Garrison's Greenwood Gardens was founded in 1959 by Charles and Kate Garrison. Charles was born in Fordyce, Arkansas. He later migrated to Shreveport, working for the Cotton Belt Railroad. Kate was born in Anderson, South Carolina and was educated at Waltham Hospital School of Nursing, Waltham, Massachusettes. She then joined the Army Air Corp during WWII, participating in the Berlin Airlift and rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel in United States Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base. Mrs. Garrison also graduated cum laude from Centenary College. Charles and Kate met and began their journey which culminated in the purchase of the land Garrison's Greenwood Gardens sits on today. Truly embodying the American work ethic, Charles and Kate worked nights, he at the railroad, she at Confederate Memorial Hospital (later known as LUS Medical Center) where she served as a supervisor, all the while, running the nursery during the day.
Throughout the years, Charles employed a diverse group of people to help him grow the nursery. In the 70's, three young men, Rick Mitchell, Tim White, and Mark Walton, came to work at Garrison's. The Garrison's were not able to have children and these three young men became their surrogate children.
Sadly, both Mr. and Mrs. Garrison have passed away. Kate on August 19, 2008 and Charles on July 19, 2012. Although Mr. Garrison will no longer be seen sitting at the wagon shed greeting customers or shuffling around the greenhouse, "the boys" and the Garrison team will continue the future of Garrison's Greenwood Gardens.
Mr. Garrison's dream of a display garden was realized in 1990 with the completion of the Olde Covered Bridge Garden. The Gardens are for the enjoyment of our customers during regular hours and feature the Duck Parade which Mr. Garrison began. Charles was instrumental in bringing the American Rose Center to Shreveport-Bossier. He hybridized his own Rose "Dixie Holiday," and Mayor Hazel Beard declared Charles Garrison Day in Shreveport on October 30, 1991.
Today, Garrison's Greenwood Gardens looks forward to the future with the construction of a modern greenhouse with state of the art ventilation and sustainability with recycled water in our outdoor irrigation system. We have installed a modern point of sale system which allows us to offer a customer rewards program we call "GREENBUCKS." Some things we will not change, however, as Mr. Garrison taught us, we will buy from the best growers, handpick plants when possible, strive to be kind and courteous while servicing customers, load customers cars and have the best selection of quality plant material in the Ark-La-Tex.
Our success is all in our people.
Meet the Garrison Team ~
Tim White, Co-Owner/Hardline Manager
Rick Mitchell, Co-Owner/Tree and Shrub Manager
Mark Walton, Co-Owner/Sales Manager
Sandi Walton, Business Manager
Michelle Williams, Bedding Plant Manager
Thomas Walker, Maintenance
Charlie Huffman, Tree and Shrub Salesperson
