Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_728x90.png
  • Nursery-Guide-Find-More-Banner-Ad_728x90.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_560x75-04.png
  • MK-bug-728x90-NG.png
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Nursery Tour #3: Al’s Garden Center (Part 5 of 6)

Nursery Tour #3: Al’s Garden Center (Part 5 of 6)

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 22, 2013

“Grown by Al’s” appears on the vast majority of pots at the three retail garden center locations operated by Al’s Garden Center, a wholesale greenhouse operation. Al’s produces more than 6 million plants each year on over 30 acres of growing operations.

Family owned and operated by second- and third-generation family members, Al’s started as a fruit stand in 1948. Al’s began selling nursery stock in 1959 and then a few years later began growing seasonal bedding plants. Today, Al’s supplies liners to more than 600 growers across the U.S.

When we arrive at the Woodburn location, some of their greenhouses are in the process of being converted into heated greenhouses. The gas company was onsite, installing gas lines. Something always afoot at Al’s!

A greenhouse is devoted each year in August to displaying the newest annual varieties. Retailers and landscapers on the nursery tour remarked at how clever Al’s displays were. Many had been fashioned from simple supplies such as two-by-fours, chain link, and re-purposed pallets.

Click here to view photos from Al’s.

Share this:

  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • More
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Farwest, Nursery tour

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

NURSERY NEWS

GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan visits Farwest Show

Deciphering Oregon’s plastics recycling law

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. celebrates 80 years as a nursery standout

Monrovia Nursery Company celebrates 100 years of innovation and looks to the future

New AmericanHort CEO introduces himself to OAN

Bailey Nurseries removed dams to build environmental resilience

The new NurseryGuide.com powers up with new features

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

September 2026 Digger

August 2026 Digger: Farwest Show Edition

July 2026

June: The Shrubs Issue

May 2026: the Sustainability Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Box tree moths pose a threat to Oregon nurseries

Managing Phytophthora: timing, temperature and emerging threats

Managing slugs and snails in Pacific Northwest nurseries

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan visits Farwest Show

Sofia® Cherry Laurel and Saturnalia™ American hybrid oak shine at New Varieties Showcase 

Eschenfelder Farms wins Best in Show at Farwest

A sense of excitement in the air at Farwest

Deciphering Oregon’s plastics recycling law

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

ONF scholarships help recipients launch their career in horticulture

New AmericanHort CEO introduces himself to OAN

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

More member stories

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • President’s Message
  • Digital Growth

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© 2026 Oregon Association of Nurseries