Walters Gardens, Inc.
Aren Phillips has over a decade of experience in horticulture and environmental science. Currently serving as the Greenhouse Systems Manager and Lead Grower at Walters Gardens, Inc. since January 2018, Aren previously worked at Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. as the Assistant Propagation Manager from February 2012 to January 2018. Earlier career roles included providing expertise as a Native Plant and Habitat Restoration Consultant at Lied's Nursery and teaching science at Vida Abundante Schools as a temporary volunteer. Aren began the professional journey as a Summer Research Assistant at Calvin College, contributing to a forest mitigation project. Education includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Calvin University, completed in 2008.
Walters Gardens, Inc.
Walters Gardens, Inc. didn’t set out to be the biggest and best in the industry. We simply wanted to provide our local growers with high quality perennials. To fulfill that dream, a small perennial farm was established by Dennis and Harriet Walters in Zeeland, Michigan in 1946, worked by just a few strong men including Dennis’ four brothers. Tall Garden Phlox, Creeping Phlox, Delphiniums, Leucanthemum, and Gaillardias were their specialties and these bare root plants were shipped out by rail, truck, and bus. Today, Walters Gardens, Inc. has grown to be one of the nation’s largest wholesale perennial growers with a reputation for superior quality, excellent service, and cutting edge new varieties. Our company continues to be run by the Walters family, aided by over 200 dedicated employees including skilled growers and hybridizers, plant health experts, inventory managers, marketing specialists, a dedicated team of inside sales and customer service staff, and national sales representatives and brokers. We offer over 1,000 varieties of perennials including a line of exclusive Proven Winners® Perennials, and over 100 new items are added each year. Bare root perennials are grown on 1,500 acres of land while over 500,000 square feet of modern greenhouses contain our plug growing operations. Over 18 million perennial liners are shipped to grower retailers, wholesale finish growers, landscapers, mail order companies, and more across the US and Canada.