Russell’s Garden Center marks 150 years of flowers and fun

 As Russell’s Garden Center celebrates its 150^th anniversary, it will be up to the fifth generation of family members to ensure the business continues to thrive.

“The main plan is to be in business for another 150 years and whatever that entails – keep on serving our communities, keep on providing a wonderful place to be, keep employees happy so they want to keep working with us,” said Dan Skehan, owner, director and chief financial officer.

Dan, a fifth-generation family member, helps run the business now, alongside his parents Elizabeth Russell-Skehan, president, buyer and vice president of marketing, Tim Skehan, chief executive officer and sister Carly Skehan Winsor, a remote buyer.

While it is no small feat to run a thriving business, it’s a lot easier when you love what you do.

“We kind of have a fun job. It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun, and we are always surrounded by beautiful plants and really friendly nice people. So, you never get bored. You are always learning something new because there is always more to know about plants and gardening,” said Elizabeth.

“It’s a great way of life,” Tim added.

Russell’s was founded in 1876 by Elizabeth’s great grandfather, Samuel Lewis Russell. He called it Russell’s Provisions and grew flowers and vegetables and raised chickens. Cars had not yet been invented, so while the farm was in its current location on Route 20, the farmstand was located on the old Wayland town center green, so people could walk to it.

In 1925, as cars became commonplace, Samuel’s son, Lewis Samuel Russell, moved the shop to the family farm on Route 20 in Wayland, where it remains today.

In the 1940s, the third generation of owners built greenhouses where they grew cut flowers, selling them locally and to Boston-area flower shops.

When the energy crisis hit in the 1960s and 1970s, it was no longer profitable to grow fresh flowers. So, the business pivoted and opened a retail garden center. They grew annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants to meet the demands of home landscapers.

In 1986, Elizabeth and Tim joined the farm full-time, modernizing the facilities and opening year-round gift and toy shops.

“We were the first gift shop to ever put in a garden center, and the reason was to be able to keep our employees year-round and give them something to do and create some business in the off season. A lot of [employees] have been with us for years and years and years and we’re very close. The customers get to know them and we all support each other. It’s a lot of work but we have a good time,” said Elizabeth.

She also launched summer and winter farmers markets.

“We are not afraid to try something new,” she said.

There have been some challenges over the years.

In 2020, COVID-19 nearly put them out of business. They were not allowed to open in the spring – their busiest season of the year – and by April 2020 they were $1 million in debt. But the family rallied, notifying everyone on their mailing list that they were opening an online store and offering curbside pickup. That move helped save the farm.

More recently, tariffs were a challenge, but they figured it out, Elizabeth said.

It helps that they grow as much as they can themselves and most of what they buy comes from New England or the east coast of the United States, Dan said.

“A lot of the dollars that are spent by us on our products, but also spent by our customers, are going directly back into the local economies, which during this tumultuous time has been a huge competitive advantage. Having things local makes you slightly more resilient when stuff on the global scale is kind of more dynamic,” he said.

Today, Russell’s sells certified organic vegetable and flower plants grown on site. Pumpkins and mums are on sale in the fall and in the winter, they offer a large selection of Christmas trees and wreaths. The gift shop remains open year-round.

They are not planning a big celebration for their 150^th because every day is a celebration.

“We are celebrating it every day by the show we put on. Because although we are celebrating 150 years right now, really it is the culmination of 365 days of incremental customer interactions. When you’ve been around for this long it’s just what you do every day. I encourage anyone – just come and walk around, you don’t even need to buy anything,” said Dan.

“We’re a destination and we love plants and people and people who love plants and people love coming to visit us,” Elizabeth added.