The garden center industry lost a giant

I'm saddened beyond words to report that Don Riddle, founder of Homestead Gardens and a revered leader of the garden center industry, died this week at the too-young age of 63.  Here's my collection of remembrances about Don on the Homestead blog. (There you'll see references to winning both Retailer of the Year designation and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award in the industry.)

Homestead was, I believe, the first garden center to hire a gardenblogger - almost two years ago now - thanks to its smart director of marketing, and Don's support for the idea.  Every single time I saw Don he thanked me for my help, so I know first-hand that the many reports of his kindness and generosity appearing throughout the industry and in the Maryland media are sincere.

Comments

[Les]

I am sorry to hear this. I only went to Homestead once and left feeling totally amazed and totally inadequate with my own efforts to run a garden center. He was doing something right.

[Annie Haven]

This is a great loss to so many. His words of encouragement and support for what I am doing will never be forgotten. My condolences go out to his family, friends and to all those in the garden industry that had the pleasure of know him...