HURON TWP. - This year, Barnes Nursery "proudly celebrates 75 years of excellence in horticulture, marking a milestone of perseverance, adaptation and commitment to quality service," according to a company statement.
What began as a small rose-growing business in 1950 has flourished into a leading landscaping, outdoor service and composting enterprise serving northern Ohio.
Here are some of the company's most notable achievements, advancements and adversity it faced and overcome over the past seven-plus decades:
This year, 2025, Barnes Nursery is proud to celebrate 75 years of growing, innovation and dedication to horticulture.
• 1950: It all began in 1950 shortly after three Barnes brothers - Harold, Guerdon and Lyle - returned from World War II. Together they launched Barnes Roses with their agricultural roots, strong work ethic, formal education from Ohio State University and a $3,000 loan from their dad, Will. Their passion and entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for a thriving horticultural business.
• Late 1950s: Harold Barnes; his wife, Jeanne; and son, Bob; took over sole ownership.
• Mid-1960s: The Eisenhauer federal highway system allowed California-grown roses to appear in Ohio's markets cheaper than Harold could grow them. Barnes Roses evolved into Barnes Nursery, turning rose fields into shade and ornamental trees and shrubs.
• 1967: Barnes installed its famous neon sign on Cleveland Road, which remains today - although it's a copy of the original.
• 1970s and 1980s: Area growth ramped up the landscape business for Barnes. The era of GM, Ford and Chrysler had thousands of workers in the area working long hours. They needed their lawns cut and homes landscaped. Harold and Jeanne's son, Bob, who grew up in the rose fields, and graduated from Ohio State University took over company management.
• 1980s: During the 1980s, the company adopted its signature green-painted trucks, got a toll-free 800 phone number that widened the company's radius of work and added several farms to their wholesale growing operation.
• 1993: The company went out on a limb when Sharon Barnes, Bob's wife, suggested that the company establish a composting facility to recycle all the yard waste returning to the nursery with the crews each day. Barnes Composting Facility was developed on a 25-acre company-owned Camp Road farm in Huron. Over the last 32 years, the site has played a major role in recycling organic waste and developing a wide variety of soils and mulches for the marketplace.
• In 2008 the, recession hit the nursery industry hard. Ohio horticulture sales dropped 45% industry-wide. Barnes faced a dilemma unlike anything before. Led by the third generation, Jarret and Julie Barnes Foster made big changes, such as shutting down the wholesale growing operation, selling underutilized assets and reorganizing. Working with their strong management team and outside advisers they laid a new pathway. The tough moves made during that challenging time were the groundwork for future success.
As we celebrate this milestone, we'll reflect on our journey from our rose-growing roots to a trusted name in the industry. Jarret and I cannot say enough about the how company's legacy of hard work, great employees and the best customers continue to inspire us."
The story of Barnes over 75 years has been one of adapting to the always-changing world.
Barnes invites you to join in celebrating our 75 years of change, growth, innovation and service.
Events and special promotions will take place throughout the year to honor this remarkable milestone and express gratitude to the customers and our local communities that have been part of the journey.