FROM SMALL CUTTINGS GREAT ENTERPRISES GROW

(a close up look at Davidson's Nursery, Galston, NSW, Australia)

To fly over Davidson's Nurseries today in a helicopter (or, even better, see a satellite image of its impressive layout) it's hard to imagine that this astonishing 31- acre complex has grown - in just 25 years - from a simple little garden shadehouse. Rodger Davidson, owner, founder and Managing Director, began business in 1975 as a wholesaler of Azaleas and Camellias. This was on the family property at Galston, in the beautiful northwest outskirts of Sydney, Australia. From a one-man operation, Davidson's wholesale nursery has grown to employ a seasonal staff of 45 to 65 and an inventory of up to two and a half million plants. The present annual turnover includes a million Azaleas, one hundred thousand Camellias and many hundreds of thousands of plants, trees and shrubs from an ever-expanding Cash 'n Carry Market operation.

A bird's eye view of Davidson's Nursery today, courtesy Google Earth

In August 1975 Davidson's Nurseries was operational, propagating Azaleas in a modest 40' x 40' shadehouse. "At that time," says Rodger, "Azaleas weren't as popular with nurseries as they are today. I predicted there was an opening for a new trade supplier. And, of course, they just happen to be my favourite flowers!" He was right: Azaleas are now one of the most popular flowering shrubs in the world. Much of their success in Australia can be attributed to Rodger Davidson's marketing expertise and unbounded enthusiasm.

Way back when: young Rodger in the orchard

The original 21-acre family property had been acquired by Grandfather Davidson in the early 1900s, and run as an orchard and mixed farm. Here, young Rodger learned the fundamentals of buying and selling by setting up roadside stalls selling fruit, jam and plants to tourists. He soon became interested in propagating Azaleas and Camellias as a weekend hobby, and decided to go into business.

Today, it all starts here....thousands of green babies enjoy the filtered light of a shadehouse...