Gardener for Life

Wayne GruberWayne Gruber, owner of Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell, Ind., will tell you that gardening is in his blood. His love of plants took root when he was a kid.

“As a young child, my father and two grandfathers got me interested in vegetable gardening,” he said. “I used to sell vegetables door-to-door in my neighborhood. I had another neighbor who taught me to identify weeds versus good plants in her flower garden when I was young. She was training me to become her ‘personal gardener.’ Also, my mother would always let me experiment with landscaping in the yard.”

When Gruber enrolled at Purdue University, he thought he would become a psychologist or psychiatrist. He quickly changed his major to landscape management/design when he discovered Purdue had a wonderful horticulture program.

“I never turned back!” Gruber said. “I was destined to be a horticulturist my whole life, and I’ll always be involved in some facet in horticulture.”

GARDEN CENTER MAGAZINE: Do you feel like your customers have embraced the green/sustainability mindset?
WAYNE GRUBER: We have just begun thinking about sustainability. We recently installed our first and second 100-percent sustainable display gardens, approximately 100-square feet each, fashioned after plantsman Roy Diblik’s philosophy. 

Roy is the owner of Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wis., and has done extensive work in Chicago, including most of the perennials at Lurie Garden in Millennium Park. 
 
Our customers installed the display garden as part of a “Rise and Shine” lecture. They’re currently maintaining it at 30 minutes three times per month. We hope to set aside an area in our retail space for sustainable, native and nativars [cultivars or hybrids of native species]. We’ve just begun!

GC: What has been your most successful event so far this year?
WG: This summer we did an event called “Art in the Garden.” This year it was coupled with the “Hosta Leaf Display” sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Hosta Society. 

The stage was set: 13 local artists, lunch for sale prepared by a local chef, a jazz trio, 300-plus hosta leaves on display, a wonderful plant sale, two parking attendants, and a perfect 70-degree day. 
 
It was the perfect storm; attended by approximately 400 people in four hours. It was a chance to mingle, eat, enjoy the art and, most importantly, sell plants in July!

GC: Are you merchandising plants by color? How is that working for you?
WG: This year we went away from merchandising by color. Gardeners are becoming more sophisticated. They want plants that will function and thrive, then they look for the right colors. We are reorganizing by plant functions such as: Sustainable/Native/Nativar Plants, Drought-Tolerant Plants, Long-Bloomers, Plants for Wet Areas/Rain Gardens, Shade-Tolerant, etc. We are just beginning to embrace these categories and need to tie in some marketing. This winter I hope to get some of the marketing and merchandising completed.

GC: Gardens on the Prairie has fantastic display gardens. How do you handle the maintenance of these spaces?
WG: The display gardens are an integral part of the garden center. Customers now come to visit the gardens two to three times per year. Many bring out-of-town guests and family members. The gardens have been a phenomenal success.

Unfortunately, the gardens have become the highest overhead we have at the business. However, once the initial planting is completed, the maintenance just becomes a weekly event. Whenever there is extra time in the workday, someone will take care of the gardens, watering, deadheading, etc. The gardens are extensively planted, which reduces much of the weed problems.

The gardens are a huge draw—attracting photographers, artists, wedding couples and gardeners.

GC: What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now, business-wise?
WG: Hands down, it’s the economy. Our success will be determined by our ability to change. We are starting to plan the 2010 season and the many, many changes ahead. This year has been a wild adventure that will make us stronger and wiser in the coming years!