. I questioned what that was and he said we were going to receive wine as a token of their appreciation this Christmas. Kevin went on to say that our store bought more trees and shrubs from them than any other, one store, retail garden center in a 10 state area. Greenleaf is one of the largest growers in the country so I was quite surprised....and pleased. I asked him to clarify that statistic and he stated that there were 3 other single operation garden centers that bought a little more than we did but they also did landscaping and re-wholesaled plants to landscapers from those operations. Our store sales were pure retail.  38% of our tree and shrub inventory came from Greenleaf this year.

I have to give a great deal of credit to Greenleaf for our success in selling ornamentals this year. Our Greenleaf sales rep is a very savvy young man named Chance Alldredge. Chance worked at his Dad's garden center, Alldredge Gardens,  for many years in Midland Texas and he understands retail. This Spring was crazy busy and Chance went above and beyond for us.  Then there was their quality. I can't adequately convey to you how impressive their plants have been this year. Every load was amazing...large, lush, colorful and healthy. One of their production managers, Drew Tidmore, was a weekend high school load up for us, many many years ago. That production team is doing a fantastic job. It's so important for retailers to have great suppliers like this supporting us.

Greenleaf Nursery hasn't had the financial difficulty that many large growers have experienced lately. Greenleaf sells very little to the mass merchants or the box stores and has concentrated on the independent garden centers and re-wholesalers. That strategy may have cost them short term sales and growth but their conservative business plan has paid off well for them in the long term.

Kevin, no Boone's Farm. Think Silver Oak!