Rooted in resilience: Warner’s Nursery & Landscape perseveres in Best of Flag and in business
Written by Gail G. Collins
Digging in the dirt. The benefits and joys of putting plants into the ground are multi-fold. We exercise, we commune with nature, we nurture, we provide food for ourselves, birds or insects, we de-stress, and we grow personally. Overall, gardening is a rejuvenating act.
Warner’s Nursery has been supplying quality plants to satisfy gardening dreams since 1970. “We’ve always been mostly a retail garden center,” said Misti Warner-Andersen. “In the beginning, my dad helped my grandma take over the nursery after he returned from Vietnam.”
The original nursery location in Page, run by Dorothy and Bill Warner, then moved to a spot on Highway 89A. When Butler Avenue was commercialized, Warner’s relocated to its current setting. Brothers Dugan and Fred Warner made a great team during the transitions, according to Misti, and still do, though they concentrate on residential and commercial landscape construction now.
When it came to building the Butler Avenue nursery, the brothers rejected the idea of a standard greenhouse. Instead, they focused on creating a unique backdrop, reminiscent of garden centers in England. Working with Nexus, they spearheaded production of the first airy, custom-built garden center in the U.S., a concept which was replicated many times over on the East Coast.
Of course, it is what you fill your garden center with that keeps customers coming. “I am tenacious about finding a good selection of hardy, quality plants especially for harsher environments, like Northern Arizona,” Misti said. And since the Crash of 2008, that has been difficult as many growers went out of business. Despite this, she stressed, “We sell with integrity and good info. The most important thing is the right plant for the right homeowner—what will grow. We’re open about that—our reputation is important to us.”
Since the pandemic, the desire for plant types has shifted. Customers are more eager for perennials, vegetables, trees and shrubs, some of which are trickier to source. As a private garden center, Warner’s would be pushed to compete on price points with corporate box stores, yet they can impress homeowners with explicit knowledge of area growing conditions and can pass on their plant wisdom.
Warner’s staff are passionate plant people, brought under the wing by senior members, teaching one another what works best where. This makes growing a garden in a challenging environment more effective and enjoyable.
Resources are available as well. Misti, a third-generation operator, mom, businesswoman and outdoor enthusiast, writes a blog, called Planting it Forward, to help gardeners make the most of their efforts. Classes are also an option. The Houseplant Club offers classes, some with small fees to cover materials, but spotting guests a 20-percent plant discount. On Warner’s website, Gardening Week by Week suggests jobs to do around the yard, while gardening seminars and guides, such as Best Plants for Bees, round out topics of interest.
Warner’s is big on community. They contribute to local causes, like Climb for Cancer, Camp Colton and local schools, and they offer gratis hosting to non-profits for fundraising events, such as Big Brothers and Sisters. Outreach can be fun, too, especially when Warner’s sponsors a free Easter egg hunt or Fall Festival.
Family works well together at Warner’s and always has. A bit of trivia, Dot’s café is named for Misti’s grandmother, who launched the nursery.
For all of these reasons, Warner customers voted them Best Nursery and Garden Center. Misti said, “We’re really excited about winning Best Nursery. I’m so pleased with the team I have—their hard work day in and day out—and thankful to the community.” Regardless of a crash or COVID, business acumen and public support build success that never wavers, Misti offered gratefully. BofFLG