Time to Bloom! Introducing Our Gardening Expert, Chris Campbell

Hey uBloomers,It’s been very busy behind the scenes here at uBloom as we have been preparing to bring you a spectacular lineup of BRAND NEW Flower Experts!Our New Experts will be keeping you informed about "Everything Flowers" by writing important articles packed with great tips, helpful hints, and professional flower advice. They will also be cruising the forums to answer your flower questions as well as posting exciting, flower related projects and pics for you to enjoy!uBloom’s New Experts are just another way uBloom is here to help your flower knowledge BLOOM and GROW!Every Friday, I will be introducing you to a NEW uBloom Flower Expert, so that YOU, the uBloom Community, can get to know more about them and their love of FLOWERS. Hand picked by J, our experts are true professionals with many of experience and education in their flower field, so you know you are getting the Finest Flower Information right here on uBloom!Today, I’m am so excited to introduce to you our FIRST Expert…..uBloom’s Gardening Expert, Chris Campbell, Operator of Campbell’s Nursery and Garden Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chris is a 4th generation grower/garden center operator. Started in 1912 by her Great Grandfather, Claude Campbell; Campbell’s Nursery and Garden Center has been in business for 97 years.I got a chance to talk with Chris and ask her a few questions about her background in the floral industry and Campbell’s Nursery.Your family has been in the growing/garden center business for nearly 100 years, so obviously, you grew up in the business. What was that like?By age 5, I was "working" in the garden center helping carry plants to customers’ cars, watering plants, straightening flats, potting plants and helping my father and grandfather. At home, I had my own little plot of land for a garden that I tended to myself. Even at that young age, I really loved working with plants and flowers, and knew it (working in the family business) was what I wanted to do when I grew up.Even though I grew up in the gardening business, my parents were always encouraging me and my 2 sisters to pursue what we loved…even if it wasn’t gardening. I chose to continue in the family business while my sisters went on to become teachers.Aside from the extensive, on the job training and knowledge you gained by working in the garden center, did you decide to get a formal education as well?Yes, I attended the University of Nebraska. When I first enrolled, I really struggled between pursuing a horticulture degree or a degree in Business. I knew both would be valuable in running a garden and nursery. My father, with great wisdom, suggested that I get my business degree because I would need that knowledge to effectively run the Garden Center. I already had extensive knowledge in plants and flowers, but understanding how a successful business operates would be a better use of my time in college. I agreed, took his advice and earned a Bacheleors Degree in Business Administration.Tell me a little bit about the goods and services offered at Campbell’s.We are a full service, garden and landscaping business. From 2 convenient retail sites, we sell vegetable and flowering plants, shrubs, trees and tropical house plants. We grow 85%-95% of all the annuals sold at Campbells, as well as some perennials and trees. We offer landscaping maintenance services and have 8 landscape designers on staff. From pulling weeds and planting trees to installing waterfalls, ponds and patios; our landscape team can do just about anything our customers desire.What is your favorite:Vegetable Plant?Jalapeno PepperFlowering Plant?Annual - Button Flower and Lantana (both are great for the harsh Nebraska weather)Perennial - Butterfly MilkweedShrub?St. John’s WortTree?Evergreen - Weeping Serbian Spruce Deciduous - Tri-Colored BeechFoliage Plant?Tropical House Plant - ZZ Palm Garden Plant - Hardy FernsWhat do you love the most about gardening?I really enjoy the fact that you can start out with nothing but a bare patch of dirt and work it and end up with something incredibly beautiful. I like that sense of transformation and accomplishment. When I teach others about plants, I like to see the joy they get from successfully growing their own beautiful plants and gardens using the knowledge I’ve given them.What do you have growing in your own yard and garden at home?Well, my garden is more like a "test" plot. My father will give me plants to "experiment" with to see if they will grow and perform the way they are supposed to. I also like to test new varieties to make sure I have first hand knowledge of their care and handling so that I can better inform my customers about them.On my property I have a variety of Pine trees, a beautiful Birch tree, a Magnolia Tree, perennials and plenty of annuals in pots.Name your favorite garden tools or products.For planters, I love to use "Soil Moist," a product that is made of tiny polymer beads that absorb water. You mix the beads in with your normal potting soil and the beads absorb water when you water the plant. As the soil begins to dry, the beads release their moisture back into the soil to keep the plant hydrated for longer periods of time. "Soil Moist" is excellent for areas that have hot, dry summers like Nebraska.I also like "Osmocote" brand fertilizer. It is a granulated fertilizer than you mix in with your soil and it lasts for 6 months.Do you have any gardening tips that you would like to share with uBloomers?Yes. Many people think gardening and landscaping is labor intensive and expensive…but it doesn’t have to be! Just a few plants in a pot or two on your porch, or a properly placed shrub can make a big impact in the way your yard looks. A little can go a long way.