Who We Are: Wholesale Tree Grower

 

A Note from our Staff

We love trees! We hope that comes across in how we grow them, in how we present them in this website, and in how we talk to you about them.

We enjoy what we do and enjoy working with John Barbour, who founded Bold Spring in 1985. With 25 years of experience, we are a company who knows trees.

We are a vendor of wholesale trees, servicing the green industry. If you are a landscape architect, landscape designer, or landscape contractor, e-mail/fax your tree lists and we will promptly contact you.

We welcome all comments and questions. Please call or write if anything is on your mind.

-The Folks at Bold Spring

 

Our Company

Bold Spring Nursery is an exceptional wholesale tree grower founded by John Barbour in 1985. Owned by Mr. Barbour and his wife, Patty, Bold Spring Nursery, Inc began by planting 13 acres in Walton County, 35 miles northeast of Atlanta near Monroe, GA. With steady success, the farm then grew to 400 acres under cultivation in Walton County. In order to continue to expand and improve the business, the new operations of Bold Spring Nursery, LLC were moved in 2008 to approximately 850 acres in Pulaski County, 2 hours south of Atlanta near Hawkinsville, GA.

Bold Spring Nursery produces a broad mix of preferred varieties of shade and ornamental trees in the ground. Our trees are grown in the field, managed to perform successfully in the urban forest. Trees are harvested with a sound root system, then processed with burlap and wire and finally shipped, F.O.B. to the customers. The end result is customer satisfaction and we sell to landscape contractors, re-wholesalers, institutions, non-profits and municipalities and others in 29 states spanning an area from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas to Illinois.

Bold Spring is recognized as one of the country’s premier tree growers. Noted for exceptional quality, innovative product mix and progressive production and harvesting techniques, the grower cooperates with a wide network of researchers, universities, arboretums, plant enthusiasts and nurseries. John Barbour and the nursery have long been known for developing and introducing improved varieties to the trade. The many plant introductions include 5 biological patents; PP7,551, PP9,243, PP15,544, PP17,655, and PP19,807.

In addition to dependable delivery of select product, sales professionals maintain close relations with landscape architects who often specify Bold Spring’s trees for their projects. Examples of installations at high profile projects include Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, GA); Washington National Monument (Washington, DC); High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA); Harley Davidson Plant (Milwaukee, WS); Disney World (Orlando, FL); Centennial Olympic Park (Atlanta, GA); Federal Reserve Building (Kansas City, MO); and many celebrity residences including those of Tim McGraw (Nashville, TN); John Smoltz (Atlanta GA) and Evander Holyfield (Fayette County, GA).

The Move

To continue its growth of two decades, but surrounded by residential development in Walton County, Bold Spring Nursery made the strategic decision to locate a new farm. Rather than managing multiple operations, it was determined advantageous to move the entire operation to a single location where the nursery’s large equipment and products could be managed most efficiently.

After an extensive search, the company secured a property large enough (approximately 850 acres) to provide for all future expansion. Just west of Hawkinsville, GA, the farm is 2 hours south of Atlanta. Chosen for its prime soil type, abundant water supply and its 10-mile proximity to Interstate 75, the Pulaski County farm is large enough for the nursery to nearly triple the capacity of the old farm.

Planting at the new location began immediately in 2005. Since then, the business has focused on methodically building inventory at the new farm. In July 2008, the nursery concluded operations in Walton County and moved its buildings, equipment and personnel to Hawkinsville, GA. Most key personnel remained with the company and this has enabled the new operation to "hit the ground running."

Our Team

Overseeing all operations, John Barbour has 28 years of experience in the nursery business. President and COO of Bold Spring Nursery, Mr. Barbour serves on the board of Trees Atlanta, and has been named Georgia Green Industry Professional of the Year.

Bold Spring CFO, Sandra Brockmann, manages inventory, accounting and human resource functions. She has 34 years of accounting experience, giving senior management strong confidence in her capacity to successfully guide the nursery through the next major growth phase.

Bold Spring Nursery has an excellent sales staff. Sam Rogers, Sales Manager and a trained horticulturist from the University of Georgia, joined the company in 2002 and is the sales representative for Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Georgia landscape architects, re-wholesalers, municipalities and institutions. Russell Poland joined the sales team in 2011 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Auburn. Russell is the sales representative for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia landscape contractors. David Wraith also joined the Bold Spring sales team in 2011 and is the sales representative for all other states. David holds a Bachelors of Business and Finance from Nottingham Trent University and is a certified nurseryman. Lisa J. Lightfoot, ASLA (Landscape Architect) has been with Bold Spring Nursery since 1997 and is responsible for sales support, customer service and our marketing program.

Our Market

Bold Spring Nursery is investing in the future of trees due to factors such as:

  • Renewed focus on trees being important for curb appeal in commercial and residential properties. 
    • In 2004 University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School produced a report stating that "Large trees can increase commercial property values by 10%." More recently, Wharton’s Dr Susan Wachtner, Professor of Real Estate, completed a study on Public Investment Strategies finding that "Improvements to streetscapes (street tree plantings, container plantings, small pocket parks, parking lot screens and median plantings) can add more than 25 percent to the value of a nearby home."
  • Corporations looking for cause-driven marketing activities perceive tree planting as an effective image builder.  
  • DOT officials are recognizing the safety value of tree plantings along highways to reduce traffic distraction and provide a calming effect.
  • Trees absorb carbon dioxide, cool the local environment, reduce energy costs and prevent erosion.
  • Trees are unique in their ability to appreciate over long periods, particularly in terms of the value they bring to our communities.  

These last 3 trends were underscored in November, 2008, when the US Conference of Mayors released a report titled, "Protecting and Developing the Urban Tree Canopy." The report is a survey of 135 major US cities, 84% of which view their tree activities as part of their overall sustainability and/or climate protection efforts.

 

Primary Tree Destinations

  • Municipal Street Plantings
  • Upscale Residences
  • Apartments
  • Office Parks
  • Industrial Parks
  • Retail Centers
  • Universities
  • Schools
  • DOT Plantings
  • Monuments and Landmarks
  • Amusement Parks
  • Golf Courses
  • Public Parks

 

 Conclusion

Bold Spring Nursery owes its 25-year success to consistent delivery of innovative, efficiently produced product. The business has now taken its brand, its expertise and its motivated management to more fertile ground (literally) in Hawkinsville.

Now completed, the move will allow for enhanced scale at the new farm with superior soil, a longer growing season and a better water supply. The operational advantages brought about by the move give Bold Spring Nursery, LLC management good reason to feel very positive about its future. 

We believe that our efforts will result in a satisfactory experience for you and an enduring contribution to the urban forest. Call us today and let us send your project Up The Right Tree!