It's growing

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, May 19, 2003 | by Cahalan, Steve

WEST SALEM, Wis. John Reusch worked for Randy Baier for 12 years at Baier Nursery, which was located at 2900 Cass St. in La Crosse.

Reusch left that job 14 years ago. Today, he owns his own business in West Salem, and his friend Baier is helping him.

Reusch operates Cottage Grove Nursery and Gift Shop, which has expanded by acquiring two of Baier's large greenhouses and much of his equipment.

Baier closed his La Crosse nursery last summer when he retired but is helping Reusch part time at the expanded West Salem business.

"I'm helping out, but I'm not an employee," Baier said last week. "I'm sort of contributing my time. John is a good friend, a good nurseryman and a good grower."

Baier said he knew he would miss growing flowers and seeing his customers. But by helping Reusch, he said, "I really don't have to miss either one. This gives me a great opportunity to keep my finger in the dirt - or in the business - and to keep in contact with the great customers I've had over the years."

Erecting two of Baier's largest greenhouses at the West Salem nursery has allowed Cottage Grove to vastly increase its inventory of perennials and shrub roses, Reusch said. He began this spring with nearly 8,000 perennials and about 500 shrub roses.

Acquiring a tractor and other equipment from Baier allowed Reusch to increase the landscaping part of his business.

"We've been friends for a long time," Reusch said. "About a year ago, Randy came to me and said he was going to retire and wanted to know if I'd like to buy his greenhouses. I bought his two big ones each 96 feet long. He said there was one stipulation that he came with the green_ houses. I said that wouldn't be a problem."

Baier sets his own hours at the West Salem business, Reusch said.

Reusch, 50, was born and raised in La Crosse and has worked at nursery- and landscape-related businesses for 30 years. Ile started at La Crosse Floral, when he was in high school.

"I like working outdoors, making things and watching them grow." Reusch said last week, as the sun shined on brightly colored flowers outside the century-old brick farm house that houses the gift shop, The house was built sometime in the early 1900s., Reusch said. He uses an old barn nearby for storage.

"I wanted to see if I could own my own business, before I got too old," he said of his decision to start the West Salem business in 1997. He and a partner - whom Reusch bought out after four years - bought a 3.9-acre hobby farm on the east edge of West Salem and turned it into a nursery and gift shop.

Cottage Grove Nursery and Gift Shop has eight employees, but is closed from Dec. 25 through April 1. During the Christmas season, the gift shop sells Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and other items.

Reusch said the nursery is a full-service garden center and sells such things as trees, shrubs, topiaries, evergreens, perennials, annuals, a variety of other plants, several types of trees, birdbaths, ornamental items, fountains, lanterns, fertilizers, seed, wind chimes, mulch, rock and topsoil. It also offers landscaping design and installation.

Most customers live within 50 miles of West Salem, Reusch said. "We try to put out a good product at a fair price, with good service," he added, to draw customers from within that area.