PTBOSpotlight: Griffin’s Greenhouses
/Welcome to PTBOSpotlight! Every Friday, this segment showcases a business or organization in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the organization and the work they do for our community.
This week, we are featuring Griffin’s Greenhouses. Started in 1976 by Ann and Jack Griffin, the business began as a seasonal greenhouse at their home.
Located at 3026 Lakefield Rd. in Selwyn, the business has spanned three generations working at the greenhouse, serving Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
“We are a retail garden centre specializing in annuals, perennials and container gardening. We grow 75 per cent of the product we sell, sourcing the rest from Ontario growers,” said Vikki Whitney, Griffin’s Greenhouse owner. “We offer great advice from many, many years of accumulated experience. Everyone on staff is a gardener themselves so they have great personal experiences to share and do freely with all who visit. Our award-winning display garden is free to wander and offers inspiration and a place to sit, relax and enjoy the natural beauty.”
Photo courtesy of Griffin’s Greenhouses.
While Ann primarily worked on the business, her children, Vikki and Kyle, with other family members, helped out as needed. In the early days, her husband, Jack, also assisted on weekends.
“Our mom, Ann, started the business as a way to stay at home with the kids and offer a little extra income to the family,” explained Whitney. “Her parents, immigrants from the Netherlands, owned ‘Parkhill Nurseries’ a garden centre in Peterborough so Ann also grew up in ‘the biz.’”
Photo courtesy of Griffin’s Greenhouses.
As demand grew, Jack retired from sporting goods sales and began working in their greenhouse business with a few hired hands. This expanded the season to include Fall plant offerings and Winter décor.
As the business grew, more family members came in to help.
“In 2001, after eight years of teaching secondary school in Belleville, I returned back to the area with my husband and very young children and began managing the expanding business,” said Whitney. “I added in seasonal workshops, informative seminars and increased the staff over the years. Kyle left his job as a local photo journalist and became the greenhouse manager, overseeing all of the aspects of growing the plants.”
Robin, Kyle’s wife, joined in 2020 to manage the Barn Store and showcase her merchandising skills, while Darryl, Vikki’s husband, became our Office Manager after he retired from his education career. Four more grandchildren, Ben, Olivia, Jake and Mitchell, help out during the school break.
This year, Griffin’s Greenhouses is celebrating its 49th year in business. Whitney says that the business’s customer service and community involvement helped contribute to their success.
“Our personal connection to our community is very important to us and is valued by our customer base. We share our knowledge freely, deliver product to individual homes (when needed) and usually, tour their garden when there,” said Whitney. “We donate to important causes in our community, employ local staff, offer informative workshops and seminars and speak at events locally and throughout the province.”
Photo courtesy of Griffin’s Greenhouses.
