May 3, 2023. Article is from the Northwoods Press. Text is reprinted for clarity.

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Four generations of Rhodes now add splendor to gardens and food for the table. The horticulturists include, from left, Mathew Rowland, Tilly Rowland, Beth Poole, and the founder, Annette Rhodes.

Rhodes Garden Center continues success through four generations
By: Jean Ruzicka

Rhodes Garden Center in Nevis is nearing a half-century of supplying gardeners with a dazzling array of annual and perennial flowers, trees and shrubs to add to the habitat and vegetables to supply nutrients - with a wide variety of seeds to get the patch on its way.

Four generations now add their mark to the daily duties required of the venture that began 47 years ago in Annette Rhodes' backyard.

The inspiration had been Annette's mother, Emma Engelkes, who resided in Iowa. The impetus for this now-family business was her late husband Dusty.

"I think you ought to get a job," he told his wife of three children after they had migrated north to assume ownership of a gas station in Nevis. That was their first residence, located on Paul Bunyan Drive.

"I had three kids at home," she said of pursuing a job outside of the home, "I didn't want to be gone when the kids came home from school."

A seed that had been planted in her younger years was about to sprout.

Her mother (Engelkes) had opened a greenhouse back in Cloverdale, Iowa. A blizzard on her grand opening didn't quash her aspirations, nor did her lack of a driver's license, which she attained at the age of 52. Pushing the pedal to 85 mph while motoring across the countryside to gain more greenery, she had posted a sign on the door that simply read: "Off to get more plants."

The Rhodes moved to their home on Co. Rd. 18 west of Nevis in 1973, and Annette opened the greenhouse there in 1976.

Meanwhile, daughter Beth (Poole) had become her (unwilling) protege.

"I will never, ever take this over," Beth reasoned of the seemingly insurmountable responsibility of caring for hundreds of florae that took up residence in the greenhouse each spring. "Too much responsibility."

"But look where I am now...[26 years in the business]. "It's in your blood. you can't get rid of it."

Her late husband, Billy Engels, "...talked me into it."

The business moved to its current location at 25169 Co. Rd. 33 (just a stone's throw southeast of Highway 34) in 1998. Beth had taken over in 1997. Annette's health precluded her ability to continue as "queen bee."

Beth had started a secondhand store, Curiosity Corner, in Nevis, but soon learned the greenhouse's "leftover plants" were selling better than the rest of her inventory.

Her entrepreneurial spirit sent her back to her roots.

No drippers; it's all by hand

Planting begins in late January with the wave petunias.

Half of what consumers see starts from seed, "all vegetables and most of the herbs." Grow lights in Beth's basement coax their growth while Old Man Winter continues his rampage outside.

The growth of the plants in the greenhouses is accompanied by music. "And we

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Mosquitos beware! These plants repel the pesky insects that are expected to be in abundance this summer.

Annette in the greenhouse.

talk to our plants, too." All watering is done by hand. "No drippers," Beth said of an overhead automated irrigation system.

Bulk seed, which is now somewhat rare, is available at the store. "And prices haven't changed," she said of the 25-cent per package. New this year: lemon cucumbers, red salad bowl lettuce, red kidney beans, bush cucumbers and an Easter egg blend radish. A sweet Spanish onion plant is also yearning for a home in the dirt.

"The last three years have been phenomenal," Beth said of Covid inspiring poeple to begin gardening. Last year, the crew's days entered into sunset to replenish plants in the greenhouse.

"And we teach people how to garden," she said of advising novices - as well as the seasoned.

Beth recalled an aspiring 18-year-old gardener who had arrived from the metro. Her mom had promised her a garden if she could produce tomatoes. Her tomatoes headed skyward; her mom was undoubtedly impressed.

Five greenhouses now reside on the property. The non-sequential numbers reflect the order in which they appeared.

"With the prices of groceries and the long winter, people want color," Beth said of the doldrums spurred by the dreary winter.

"We welcome people to walk through our greenhouses. And if we don't have it, we send people to places that do," Beth said of reciprocity among the area's "green scenes."

Great-grandmother Emma's advice: Plant after the last full moon in May. Soil should be at 60 degrees for tomatoes; 45 degrees for cabbage products.

"We're approaching our 50th year," Annette reflected, "Not too many businesses make it this long," or become multi-generational... granddaughter Tilly Rowland and her son, Mathew,16, are lending a helping hoe.

Hours at Rhodes Garden Center are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and beginning this week, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.