During our field trip we visited Wade & Gatton Nurseries. This nursery is located in Belville, which is about one hour North of Columbus and just East of I-71. Van Wade took us on a tour of his family owned company, which has been in operation since 1928. The business is now into its fourth generation. Wade & Gatton Nurseries has developed into several departments which include wholesale, retail, landscaping, and mail order. They grow ornamental trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, daylilies, and perennials. What I am most impressed with is their collection of hostas.
Van Wade joked that he did not know what a hosta was back in 1984. Now they incorporate over 2000 varieties and added 80 just in the past year. Van Wade also mentioned that the Hosta is the most publicized perennial, and it has the highest amount of profit, which amounts to $6 Million Dollars.
You will not find any advertisements or brochures for Wade & Gatton Nurseries, because they do business by word of mouth. Van Wade believes that the quality and workmanship in everything they sell will speak for itself. With customers like John Riepenhoff, Davey Trees, and Wexner of New Albany, you know he has to have a great product. Fifteen percent of all the trees planted in New Albany have come from Wade & Gatton Nurseries. Their market area extends past Ohio into a five-state area, in which most shipping involves the large shade trees. They have also been known to ship daylilies and hostas as far as Canada, Holland, and England. One of Van Wade's most memorable customers bought $30,000 dollars worth of hostas.
Van Wade keeps the business running with the help of his wife, three sons, three grandsons and various other employees. Some of his employees have worked for him for as long as thirty years. Van Wade was raised by his grandparents, and he has lived on this farm his whole life. Mr. Wade has 136 sources and he belongs to 36 plant societies. The three sons of Mr. Wade all own their own farms as well. The oldest son takes care of the equipment and runs irrigation. Mr. Wade spends his time tagging trees for the customers. The overall size of the farm includes 390 acres in the valley and 400 acres of hill, where they grow Christmas trees. They definitely all have their work cut out for them.
Belville is the coldest spot in the state, which shortens the growing season. They have already experienced three frosts this season. They are able to extend the amount of time digging sites for trees because of the shortened growing season. Also, because of their location, they are able to tap into the underwater aquifer that is 189 feet deep. They still depend upon two wells and a local river as sources for water. The heavy drought and sudden chill this summer, has caused the leaves of the trees to start changing color and drop already. The Honey Locust was the first to lose its leaves, which will affect the sales of this tree until next year.
The landscape at Wade & Gatton Nurseries is what impressed me the most. There are trails that inter-twine in between a huge display of hostas and trees. Mr. Wade likes to use trees with deep roots, like the Hemlock, so that he can plant all of the perennials beneath them. All of the gardens are categorized by names so it is easier to locate specific plants. The names of the hostas can be seen on stakes beside them.
Mr. Wade is an extremely generous man, he gave each one of us students a plant to take home. It is so easy to see how much he cares and loves his job by looking at the quality of his work and the time and effort he puts into it. Not only is the landscape breath taking, but the atmosphere is extremely comfortable.
