Member Profiles

Willowglen Nursery
By Meagan Seele

Willowglen Nursery is nestled in the midst of Northeast Iowa's rolling hills. Follow the curves of Lost Mile Road just off Highway 52 near Burr Oak and you will venture into an exciting environment of display gardens filled with gorgeous perennials and other unique plants.

In 1986, Lee and Lindsay Lee started their own nursery consisting of perennial flowers for retail sale. They wanted their nursery to be distinguished from others, and so they began to acquire and grow unusual perennial plants. They provide gardeners of all interests and skill levels a great variety of vegetation and the uniqueness that was once their dream. Willowglen has lots of ordinary plants and usually offers at least two or three varieties of each species. But most of their plants are unfamiliar to the ordinary gardener and this is where Willowglen's character shines through.

Willowglen currently has two full time and one part time employee. They are available to give expertise and guidance for all your gardening needs. Whether you are creating a large landscaping project or a simple garden design, the professionals at Willowglen can help. They are open from May 1 through September 30 every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Mondays.

Throughout the summer months Willowglen offers a variety of gardening educational seminars and workshops that are offered to gardeners of all ages. Some of the seminars held this summer included informative sessions on how to propagate perennial plants, design a garden, and make rustic garden ornaments out of willow. Sessions on the cultivation of specialty gardens- water, alpine, or butterfly gardens were also offered. The classes are kept small to ensure individual attention and an exclusive hands-on experience.

The look of the nursery is forever changing at Willowglen. In addition to a new sales area surrounded by display gardens, a mini-labyrinth was designed for the annual garden. All of the gardens allow the customer to readily visualize how the plants actually grow and thrive in a natural setting. Willowglen's exquisite display gardens have even been featured on public television's The Perennial Gardener with Karen Strohbeen.

If you are interested and want more information about Willowglen's workshops or need some gardening advice, give Lee or Lindsay a call at 1-563-735-5570. It is located at 3512 Lost Mile Road in Decorah, Iowa. They are always looking forward to seeing new faces.