Amethyst Hill / Hydrangeas Plus
Representing Oregon agriculture across state and
country lines.
By Shannon Larson
Tucked away on a back country road in Aurora, Oregon is the home
of one of the largest hydrangea retail businesses in the country.
Amethyst Hill Nursery/Hydrangeas Plus is one of three well-known
operations in the U.S. to specialize in growing hydrangeas for both
wholesale and retail purposes and has played an important role in
the scientific study of these plants as well, partnering with
universities and research institutions across the country.
The 12-acre farm was purchased in 1999 by Kristin VanHoose and
her husband David. Looking for a way out of the corporate world and
a way into the country, the VanHooses moved to Oregon from
Washington to start a new life and a new family. They purchased the
farm which was already home to an established hydrangea nursery that
grew over 70 varieties of hydrangeas. Now, just eleven years later,
the farm is home to around 250 varieties and also includes some
landscaping plants such as broad leaf and evergreen trees. The farm
itself is a maze of greenhouses, housing blooms of all colors and
sizes.
The VanHooses began marketing their product and soon found their
business was growing exponentially along with the growth of
hydrangeas country-wide. Amethyst Hill Nursery, the wholesale
portion of the business, began selling products to local grocery
stores and retail outlets around the state, but it was their
mail-order business known as Hydrangeas Plus that really brought the
VanHoose’s product national recognition. Now, after years of
promoting their product in catalogues, the VanHoose’s have
discovered the worlds of social media and social networking and are
promoting their hydrangeas on both YouTube and Facebook (see
Hydrangeas Plus Facebook page).
Hydrangeas Plus now ships Oregon products all around the U.S. and
has begun to ship plants to other parts of North America. The
catalogue features a wide aray of hydrangeas in all colors and sizes
and is constantly being updated to include more varieties of
hydrangeas that are available for shipment. The catalogue and
website also provide tips on how to care for and maintain these
water-needy plants. With the addition of a Facebook page, hydrangea
growers around the country also have the opportunity to ask
questions about caring for the plants and can get responses quickly
and accurately from both the VanHooses and other gardeners. |
