More history coming soon… as we dig through the archives.

1989 to 1994

All Green Nursery

In 1989, Virginia and Donna got an offer they couldn’t refuse – to buy a little “mom & pop” nursery in Southeast Houston on Telephone Road called All Green Nursery.

Since it had been around for about 40 years with an established clientele, they saw it as an opportunity to learn how to run a real nursery. Part of the package included a tractor, a dump truck and two long-time employees, Frank Ramos and Salvador Saavedra.

Salvador is still with us – a loyal and trusted employee!

The sisters continued to run two stores for the next 5 years until they sold All Green in 1994. They had just moved Buchanan’s store from Heights Blvd. to 11th Street and they wanted to concentrate on one, bigger, better location.

This is the old, old Ford tractor we inherited from All Green Nursery.

One Sunday morning we drove it from Telephone Road to the Heights so we could load soil & mulch for Heights customers.  We had a dump truck, too, and Salvador and I would do deliveries — I drove and he would direct me to make sure I dumped it in the right place.  Eventually, I insisted Salvador get a drivers license so he could do deliveries himself.

Notice the building in the background?

That’s the Bungalow — 19 years ago!

In this photo from 1992, my sister, Virginia, is posing with the surveyor’s tripod as we were buying the property at 611 E 11th Street.

1986

Native Texas Plants ~ My Story

Way back in 1986, I was an avid gardener and had been reading a lot about perennials.  I was unable to find many perennials at local garden centers.  Then I read the book called “Native Texas Plants” by Sally Wasowski, and I became very excited about native plants.  I started thinking, “If I am searching for perennials and native plants, I’ll bet there are others that want them, too.”  So the idea for a nursery selling native plants was born.

I expected this native idea to catch on quickly, just as I was sure organics were going to be immediately popular.  It took a little longer than I thought, but they are finally becoming more accepted by the gardening public.  Twenty-five years later, we still believe in the benefits of organic gardening and in using native and adapted plants and are proud to have influenced the gardening scene in Houston. And we thank you for your support!

This photo is of Buchanan’s first location in 1986, located at 111 Heights Blvd. next to Heights Station Antiques and Hickory Hollow restaurant.

Donna Buchanan and her sister, Virginia DeCamp, loved plants and gardening and had a bright idea to start selling natives, perennials, herbs and antique roses.

We were SO naive and really knew nothing about starting a business, but we were determined to keep plugging away at it.

We even sold Christmas trees that first year! We were also promoting organics, even though there were few products available at that time. 

Many of our first customers still shop with us and remember that cute, quaint little store.