2008-2012: We Expand Our Ark and Micro-farms — and Look Ahead
2008-09
After years of collecting them, we add heirloom iris, peonies, and daylilies to our ark. Scott helps the University of Michigan launch a major effort to rehabilitate its world-class peony collection. Elizabeth Licata tells our story at Garden Rant. Thanks to our dedicated customers, our small business survives the Great Recession! |
2009-10
Colonial Williamsburg asks us to supply all of the bulbs for their iconic gardens, and Garden Gate names us one of the “10 Best Mail-Order Websites.” We continue our support of “local” bulbs and American farmers, with 85% of our spring-planted bulbs coming from 21 growers in 15 states. Thanks to Vytas, Vicki, and Brenda, we introduce family-heirloom ‘Wisconsin Red’ dahlia.
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2010-11
We end our search for a farm and commit ourselves to urban micro-farming on scraps of vacant land here in Ann Arbor. “I love this company,” writes Southern Living’s Steve Bender, GardenWatchdog.com ranks us the #1 source for ALL spring-blooming bulbs, and fashion designer Zac Posen tells Vogue he’s giving his mom our ‘Madame Chereau’ iris for Mother’s Day.
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2011-12
We finally move out of Scott and Jane’s house, converting the dusty upper floor of their historic barn/garage into a cool “green” office that wins a local preservation award. We launch our Facebook page, plant our fifth micro-farm in a vacant lot on Spring Street, and Vanessa Elms joins the team as our new VP for Bulbs, bringing with her a wealth of horticultural knowledge.
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2012-13
Scott plants dahlias, glads, and tuberoses with Martha Stewart (watch it here) and she tells her viewers, “You’re going to want every single bulb on every single page” of our catalog. The New York Botanical Gardens plants our dahlias in their blockbuster re-creation of Monet’s garden. We look back over the past 20 years with enormous pride and gratitude — and to the future with enthusiasm and hope!
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