Posted: 5/1/02

Flowers still bloom at Greenworld

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

People who religiously drove to Wyoming to buy flowers and vegetable plants were saddened last year when Greenworld Greenhouse owner Craig Johnson sold his business and the adjacent Greenwood Links Golf Course. But fear not, Greenworld fans, the business is not a part of history.

Far from it. After several months of searching for new sites and driving 38,000 miles, Johnson and his wife Cyndy have reopened Greenworld in North Branch, a short 10 minute drive from Wyoming.

The business opened for the season on Monday, April 22 and will be open for the next five weeks or until the inventory is gone. By Memorial Day, the selling season at the new Greenworld Greenhouse site will be over.

The Johnsons are operating their new garden center on a 40-acre parcel that is five miles north of Stacy or three miles south of TH-95 in North Branch. Greenworld is located just west of Falcon Ave (CR-78). At 358th St., go two blocks west on Falcon Ave. to Evergreen Ave. Turn north on Evergreen and go another two blocks to the garden center.

After 27 years of running Greenworld and more than a decade in the golf business, the Johnsons sold last year. Johnsonís parents, Bud and Shirley Johnson, were dealing with health issues and a family decision was reached to sell the Wyoming Township property.

But at age 49, Johnson was far from ready to retire. He spent most of last summer searching for acreage where he could relocate the greenhouse business and build a family home. The search extended as far south as Arizona where the family of four considered relocating.

ìWe decided to stay in Minnesota,î Johnson said. The family bought a home in Lino Lakes last summer and wanted to remain here because of the schools. Finding a new business site was the difficult part.

Finally last fall, the Johnsons found 40 acres on the very southern end of North Branch. The site was once part of a Christmas tree farm, Johnson said.

The land was purchased last November. By February, a new garden center and greenhouse was up and planting for the 2002 season was started. The garden center opened last week and Johnson was finding many of his old customers were showing up.

ìMost people thought I would be closed for a year,î he said.

Doing what he loves

For Johnson, growing flowers is what he knows and loves. Thatís one of the main reasons why he stayed in the business. He has a degree in horticulture and several decades of experience.

ìI just think I know how to grow flowers,î he said. ìYou should do what youíre good at.î

At the new location, Johnson is doing pretty much the same thing as in Wyoming. His goal is to offer top quality plants and fair prices.

As the center opened last week, the garden center was packed with plants. The inventory featured 1000 hanging baskets, 15,000 packs, 6000 four-inch plants and some 450 planters.

ìI need to have my old customers find out where Iím at,î Johnson said. ìWe welcome all the new North Branch customers, too.î

A big start

Johnsonís new garden center spans 7500 square feet and offers the latest in state-of-the-art features for greenhouses.

The six bay greenhouse is an open-air house designed by Rough Brothers. The greenhouse has roof sections and a wall that open to allow air and ventilation to circulate when needed.

And it is built tough, Johnson said. The building is designed to withstand 100 miles an hour wind and a 40 pound snow load.

Once this retail season comes to a close in late May, Johnson will turn his attention to more expansion efforts. Tentative plans call for the construction of 7500 square feet of additional greenhouse space. The expansion will be tied to the existing building and should double the garden center inventory by 2003.

The Johnsons also hope to start constructing a new home on the grounds this year. He will also spend time planting shrubs, trees and other nursery stock for future sales.

The owner will also begin growing poinsettias for the holiday season. Johnson plans to continue his commercial sales of poinsettias to schools for fund-raisers.

He will grow some 4000 plants with nine colors offered. Greenworld has offered the plants to Linwood Elementary, North Branch High School and St. Peterís Elementary School in Forest Lake for fund-raising ventures.

Area residents who need more information can call Greenworld at 651-674-1749.

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