Despite losing several buildings in a fire two years ago, the Scott family maintains a fertile nursery business in Lincoln, NB—relying on a passion for all things horticultural

It was around 3pm on August 17, 2009, when the employees of Scott’s Nursery in Lincoln, NB, heard a loud bang. Within minutes, a cloud of thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from several kilometres away.

Scott’s Nursery was on fire, and before the flames were extinguished, this third-generation family business would lose six main buildings and much of their inventory, being left with millions of dollars in damages.

Jenny Scott, the assistant retail manager, acknowledges it was a very hard hit. However, after the firefighters left, with dedicated staff and determination the nursery reopened a couple of weeks later.

“It was both challenging and rewarding,” she says.

“The support that rises up in the midst of disaster is so inspiring. We didn’t think of not continuing on!”

It’s that sort of intense dedication to the family business that has kept Scott’s growing for decades. The greenhouse and garden centre operation has been in business in Lincoln, a couple of kilometres southeast of Fredericton, for more than 80 years, gradually building on the legacy of founders Oliver and Martha Scott. Oliver had emigrated from Scotland in 1928, where he’d been a master gardener. Once in Canada, he began selling cut flowers at the Phoenix Square Market in Fredericton.

Today, the family business includes more than six acres of greenhouses, plants and gardening supplies, offering many specialty items and services—making it one of a handful of “destination nurseries” in Atlantic Canada.

The company is run by Oliver and Martha’s sons George and Jim Scott. Jenny, George’s daughter, is something of a multi-tasker when it comes to the company, and numerous Scott brothers, sisters, spouses and cousins play a part in the operation.

Diversity is the name of the game—the company sells plants to both retail and wholesale clients. A broad customer base allows for large quantities of plants on hand, including a large number of varieties. Along with indoor and outdoor gardening supplies and plants, Scott’s has a full service flower shop and a hydroponic store; its wholesale operation services all of the Maritimes, as well as parts of Maine and Quebec.

“We’re open year-round, which offers a great resource to people who enjoy gardening indoors as well as outdoors throughout the different seasons,” Jenny says.

But it’s not just about the plants. One of the secrets of the Scott family’s longevity in business has to do with its approach to customer service. “We are a local, hands-on, family business with a great staff who love gardening—and it shows through their work, and through our customers,” says Jenny. “We spend a great deal of time sourcing special items for people.”

Andrew Lawson, the company’s retail manager, agrees that staffers’ knowledge and their customer relationships are key. “We have a great base of full-time staff, some of whom have been here for over 25 years,” he says. He points out that Scott’s employees can guide customers through resources and planting information, whether they are creating a container garden or a sprawling yardscape. “Paradise is only a whim away,” he adds.

Some nurseries specialize in particular types of plants, such as alpines, grasses or natives, whereas Scott’s is a great general nursery and garden supply centre. And unlike some operations that sell plants that have all been grown somewhere else, Scott’s grows as much as it can onsite.

George Scott says they start plants from seed when it’s practical, always keeping an eye on cost, but bring in cuttings and grow them onsite in some cases.

“Many of the new vegetative annuals require patent labels, and we are not allowed to propagate them,” he says. The nursery’s team makes it a point to select varieties that do well in the capricious and challenging growing climates of the Maritimes.

One of the most exciting attractions of gardening can also be one of the biggest challenges for nursery operators. Plant breeders roll out new varieties of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees every year. As with any new thing, gardeners want to try the new best thing—the cool new green echinacea or the gold-leaf hydrangea or the purple carrot. However, nursery operators can’t bring in or grow all the new varieties, some of which may be rushed to production without thorough testing for cold-hardiness.

“The Internet has brought more plant material to our customers’ attention than ever in the past,” George says. He says customer input helps them determine which new plants to carry in stock, but adds, “We do our best to walk the narrow line of having what’s new, and holding on to old favourites.”

Jenny says that when it comes to making buying decisions about what plants to add to their inventory, they use “a blend of customer demand, gut instinct, and a look at the new products being promoted.” Members of Scott’s management team attend horticultural trade shows at least every second year, where they sometimes find new and different plants, or see displays that inspire great new design ideas.

Trends play a role in how the Scott family manages its buying decisions. Jenny says they have seen a big rise in interest in container gardening, with customers wanting more of the new vigorous and colourful annuals for small spaces.

But even though the plant nursery business involves rebirth, re-growth and renewal, operating one isn’t all roses and sunshine. Potentially crushing fire aside, the Scott family has faced financial challenges many times over their 80-plus years.

George says that increases in minimum wage levels, coupled with high fuel costs and increased competition from chain stores, are all drains on the bottom line.

“We receive less from the retail sales of bedding plants today than in the ’70s, when we paid 23 cents a gallon for fuel oil.”

In the past 10 years, George says he’s seen many greenhouse growers in the Maritimes close their doors.

Jenny adds, “The economy, and big box stores advertising very low prices as a loss leader, make it difficult to compete on a retail level. We just strive to offer customer service and great selection to help offset some of this—to make sure our customers get good value.”

Big box stores or no big box stores, fire or no fire, this is one company that has proven its ability to stand its ground.

And given the public appetite for all things green and growing, Scott’s continues to be a bustling centre of cultivar commerce.