THE SPRING FEVER STORY

The Spring Fever Outdoor Living Center founder is Bruce Williams. The passion he has for this business was part genetic as you will learn below. It is in his blood. However, there were life events that secured his carrer of choice. Bruce was inspired by his parents and grandparents. "My earliest memories of my father were in the garden. Our vegetable garden was two acres. So big that dad harvested potatoes by pulling a plow behind the tractor. I will never forget running along barefooted in freshly plowed soil picking up potatoes." Unfortunatly, these early memories were some of Bruce's only memories of his father. His dad passed away when he was just four years old. Bruce said, "Mom raised us after dad died on pure faith in God. She continued to cultivate the faith I saw my father have when he planted seeds. With mom's help, I found out at an early age that I felt closer to my dad, and also closer to God, by working in the garden." Bruce's grandmother added a new dimention to his gardening knowledge by having beautiful rose and iris gardens. "Grandma could grow anything (flowers, violets and peonies) and Grandpa could build anything (fences, trellises and sheds). I spent a lot of time with each of them in their particular hobbies. My family and faith were the only two reasons I needed to make horticulture my career and eventually my business."

The true Spring Fever story is one of passion, dedication and faith. John Williams, (Bruce's great, great, great grandfather)arrived in America from Wales in 1852. Within a year, he settled his family near Nelson, Nebraska in a sod house. His son, John H. Williams grew up in his father's shadow as a hard working farmer. But John H. also fell in love with the Nebraska prairie and it's many native wildflowers and plants. This passion grew as he planted vegetable gardens, perennial borders and several windbreaks. The family business was farming, but the family legacy was to be in the world of horticulture. Each generation has been dedicated to a loving spouse and the practicing of good stewardship of God's creation. Through weather changes, plagues and economic downturns, the Williams family line which now spans seven generations in Nebraska, has met the challenges head on with perseverance and faith. Faith in a God that created the plants they are so passionate about. And faith that HE would provide all of thier needs.

Bruce eventually earned degrees in Horticulture Production and Horticulture Service from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He worked for several landscape nurseries in the Omaha metro after graduating. This provided valuable experience in the design, construction and maintenance phases of residential and commercial landscaping.

Bruce became a Nebraska Certified Nurseryman in 1999. Spring Fever is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association, Western Nursery and Landscape Association and the Gretna Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Spring Fever business you know today has come a long way from it's humble beginnings also. In early spring of 2000, Spring Fever Lawn and Landscape was born. As we listened to the needs of our customers, we discovered that they were coming to us primarily for landscape design and installation services. So our focus, and name, changed to Spring Fever Landscape Development in 2003. But something was still missing. We heard from our clients that they were looking for quality outdoor plants and products locally. And they were wanting to install landscapes themselves with a little professional help. Out of that need the Spring Fever Outdoor Living Center opened in the fall of 2008. Our store carries container trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, annuals and seeds. We also offer fountains, statuary, pottery, tools and DIY products. If you don't see it, just ask if we can get it. Spring Fever has a wealth of suppliers from all around the world to get that perfect piece for your home. We are located in Gretna, Nebraska, but can ship many items around the world. Let us know what you are looking for.