6 minute read
Cover Story
Member Highlight
By Eddie Anderson, Founder of McDonald Garden Center
A simple green leaf fuels the imagination and drives the passion behind McDonald Garden Center. It was established as our emblem in 1973 when Sara and I took over the nursery in Hampton. It’s an ode to the lush plant tapestry that forms our enterprise’s backbone. But it goes beyond that—it’s a salute to the leaves that grace our dinner plates, purify our air, and even offer a subtle nudge to our well-being, from lowering blood pressure to boosting our moods. We’re not just in the business of plants; we’re in the business of enriching lives. Our mission is to sow the seeds of a gardening lifestyle throughout our community. Those who join our “Green Team” are more than plant lovers; they’re horticultural zealots building lives around their plant obsession. Whether it’s the sheer joy of enlightening customers or the artistic thrill of creating visual presentations of plants and products, there’s something for every kind of green thumb here. Our green team thrives with the rewarding experience of grooming, watering, and growing plants to the peak of perfection. We are ever grateful for our garden of talents cultivated over generations. Our experienced managers make the job look so easy you would think anybody could do it. Their organization and management skills are so good that problems are minimal, and successes occur daily. I am deeply proud of our virtuoso team members who make this horticultural symphony possible. Undoubtedly, our team is the heart and soul of McDonald Garden Center.
Great Neck Road Location
In the early years, we worked to establish high-quality standards. The garden center continues to use the original core competencies of garden supply, trees and shrubs, annuals, houseplants, decoratives, and perennials. We also operate two other divisions, landscape and growing. This structure allows managers to dive deep into these critical garden lifestyle segments. Positive public response has enabled the company to expand its product selection and our people to grow in the profession.
In 1979, we began to explore business expansion. We opened the second location on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach in the fall of the following year. The 3.5-acre site was the former home of a riding stable. Virginia Beach was experiencing an extended drought at that time. The city did not have enough water to supply homes and businesses. Water rationing went into effect, and the Public Works Department was advocating no new planting and no water for landscapes. The industry was unprepared for such drastic measures. Fortunately, growers, grounds maintenance companies, arborists, landscapers, and garden centers came together to advocate for better policies. As a result, I was appointed to The Mayor’s Water Conservation Commission. This appointment involved monthly meetings with the Director of Public Works and the Chief Engineer. We provided the City of Virginia Beach with the Seven Steps of Water Wise Gardening within three months. The city adopted the program and applied its $100,000 marketing budget to advocating the program. They distributed thousands of Water Wise Gardening brochures, advertised mulching, recommended proper planting techniques, and urged landscape design to minimize water consumption. We did not get water relief until the Lake Gaston Pipeline became operational. We did turn a negative into a giant advocacy for our industry. We have a neverending search for promotions to attract customers. Fred Huet, the Parks Director and founder of the Norfolk Botanical Garden had, for years, sponsored the use of Crepe Myrtles. He valued the tree for its durability and long flowering period during the summer. The colorful tree is at its peak of color in early August. Thus was born the Crepe Myrtle Festival and our famous Myrtle Money, which rewarded customers for shopping with us during the spring season. Each year, we can celebrate the beauty of the “Tree of a Hundred Days” by introducing exciting new varieties.
In the fall of 1983, Sara and I met with four other couples in Morristown, Pennsylvania. The discussions around the kitchen table were the beginning of ECGC, a group of independent garden centers. Our purpose for the meeting was to share best practices, financial information, and advice with each other. That association has served as a guide for our members’ continued growth and success. It was not long before we began including the key members of our management team in our three meetings per year. The development of conference calls, computers, and email has facilitated the growth and value of the program. One of the members had an apple orchard and was having success with building giant scarecrows in the garden center and the wagon trail to the orchard. We duplicated their success in our stores. Our customers saw what our team was doing and wanted to participate. Our team marketing was looking for a way to support the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.
Independence Boulevard Location
We partnered with them to raise funds to support their work and provide a way for our customers to have fun creating their scarecrows. To date, this event has raised over $350,000 for the health care of youth.
The great recession of 2008 was impacting our company, sending us in search of a growth vehicle. Our son, Mark, was intrigued by our concept of a seasonal garden center. In the spring, we launched a test market. It achieved enough success to encourage further re fi nement and expansion. Thanks to the skill and ingenuity of many members of our Green Team throughout the year, we have overcome the many hurdles and I am proud of the 10 Garden Markets we run for 120 days each spring.
After 48 years of managing garden centers, I remain passionate about the future opportunities to serve the gardening public. We have received many awards, including GCA Garden Center of the Year, Nursery Retailer Magazine Retailer of the Year, VNLA Nurseryman of the Year, and many community service and beautification awards. It takes the energy and enthusiasm of youth to drive us forward into the future. Mark had experienced the many areas of the business and was ready to take charge of the company. 2018 began a new era for McDonald Garden Center. Today, the company consists of two garden centers in Virginia Beach, the Landscape Division and the McDonald Garden Market Company. I am thrilled with the success the company is enjoying and the leadership Mark is providing.
Garden Markets
