We’re a few weeks into 2025 and catching our breath from a wonderful, busy 100th anniversary year! We’re excited to dive into year 101, but we also want to take a moment to remember everything that made last year so special and to reflect on how grateful we are to be a part of this amazing community.
As we look back, we remember so many wonderful moments. We had a blast at our Centennial Celebration, where we had the chance to say “thank you” to our customers, neighbors, and community for a century of support; we developed new community connections in Renton and Federal Way that we hope will continue to grow for years to come; and we forged a special partnership with another Seattle institution, the Seattle Seahawks.
Most importantly, we had the chance to do what we love every day: help our customers and community become successful and adventurous gardeners. Every connection with a customer is a privilege for us, whether they’re visiting Swansons for the first time or have been a loyal supporter for decades. It’s a chance to deepen our relationship with our community.
Swansons Nursery celebrated our 100th anniversary in 2024
We hope you enjoy these highlights of our 100th year as much as we do! You can also learn more about our history here.
We look forward to seeing (or meeting!) you in 2025.
A Centennial-Worthy Year
Our 100th year got going with a special guest to Swansons, a feathered friend who helped us film an anniversary video and offered a hint about a special partnership that was just beginning…
Spring
As you probably know, spring is our busiest season (followed closely by the holidays in November and December). It’s also the time when gardens burst into life, making it the perfect time for us to go out into the community to help and inspire gardeners of all ages.
A Community Garden at Twin Lakes Elementary School
We wanted a large part of our 100th anniversary year to be about giving back to our community, so we were thrilled to hear that Twin Lakes Elementary School in Federal Way was hoping to turn a patch of grass behind the school into a school garden the whole community could nurture and enjoy. We joined forces with the Seahawks Community Team, a devoted group of school employees, and several local businesses to make the garden a reality.
The build day was a lesson in community spirit. A large group of volunteers - teachers, parents, local high school horticulture students, Swansons’ employees, Seahawks’ employees, and others - came together and built the raised beds on one chilly day in April. Local businesses donated materials and time, including installing a drip irrigation system crucial to the success of the garden.
Three raised beds were planted with vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers, while a fourth bed was dedicated to indigenous plants of the PNW, such as Yarrow, Evergreen Huckleberry, and Salal.
I was lucky enough to return to the school and offer tours of the new garden for each class. The kids were thrilled with their new garden and excited to grow fruits and vegetables. The only disappointment was learning that the PNW did not have the best climate to grow bananas, pineapples, and oranges. Luckily, we planted lots of strawberries!
On June 1st, a large crowd gathered for an opening celebration that included a visit from the Seahawks Dancers, a drum circle and Native American blessing, student performances, and lots of fun activities.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the staff at Twin Lakes Elementary, donations from local businesses, and the support of community volunteers, the new garden will not only teach and inspire the students, it will also be a gathering space where the whole community can help cultivate and enjoy plants.
A Mother’s Day Surprise for Seahawk’s Moms
The moms of Seattle Seahawks rookies got a Mother’s Day surprise with a little help from Swansons and our gorgeous hanging flower baskets.
Summer
Swansons’ Centennial Celebration
Our long-awaited Centennial Celebration finally arrived, featuring live music, fun games, delicious food, and even an appearance by the Seahawks’ drum line, Blue Thunder!
It was so moving to see generations of Swansons’ customers and employees, including members of the Swansons family, enjoying the party.
We sadly had to say farewell to our longtime General Manager, Leslie Bruckner, who retired at the end of August. The Centennial Celebration was her vision, an event created to say “thank you” to our customers for 100 years of loyalty. It was a magical evening we will all remember.
Customers, employees, and neighbors shared their Swansons’ memories and wished us a happy birthday in this touching video.
The Family First Community Center
Another new connection in 2024 was the Family First Community Center in Renton. We were blown away when we toured the unique facility that includes medical and dental clinics, classroom space, a gymnasium, and more. It’s truly a hub for the local community and we were thrilled to offer a series of plant-focused classes for all ages over the summer.
Community center members learned about houseplants, culinary herbs, and plants to attract pollinators. Each class included a planting activity and plants to bring home. Attendees’ ages ranged from four to seventy-four and they brought with them a variety of languages, cultures, and gardening experience to share.
Fall
Swansons Nursery at the Seahawks Tailgate
As fall approached and the football season began, we headed to the Ticketmaster Tailgate Zone with our new mini-truck - the Swanmobile! - to introduce ourselves to the football fans before each game. We had so much fun designing seasonal plant displays to show off the range of Swansons’ plants and products, including bringing Christmas trees for our last game in November.
We handed out gardening notebooks filled with helpful tips and space for gardeners to write down their ideas. We also brought along a carnival-style game where players could compete to “grow” their flower the fastest. The prize was a VMAC planting kit with herb seeds and a soil mix that included soil from the Seahawks’ practice field, all ready to plant in a cute stand-up pouch. We gave away over 3,000 of each!
Winter
The 2024 holiday season was one of the year’s highlights. We absolutely love helping our customers get into the holiday spirit with family-friendly attractions, Santa photos, and beautiful holiday decor they can enjoy at home. We had fun filming a holiday video featuring local families enjoying the magic of the holidays at Swansons.
A Special Holiday Model Train
Each year, our model train gets a new theme. For our 100th year, we decided on the magic of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and we had help from a very knowledgeable young man named Sam. You can read more in The Story of an Extra Special Holiday Train.
The Golden Opportunity Contest
We expanded the Wonka fun with a contest, where customers could find a “Golden Ticket” in a Seattle Chocolate bar and win big: a Swansons gift card and a Seattle Chocolate voucher!
What a special year! We can’t thank you enough for the support and love. We strive every day to make Swansons Nursery an extraordinary destination and we cherish every minute of it. Here’s to another 100 years together!