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	Orie and Gertrude Johnson with son, Harold and daughter Verna Evelyn. Photo taken in Kaw City, Oklahoma, 1918.

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Johnson’s Garden Center’s roots began in 1928 when Orie Johnson began truck farming on 160 acres in west Wichita. He raised hogs, corn and other vegetables and sold his products to grocery stores and to retail customers who canned vegetables. As the business grew, he opened a fruit and vegetable stand at the corner of Douglas and West Street in 1934.

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	Johnson’s Garden Center’s West 13th Store in the late 1940s.

In 1953, Harold Johnson went into business with his father, Orie, and together they opened the first Johnson’s Garden Center on five acres of land on West 13th, the current location of Johnson’s West 13th store.

The need for more retail space came in the early 1960s and at that time the west store was remodeled and enlarged. Larger greenhouses were erected for more growing space.

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	Four generations of Johnsons in December 1981. Pictured here from left to right are: Orie Johnson, Marty Johnson, Jeremy Johnson and Harold Johnson.

Over the years there have been many more changes in products and facilities. The 1970s brought a need for an east location to service customers on the east side of Wichita. A small store was rented at Central and Edgemoor. The store was successful but, due to limited space, was sold a few years later. In 1982, land was purchased and construction started on Johnson’s east location at 21st and Woodlawn. The east location opened in the spring of 1983.

The consumer of the 1980s wanted more services such as landscaping and maintenance. Johnson’s Garden Center expanded to meet this demand by providing landscape design, installation and maintenance services to residential and commercial property owners.

In the summer of 1995, Johnson’s doubled their retail outlets by adding a seasonal shop in Derby and taking over a garden center (formerly Dutchman’s Nursery) located at 802 North Ridge Road. In February 1996, the Derby store closed its doors due to sale of the building.

Johnson’s Garden Center has grown from a truck farm on 160 acres to three retail outlets and four landscaping crews. It has grown to be the largest ferti•lome dealer in the United States in 2000, and continues to grow and remain the largest garden center in the Wichita market area.

	photo copyright d.a. russell PHOTOGRAPHY Click on pic for a larger image.
	2001 Wichita Chamber of Commerce Chairman, William B. Livingston (far right), presents the 2001 Over the Years Award to Marty Johnson, Jeremy Johnson and Linden Johnson (left to right).

In 2001, Johnson’s Garden Center was chosen to receive the Wichita Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Over the Years Award which is given each year to businesses who have exhibited a long-standing performance as good business citizens and major contributors to our area’s economic well-being.

Today, this locally owned and operated business is managed by two of Harold’s sons, Marty Johnson and Linden Johnson. Also involved in the family business is Marty’s son, Jeremy Johnson. Johnson’s Garden Center has been serving the needs of Wichita and surrounding communities for every season … for four generations … and will continue to meet customer’s ever changing lawn and garden needs in the new millennium.