Walters Gardens, Inc.
Isabella Violante is an experienced professional in horticulture and environmental management, currently serving as Lead Grower at Walters Gardens, Inc. since August 2022, following a role as Section Grower. Prior experience includes a seasonal position at Kalamazoo Specialty Plants and a year-long tenure with the American Red Cross as an AmeriCorps Together We Prepare Associate. Isabella has also contributed to local government and parks services through roles at Kalamazoo County Government and Ottawa County as a Park Attendant, as well as serving as a Summer Ranger for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, Isabella worked as a Tour Guide at Nelis' Dutch Village. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Isabella holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geography with a concentration in Natural Resource Management & Environmental Analysis.
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.