AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY IN BUSINESS, HUNTER’S NURSERY IS STILL GROWING STRONG 3.4K
Total Views: 30 By Kylie Dees View video, left, to watch the full interviews April 7, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Hunter’s Nursery, located in Lemon Grove, California, was started in 1919 by Howard Hunter. He began by running an orchard, growing lemons and oranges. It has been in the Hunter family all 103 years. Kendall Rhodes is a fourth-generation owner of the nursery, along with her dad. Rhodes explained that the nursery has a wide variety of ornamental plants for the yard. They also have a huge selection of house plants, along with cactuses and succulents. Many customers are now trying to grow their own food, so the Nursery now specializes in fruit trees and vegetables. They also feature a variety of roses, in a wide range of colors and sizes. “Roses are fun to grow and fun to have as a part of your garden!” Rhodes told us. Guy Hunter, who now runs the nursery with his daughter Kendall, shared that it was his grandfather who started the nursery. Over the years, what they offered has changed. Hunter’s grandfather began growing only trees, that they delivered by horse and wagon in the early years. Part of Hunter Nursery’s competition includes big-box stores, such as Home Depot and Lowes, according to Hunter. “The plants change with the desires of our customers and seasons,” he said. For instance, the nursery has had roses for a long time because customers love them. Guy Hunter told us that his favorite part of working at the nursery was to be outside and decorating the nursery as well. The favorite items he sells are roses because they bloom year round and have gorgeous colors. Photo, right: Ingrid Bergman rose, Hunter’s Nursery Over the last hundred years, the nursery has survived in part because other nurseries have closed. The family now has plenty of customers to keep them going. Hunter finished by telling us that theirs is a very small business which depends on customers sharing and referring the nuresry to others. “Small independent nurseries are just about gone,” he said, voicing thanks for the many regulars who have helped the business bloom and thrive, more than a century after it took root. Hunter’s Nursery is located at 3110 Sweetwater Road, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can learn more at https://www.huntersnursery.com. Printer-friendly version
3.4K viewsWHEN LIFE HANDS YOU A VIRUS, MAKE A GARDEN 1.7K
Total Views: 20 By Helen Ofield, Treasurer and Historian, Lemon Grove Historical Society Photos Credit: Lemon Grove Historical Society On Dec. 4 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, LGHS “reindeer” and Santa will join City staff for a drive-through holiday festivity in Treganza Heritage Park (the 23rd Annual Holiday Bonfire). Roll down the car windows to hear the caroling and receive candy canes. November 28, 2020 (Lemon Grove) — Volunteers in the Lemon Grove Historical Society (LGHS) labored in record heat in September and October and, now, in calmer sun and cooler temperatures in November. Back on Nov. 28 for the fourth session, missionaries from Lemon Grove’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will join with volunteers from Helix High School to continue rejuvenating the grounds in Treganza Heritage Park, home of the Parsonage Museum, 3185 Olive Street, and the adjacent H. Lee House, 3205 Olive.Photo (right): Parsonage Museum In past sessions, the team replanted ailing jasmine ground cover, power washed walkways, removed weeds, trimmed trees, restored roses and, best of all, raked and spread huge piles of mulch over bare ground to help retain water and boost the health of existing landscaping. Laura Hook, president of LGHS, organized the mulch and succulent garden, Sarah Lewis, vice president for Membership, organized the volunteer crews, Barbara Soto, secretary, brought bottles of water, volunteers Roberta Bulling and Andres Romero scrubbed porches, athlete Lankford Alvarez provided needed muscle–and the century-old Hunter’s Nursery donated the jasmine plants. Leading the charge is Gary Elbert, whose stewardship of successive Americorps teams in 1998 led to the creation of the Parsonage Museum, which won LGHS a 2001 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award (the museum was formerly the decrepit first church in Lemon Grove, a landmark in the town since 1897). “I’m so proud of the teams,” enthused Elbert. “They took ownership of the project from day one and are a shining example of what people of good will can achieve even in the midst of a horrible pandemic.” Hook chimed in: “We wear masks, socially distance and the whole project is in the great outdoors. You can tell we love our park and our two historic sites — and we send a special shout-out to our City Public Works for their help in removing all the green waste. Since 1997 our City has been right there with us.” On Dec. 4 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, LGHS “reindeer” and Santa will join City staff for a drive-through holiday festivity in Treganza Heritage Park (the 23rd Annual Holiday Bonfire). Roll down the car windows to hear the caroling and receive candy canes. See Community Events on the city’s website. For more about LGHS and its many activities, visit www.lghistorical.org or contact 619-460-4353 or https://www.facebook.com/lghistorical. ———————————————— The Lemon Grove Historical Society (LGHS) has an important track record in historic preservation, in promoting and displaying the work of regional artists, and in providing insight into huge world events and their impact on the home town. The LGHS motto is “your story begins at home.” The Society’s mission is to research, preserve and share the history of Lemon Grove in a regional/state/national context, to promote interest in the arts and humanities, especially historical studies, and to operate sites and public programs that advance these goals. The LGHS is active in the Lemon Grove School District and in many City projects designed to beautify and distinguish the community. The Lemon Grove Historical Society grew up with the City it serves and is its leading cultural organization. Lemon Grove was incorporated as California’s 414th city in 1977. Its historical society, active informally for many years, was established in 1978 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. LGHS saved the City’s first church, the 1897 First Congregational Church of Christ (also known as the “Atherton Chapel”) and oversaw its adaptive reuse as the Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove. This Folk Victorian charmer offers two floors of beautiful exhibits related to the civic story. LGHS received a 2001 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for the rehabilitation of the building. The Society further saved the 1928 H. Lee House, a handsome Tudor Revival mansion, and oversaw its adaptive reuse as the City’s cultural center and as a popular site for social rentals. Printer-friendly version
1.7K viewsHUNTER’S NURSERY CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL OCT. 19 1.5K
Total Views: 51 By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society September 14, 2019 (Lemon Grove) — Five generations of Hunters will be on hand to celebrate the centennial of Hunter’s Nursery on Oct. 19, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the nursery, 3110 Sweetwater Road, Lemon Grove. Crafts, food, music and, of course, trees, plants and flowers will greet all comers. Founded in 1919 by Howard and Alice Hunter, the nursery today is Lemon Grove’s oldest, continuously operated business and symbolic of the “mom-and-pop” businesses that dominate the town. Hunter’s also is the county’s oldest, continuously operated family nursery. In 1918, just arrived from the Bay Area, the Hunters bought land from builder George Simpson (he built the historic H. Lee House in 1928 and his own Tudor style house on Crane Street in 1926). They consulted with pioneer horticulturist Eduardo Treganza and literally broke ground for the nursery that became a byword for high quality and expertise. Betty Redlein Hunter, doyenne of the nursery, will miss the fun. Born in 1916, our Betty was only slightly older than the nursery she loved and served for decades. We lost Betty on June 13, 2019, age 103. Betty married Larry Hunter in 1941. Together, they were the second generation to run Hunter’s. Their sons Guy and Mark, primarily Guy, became the third generation. Guy and Judith Hunter’s daughter, Kindahl, became the fourth. She prunes the roses in Civic Center Park in January, ably aided by Mario, a long-time Hunter’s employee (and that’s why the roses look so great year-round). Darling Betty, you’ll be with us in spirit! Happy 100th birthday, Hunter’s! Printer-friendly version
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