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MEET THE OWEN FAMILY
For 37 years the Owen family owned and farmed a 320-acre property in Pennsylvania. The farm produced numerous organic crops, raised animals (including llamas and horses), and fed the Owen family well! Brad started many seeds in their small greenhouse, and he and Deenie maintained extensive flower and vegetable gardens each year. Aiming for a quiet retirement in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, they left the farm to settle in Old Fort in 2009.
As avid gardeners, they soon discovered Painters Greenhouse and, while shopping, heard that original owners Susie and Stephen Painter were looking to retire. Deenie and Brad couldn't imagine such a community icon being lost--there was talk of it being bulldozed or turned into monoculture--and they'd always dreamed of owning a greenhouse. Brad and Deenie's daughter Dana was studying ornithology out West and, while loving birds, missed the lush green plants of the East Coast. When visiting over Christmas, she also fell in love with Painters. Following a season of Deenie volunteering and getting a feel
feel for the business, she and Brad made the decision to purchase Painters in 2010 and run it with Dana. So much for retirement! Fortunately, Stephen and Susie, who built the business from the ground up, agreed to stay on for a year as consultants--it was a steep learning curve! Previously, Brad had worked for decades as a wetlands biologist, Deenie worked in therapeutic massage, and Dana came from an education in environmental science and raptor biology; however, their science backgrounds did very little to help with learning how to mass produce in a green-ho
house setting. It took a lot of experimentation and dedication (along with some very key team members) to get to where they are today!
How did Painters win the Owens over, and what keeps them committed during the long days of hard work? Brad has always been a dedicated ecologist with a love for the environment, and he and Deenie raised their daughters surrounded by nature. He has been a driving force behind the continued expansion of Painters' native plant selection. Brad and Deenie loved the idea of providing the community with beautiful plants as well as
community with beautiful plants, as well as having the opportunity to encourage folks to garden with the environment and wildlife in mind. They and Dana appreciated the wide selection of plants grown by the Painters, and have almost doubled the diversity of crops offered over the last decade. Their ornamental gardens at home are an incredibly biodiverse mishmash of annual and perennial pollinator-friendly plants that support a huge variety of insects and other wildlife. In fact, Brad's gardening style is to fill every last nook and cranny with blooms of all colors (typically "throw-outs" from Painters)!
Dana grew up savoring wildflower walks with her family
and, while working in greenhouses during college further
and
further piqued her interest, she really fell in love with plants when living in Ecuador and witnessing the beauty of the Amazon rainforest. Deenie and Dana, while also lovers of gardening and ecology, were strongly driven by the connection Painters provides with the community. They view and treat their staff as family, and many customers have become dear friends as well. Plants most definitely have the power to heal, as well as foster connections between people of all walks of life--the Owens feel fortunate to be a part of that. The Owens' other daughter, Vanessa, and her husband, Gavin, are also plant lovers and work ocassionally at the greenhouse when not busy with their careers as professional choreographers and dancers. Vanessa also has a side business growing cut flowers and often sells her Mackey Meadows creations at Painters!
Looking to the future, the Owens plan to continue fostering a biodiverse plant selection and look forward to ongoing experimentation with new cultivars and species!
MEET OUR STAFF
Dana Owen
Co-owner, Co-Production Manager, Marketing & Digital Media Manager
"In my eleven years of running this business, the most meaningful thing I've observed (and a significant part of why I love what I do) is the power of plants to foster joy, emotional and physical well-being, and to unify folks from all walks of life."
Deenie Owen
Co-owner
"If I were a plant, I think I'd like to be a Hellebore (Lenten Rose) , especially in January. At that time of year when our deciduous trees are leafless and there's very little sign of life in most gardener's landscapes, my blooms and green leaves continue to bring joy and color most months of the year to those who have had the foresight to plant me. It seems that each year I am available in many new varieties, bringing a wide range of hues to enhance your gardens. Another big plus is that I can thrive in conditions ranging from mostly full shade, part sun or full sun. If you haven't tried me yet, you might want to consider adding me to your garden this spring!"
Brad Owen
Co-owner
"My favorite plants are diatoms- the microscopic plants that live in all of the oceans and freshwaters of Earth and sustain our planet by generating oxygen, while serving as the base of the food webs of all wet environments. These plants are unique in being encased in highly decorated glass shells that defy the imagination with their variety of designs - yet because of their size, few of us have ever seen one.
On the other hand, my favorite terrestrial plant would have to be the American chestnut, which until recently dominated our Blue Ridge mountains and the surrounding landscapes! A large tree that provided abundant food and habitat for both wildlife and humans, the American chestnut had an outsized influence on our history and the ecosystems covering vast parts of our eastern states. Recent research shows promise that the future introductions of disease resistant trees will be successful. We are hopeful that in the not too distant future Painters may be able to offer disease resistant American chestnuts to our customers!"
Sara S.
Finance and Production Manager
"I was home in Raleigh during the summer of my freshman year at UNC-A. I would often seek refuge from my parents' suburban neighborhood by hiking around the beaver-made wetland down the street. As I was turning a corner on the trail I could hear and smell something intense. I came across a large Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) along the bank - I was captivated! The blooms were like nothing I'd seen before, the fragrance was captivating and it swarmed with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. I sat down and admired the shrub and its visitors for quite some time - it's one of my favorite memories of being stunned by the intense beauty of nature."
Moises Alavos
Operations Manager
Favorite plants: Petunias and Calibracoa
Betsy Bailey
Administrative & Retail Floor Manager
Diego Baez
Grower
Israel Juarez
Grower
Favorite plants: shrubs, trees, and perennials
Amy Owens
Grower
"A lot of "humidity" issues in houseplants are caused by under watering, so if you water when your plant needs it rather than when you notice it drooping it could save some leaves from crispiness."
Nora Lincoln
Plant Librarian & Assistant Grower
Ana Custodia
Production Team Leader
Maria Hernandez
Production Team Member
Yanet Dealmonte
Production Team Member
Azia Allen
Production Team Member
Kerry Bartlett
Production Team Member
Favorite plant: String of Pearls (especially variegated String of Pearls!)
John Baehr
Man of Many Hats (i.e. Assistant Grower, Grounds, and Retail Floor)
Toni Stevens
Sanitation Manager
"I love Bluets native to the Mountain’s of Western North Carolina. There is a small window of opportunity in the spring to see these beautiful wildflowers"
Kim Lanzarotta
Assistant Grower & Retail Floor Assistant
Tracy W.
Marketing Co-Manager & Retail Support