Kerby’s Nursery is in my blood. I am, after all, a Kerby, and I have literally grown up in the nursery. We opened in 1980, when I was just 3. I remember having a toy broom to sweep leaves from the front porch of the old house that was the original location of the checkout counter.
When I was 8, I could help you pick out the prettiest azalea (or maybe two), and by 16 I was running the cash register to earn money to go to the movies with my boyfriend (who just happens to now be my husband). Probably the biggest surprise to everyone, including myself, is when after college I told my parents that I thought that maybe I wanted to take over the family business.
That was over 20 years ago. And now the business I have grown up in is turning 40. As I’ve gotten older, birthdays don’t phase me that much anymore. I’m happy to reach another one, and who doesn’t love an excuse to eat cake, but the birthday we are celebrating this weekend is a big deal. I want to shout it from the treetops. 40 years is a milestone for people and even more for a business. We are so grateful to you, our customers, that you have been with us through the years and have helped Kerby’s Nursery reach this moment.
To celebrate, we are having a birthday party this Saturday and you are invited. It all kicks off with the unveiling of The Butterfly Mural at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed up with a series of seminars throughout the day, Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese Food Truck will be selling their famous grilled cheese and tots from 11 to 2, and gift card giveaways will happen throughout the day at 40 past each hour. We hope you will join us to celebrate.
These 40 years have been magnificent and now, Joey and I are watching our own children grow up at Kerby’s. On Saturdays you may just be helped by Maddy in the flowers or by Abby near the register. They are learning to identify their flowers and are great helpers in the garden at home. Dirty fingernails are more of the rule than the exception at our house and every time I see it, it’s like stepping back in time and reliving my own childhood. When I see them sticker and unload plants for sale or hand out information sheets at our seminars, I can’t help but see myself. They seem to truly delight in spending time outside among the plants and people.
There is a great sense of happiness that comes from doing something you love, and we are filled with gratitude every day that we get to be a part of this community and share our love of gardening with you. We hope you can join us on Saturday for a day full of gardening fun for the whole family.
Thank you for making this birthday celebration possible. We are excited to see where the next 40 years take us.
