Oak Harbor greenhouse celebrates 70 years

The Greenhouse Florist & Nursery has been providing green pets to plant lovers for so long that the VandenHaaks’ thumb has evolved from green to evergreen.

This year, one of the oldest businesses in Oak Harbor is blowing out 70 candles. In celebration of this milestone, co-owners and sibling duo Audrey Butler and Henry VandenHaak invite community members to an open house event from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, or to test their luck by entering a weekly raffle. The luckiest participant, to be announced at the open house, will win a $250 wind chime and a $70 gift card.

Do not let the work in progress on Northeast Seventh Avenue discourage you — flaggers will safely direct you to the Greenhouse, which remains open seven days a week.

The VandenHaaks’ story dates far before any talks of adding mixed-use paths or even before the first traffic lights were installed in Oak Harbor.

Tennis and Sylvia VandenHaak put down their roots in the small town in 1948. After living under Nazi occupation, the newlyweds migrated from the Netherlands under the sponsorship of John and Audrey Bultman, who became their employers in the early years of their American dream.

John Bultman owned the Whidbey Florist and Greenhouse on Midway Boulevard until 1954, when he sold it to the VandenHaaks, who rechristened the business to its current name. While the family has been in charge since, the nursery has existed since it was founded in 1942 by Al Verbandendse, extending its age to 82.

The five VandenHaak siblings — Henry, Audrey, Nellie, Mary and Tony— were raised among the flowers and plants, helping their parents since they were children.

“We all grew up with our hands in the dirt,” Butler said.

The VandenHaak children inherited the business in 1980, though their parents kept working. That same year, Greenhouse Florist and Nursery moved to its current location on 555 Northeast Seventh Avenue, in a building built by the family.

Butler and VandenHaak, now respectively 68 and 65, have been running the business since 1992, after their sisters moved on and their brother, Tony, passed away.

While Butler took a five-year break to work in Seattle, VandenHaak never left, volunteering with North Whidbey Fire and Rescue when his hands weren’t tending to the nursery.

Over the years, Greenhouse Florist and Nursery has gone through ups and downs. Despite some challenges, the siblings have always been able to support themselves and their employees, Butler said.

To VandenHaak, it’s all about adapting to what’s trending. He observed that, like fashion, plants go in and out of fashion in cycles. That has been the case for indoor plants, which Butler said gained a lot of popularity during the coronavirus lockdown after years of being overlooked in favor of their outdoor counterparts.

Even those who never cared about plants embraced the hobby, as the plants cleaned the air and kept them busy, she said. And while the public health emergency subsided, the houseplant craze never did.

Among the most interesting-looking indoor greens there is the monstera Thai constellation, which stands out for its cream-stained leaves, Butler and VandenHaak said. When it first came out, it was worth thousands of dollars, Butler said. Now they are much cheaper because the market is flooded with them. Philodendrons, which come in many varieties, are also quite popular.

Another secret for a long-lasting business is the ability to adapt, or as VandenHaak said, “have a plan A, B, C and D.”

The early years of the pandemic took a financial toll on businesses around the country, including Greenhouse, which had been categorized as an essential business because it sold food plants.

After decades of face-to-face exchanges, social distancing pushed Butler and VandenHaak to adapt to the new reality, delivering orders to their customers’ doorsteps.

Butler also noticed the pandemic also opened the doors to smaller weddings, particularly among military couples, and smaller ceremonies mean less flowers.

“Very rarely do I have a person who has five or six bridesmaids here,” she said.

On the other hand, flowers as a date gift have yet to go out of season.

The Flower Bar has been particularly popular among suitors who wish to impress their date with a bouquet of flowers they choose from a range of blooms, said Butler, who is in charge of the business’ floral side. A staff member will then wrap the flowers or put them in a vase.

For special occasions, like a birthday in October, customers might opt for more fun and ambitious creations, such as candy bouquets, autumn leaves and flowers in a pumpkin-shaped vase, and floral arrangements that look like witchy puppies. Butler is also happy to listen to people’s original or Pinterest-inspired ideas.

Looking for a gift that doesn’t require maintenance? The Greenhouse offers whimsical handmade jewelry, mugs, water bottles and more.

Those who prefer staying out in the garden tend to go for the fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables and herbs, said VandenHaak, who is in charge of the nursery.

One of VandenHaak’s favorite aspects of the job is growing bonsai trees, which come in various sizes and shapes and can be displayed indoors or planted outdoors.

“It’s a hobby that’s gotten out of control, and now that takes more time than the nursery,” he said, explaining that bonsais have seasonal needs and require constant attention. “It’s a venture and journey with a plant that takes years to accomplish.”

He estimates his oldest bonsai is over 50 years old. The tree is a resident at the nursery and serves as an example of what gardeners might achieve if they take proper care of their bonsai adoptees.

What makes plants so special, VandenHaak said, is that they are not something that can be easily disposed of, but a commitment that turns into a challenging art form, which can be rare in a society that has become so accustomed to instant gratification.

In a way, that’s the family biz in a nutshell. When they first bought the greenhouse, the VandenHaaks had to work for months before making any money. The seed that Sylvia and Tennis VandenHaak planted many decades ago still bears fruit, even in the 13 years that have followed their passing.

Their presence is still strong at the Greenhouse, where a wall of photographs and Dutch memorabilia tells a story of hard work and love for their homeland.

Butler partly credits her heritage for the Greenhouse’s longevity.

“That’s why we’re still here,” she said. “We are stubborn Dutchmen.”

The Greenhouse Florist and Nursery is located at 555 Northeast 7th Ave, and delivers to as far as Anacortes and Greenbank. For more information, visit thegreenhousefandn.com.