A Blossoming Success

By Todd Fuqua

Regardless of what it is, any new business venture finds itself in a fight for its life in the beginning. It takes about seven years for a business to establish itself and end constant worry about bankruptcy and failure.

At least, that’s what it took for Curt (BBA 90) and Lisa (White) Jaynes (BBA 91) to realize success for their business, GardenSource Nursery and Landscaping, in Portales, New Mexico.

“I remember some people asking us how we thought we were going to make it with this business given all the competition in Clovis and Portales,” Curt said. “I told them we’d set ourselves apart. We grow many of our flowers, and we have different things you can’t find in other places. We knew we had competition, but having that competition makes us better. I didn’t look at it as a hindrance. I looked at it as a challenge.”

The sales floor and nursery at GardenSource.

Curt came to ENMU through the ROTC program. After graduation, he did a six-year active duty tour with the National Guard. After that, he worked in financial planning, first at the Albuquerque branch of First Command Financial Planning, later transferring to Clovis. During this time, Lisa worked part-time and was a stay-at-home mom.

After three years in Clovis, Curt was ready for a change. “I got tired of wearing a suit and tie all the time,” he quipped.

According to Lisa, the real impetus to start GardenSource was an experience involving her parents.

“They had a landscaping job done at their house, and it cost so much money and took them forever to do it. Curt didn’t know how it could cost that much,” Lisa said. “He’s been doing gardening with his parents since he was a little kid. Curt knew how much it should cost. That’s what triggered our move to getting into the gardening business.”

Curt and Lisa Jaynes

Photo by Todd Fuqua

It wasn’t easy at first – Lisa remembers being close to bankruptcy at least once – but the business survived and has now thrived thanks to their attention to customers and a few plum contract jobs.

One job they love to have is providing fresh flowers and foliage for ENMU’s commencement ceremonies in the fall and spring.

Now, 17 years after opening their doors, Curt and Lisa feel they’ve finally arrived and have been able to weather any storm, even the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I never dreamed people would turn to gardening because they were stuck at home,” Curt said. “Our sales were up during all that. We sold out of plants, and it carried over to this year. We’ve had a record year.”

“We have a huge amount of customers that are friends now,” Lisa added. “We can give them personal attention, and we have made some wonderful friends because of this business. The relationships we’ve made are part of what has sustained us.”