Elizabeth Russell-Skehan interacts with many customers when working the floor of one of the 15 greenhouses at Russell’s Garden Center, a family-owned retail garden center that has been in business for 150 years. Some customers approach her, thrilled to tell her they once knew her grandmother. In response, she tells them about the continuing family legacy.
In 1876, Russell’s Provisions stood in the center of Wayland at the intersection of what are now Routes 20 and 126. Samuel Russell — butcher, farmer and the store’s owner — tended farmland down the road on Route 20. Today, Russell’s Provisions is known as Russell’s Garden Center and is located on Samuel Russell’s original farm. For the past 150 years, the retail garden center has sets it s roots firmly within Wayland and its community.
In the early 20th century, Lewis Samuel Russell, the second-generation owner of Russell’s, opened a retail store at the business’s current location, growing and selling cut flowers and vegetables. From those beginnings, the center steadily grew to adapt to changing times, surviving the Great Depression and later shifting away from wholesale cut flower production as its demand decreased. Over generations, the family has expanded the business into retail gardening, adding plants, tools and supplies as home gardening surged in popularity.
Now, Russell’s Garden Center is run by the family’s fourth generation, led by Russell-Skehan, the owner, buyer and vice president of marketing; her husband, CEO Tim Skehan; and garden specialist Jack Russell. Its fifth generation — Daniel Skehan and Carly Skehan Winsor, children of Elizabeth and Tim — are also involved in the business. Together, the family continues a legacy that has been carefully passed down rather than imposed.
“We don’t like to pressure people,” Elizabeth Russell-Skehan said of bringing her children into the business.
Instead, family members are encouraged to branch out and gain their own experiences. If they decide to return, Russell’s Garden Center will welcome them with open arms. This approach has allowed a variety of talents beyond gardening into the business.
“We all have different backgrounds, and we know who’s good at what,” Russell-Skehan said. “Believe it or not, none of the family has a horticulture background.”
Horticultural expertise comes in the form of the garden center’s employees. The business hires specialists for different departments, such as vegetables, herbs, annuals and perennials, and trains them in-house. Additionally, employees are encouraged to research and learn more about their respective fields. Consequently, employees are an integral part of Russell’s Garden Center, so much so that they have become like family.
“We all get along,” Russell-Skehan said. “I think the customers really appreciate that.”
Drawing from far and wide
Russell’s Garden Center has positioned itself as a place for social interaction between shoppers and employees alike, fostering a special connection that endures regardless of distance.
Russell’s isn’t just a local garden center that attracts visitors from Wayland and nearby towns. Customers from as far as out of state can often be found during regular business hours as well as during Wayland farmers markets.
“Our customers really come from farther than Wayland,” Russell-Skehan said. “It’s a big community that we have, and they are very supportive of us.”
Carol McDondal, a bookkeeper from Northborough, said she visits Russell’s Garden Center every two to three months ever since she began frequenting the summer farmers’ market about six years ago. Although she does not consider herself a “plant person,” she enjoys the seasonal items and toy section.
“It’s just a fun place to wander around,” McDonald said. “It’s got a nice feel.”
Russell-Skehan said customers sometimes come into the store during difficult times and find solace talking with employees.
“We’re not trained in therapy,” she said. “But we can take them for a walk around the plants and through the growing greenhouses, and they just feel much better when we do that.”
Pivoting during pandemic
Customer relationships helped the business survive uncertain times during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was captured in the documentary filmed by fifth-generation family member Genevieve Skehan, “Growing through Covid-19.” The family also decided to launch an online store during shutdowns to help the business continue. With a 9,000-person email list, the family launched the online store. By the morning after launching, there were 150 orders even as surrounding businesses were forced to close.
For Daniel Skehan, that period highlighted what the garden center means to people.
“We wouldn’t be here without our customers,” he said.
As it reaches its 150th anniversary, Russell’s Garden Center is committed to continuing servicing its customers, taking care of employees, and staying true to their origins of growing and selling plants.
“Part of our message to longevity is really being able to have a mission, but then adapt with the changing times,” Russell-Skehan said. “We’re pretty proud of ourselves.”