February 1st, 2011; A Day in Our History

(February 1, 2011) – Midwest Groundcovers LLC purchases native plant nursery The Natural Garden, Inc.

Midwest Groundcovers LLC, a wholesale nursery headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois, is pleased to announce the purchase of neighboring specialty native plant nursery, The Natural Garden, Inc.

The addition of The Natural Garden, Inc. to the Midwest family of companies is a timely and favorable product expansion for Midwest and their customers. The acquisition will increase Midwest's native plant inventory and will give Midwest customers access to a diverse array of local eco-type native plants.

Midwest and The Natural Garden are working together to ensure a seamless transition for customers and a smooth changeover for employees. Midwest will continue native plant nursery production at The Natural Garden nursery site in St. Charles, Illinois but will transition to sell primarily Natural Garden Natives™ through Midwest Groundcovers LLC. Natural Garden Natives™ will be the regional eco-type specific native plants originating from The Natural Garden stock plants and seed beds; these plants were originally collected in the 1970s and 1980s primarily in Kane County, but no further than 90 miles from the St. Charles nursery site.

Together with these new specialty native plant offerings, customers will benefit from the diverse selection of plant material, brand programs and plant collections Midwest offers, as well as their efficient, quick and convenient delivery services in the greater Midwest.

An alliance between Midwest Groundcovers LLC and The Natural Garden, Inc. is a natural fit. The long time nursery neighbors have shared history and resources. Walter Stephens, founder of The Natural Garden, Inc., often purchased groundcovers from Midwest’s first nursery location. Midwest business partner – renowned horticulturist, author, and partner of Northwind Perennials – Roy Diblik, was a long-time employee of The Natural Garden, Inc.

The Natural Garden brand will continue to be synonymous with quality, authenticity, and customer service. The nursery was founded in 1953 as a place where landscapers and gardening enthusiasts could purchase perennials dug for customers on site. During the 1970s, as public interest in native landscaping and gardening grew, The Natural Garden, Inc. expanded their product line by propagating and producing native prairie plants from locally collected seed and by producing a large selection of container perennials.

Midwest Groundcovers LLC is an industry leader in the propagation, growth, and wholesale distribution of quality container nursery stock. The company operates three state-of-the-art production facilities, including nurseries in St. Charles, Illinois, Virgil, Illinois, and Glenn, Michigan. Each year, these facilities produce millions of ground covers in over 100 different varieties; over 500 varieties of perennials, ornamental grasses, and native plants; and over 170 varieties of deciduous shrubs, broadleaf evergreens, hardy shrub roses, conifers, and vines.

Midwest Groundcovers LLC garners frequent press coverage by regional media outlets and is regularly featured in a number of major trade publications, including The Landscape Contractor and Landscape Architecture. Visit Midwest Groundcovers LLC on the web at www.midwestgroundcovers.com.