Lee’s Garden Center
firmly rooted in family, faith and tradition Today, Jonathan and Erin have grown the business and their family, placing even deeper roots into the Clayton soil. “We are definitely a family business,” Erin said. “Haley is our oldest child (17), and, of course, our kids have been (at the business) since birth. Haley is a huge part of the business. She is a born leader and can do anything, from carrying and cutting trees to driving the forklift. “Our son, Caleb, is 13 and is very helpful with our social media and technology. Our youngest, Michael, is
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atthew 17:20-21 reads, "...if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." It’s a lesson of faith and perseverance, and it’s one that can be seen in action at Lee’s Garden Center. Jonathan Lee started selling produce in 1993 at 12 years old on the corner of Main and Robertson streets in Clayton with a little help from his father, Raymond Lee, who had been in the produce business his entire life. “His daddy gave him $300 and three produce bins,” Erin Lee, his wife, said. After graduating from Clayton High School in 1998, Jonathan started the produce and garden center full time. Six years later, he and Erin started dating and she started working at the garden center part time.
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9, and he ‘helps’ wherever he wants. He loves to help ring up customers inside.” If you’re walking around the garden center, you might also see Branch, the family cat, and Goose, one of the family dogs, browsing through the plants as well. One of the things they’re on the lookout for are the fresh cut Christmas trees, which are scheduled to arrive on Nov. 17. “Our trees are grown in Ashe County by a friend and his brother,” Erin said. “We
