The History Behind It:
Merrifield Garden Center is a family-owned business that has been serving North Virginia and the DC metro area since 1971. About 44 years ago, founder Bob Warhurst asked his friend and co-founder, Buddy Williams, to help him open a nursery and garden center. The pair scouted out an open patch of land between Lee Highway and Gallows Road and the company grew from there. The shop first opened as a barn, a small store, and with less than an acre of plants. The founders vowed to value customer service, exceptional quality, and superior selection.
While Bob and Buddy have both passed away, their children, spouses, and grandchildren run the shops today.
What’s It is Like Today:
Merrifield Garden Center has three locations in Virginia: Merrifield, Fairfax, and Gainesville. They offer plants ranging from trees and shrubs to tropical houseplants and vegetables. They provide gardening supplies and planters, home decor and gifts, and landscaping services. The stores also have Plant Clinics, where customers can come in to ask about landscape management and the best products to use for the environment.
The locations host events every month and around the holidays, such as Ladies Night Out and Wreath workshops.
Dedicated to environmental health, Merrifield Garden Center plants tens of thousands of trees around the area every year, and recycles soil and brush from landscape jobs. They also carry native plants, which are critical for sustaining birds and butterflies.
Aside from servicing individual gardeners, Merrifield Gardens also provides plants and landscape expertise to local, state, and federal government agencies such as schools, parks, golf courses, and commercial properties.
What Makes It Special:
Merrifield Garden Center (http://merrifieldgardencenter.com/) states that they have “one of the largest and most complete nurseries in the country.”
Merrifield Garden Center strives to provide the newest and cutting edge varieties that come out each year, along with the tried-and-true varieties that customers will have success with. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and can help with any questions or problems customers have. About the Author
Joelle Lang, a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, is a multi-platform journalism student in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This autumn, she is also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine.
"Local First Friday" is a weekly blog series profiling independent garden businesses in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic region. Washington Gardener Magazine believes strongly in supporting and sourcing from local businesses first!
