1978

The McCain family purchases a small parcel of land on route 100 in Waterbury Center, building a small shop and greenhouse. They call this venture “Garden World”, thus establishing the garden center that would serve as the footprint for Evergreen Gardens. The original store still stands, and though it has gone through some renovation and updating, the footprint is still largely true to the original - complete with attached greenhouse.

1986

The land and storefront are leased by Elliot’s Greenhouse. The lease would last only for a year before Elliot’s moves to Lyndon Center.

1987

The land sells to Art Rank, who leases the garden center to Oliver Gardner for an expansion of “4 Seasons Garden Center”, which was an established garden center in Williston. He develops the land into appealing gardens for the summer and begins to explore the Christmas market in the winters - hoping to truly make the garden center a four season venture. A hoop house is added to the existing greenhouse, as well as several outdoor retail structures.

1988

The lease with Gardner ends and Art renames the garden center “Evergreen Gardens of Vermont” - a name that would stick for future decades of owners. He continues to develop the year round nature of the garden center - quite the daunting task when faced with the short Vermont growing season.

1992

The garden center is sold to David & Carol Loysen. Under their stewardship, more hoop houses are added to expand the growing operation. Unlike many garden centers in the area, the focus remained on growing as much of the retail crop as possible, rather than bringing in finished plants from professional wholesalers.

2002

The garden center is sold to Mike MacLeod & Carol Visger. During their tenure, Evergreen Gardens sees perhaps its most significant growth into a full service garden center. Throughout the years, the MacLeods expand from one greenhouse and 3 hoop houses to 4 retail greenhouses and 3 permanent grow houses.

2022

For the first time in its long history, Evergreen Gardens changes hands from owner to former employee. Mike & Carol sell the garden center to Julia Gill - a longtime employee - and her husband Phil McGrory. Having developed a passion for plants and a love for Vermont, the couple are determined to keep the beloved small business operating and serving Waterbury and the surrounding community. Vermont has seen many changes in the past 40+ years, but part of the reason it remains such a special place is that each spring, a whole community of people know exactly where to get their flowers.