Verde Valley Nursery, its owner and the employees have more than 200 years experience in the landscaping and nursery business.

With that kind of background, there isn’t much that can’t be handled at the Fountain Hills garden center.

John Rolfe, who has owned the business for two years, is marking the 20th year the nursery has been in Fountain Hills.

The staff at Verde Valley Nursery has a combined 200 years of experience in the nursery and landscaping business.

“Verde Valley Nursery has always been a privately owned business,” he said. “And we are really proud of being a part of this great community.”

Rolfe has 12 fulltime employees, many of whom have been with Verde Valley for 20 years.

“I think that says a lot of the business, and for the community,” he said. “I really appreciate this kind of loyalty. I really am banking on the loyalty that has been built all through the years.”

When Rolfe bought the nursery, it had less than $60,000 worth of inventory. He now has more than $400,000 in products and plants.

“As they say, if you build it, they will come,” he said. “I really am trying to fill a need.”

Rolfe emphasizes that he is competitively priced and wants people to know he can provide more than most “box stores.”

Since owning the business, Rolfe said he has had had two to three price increases, but he has tried hard to maintain the price structure he had when he first took over.

“Some prices I have had to raise,” he said. “But I think our growth has been a way to balance the increases.”

He said his business has grown rapidly, and the nursery is “bursting at the seams” at its current location.

“But as long as we have the support in Fountain Hills, we want to stay in Fountain Hills.”

Rolfe said he has an “outstanding group of employees” who make the nursery the place it is.

“These folks are knowledgeable and they care about their customers,” he said. “This accounts for the fact that we have people coming back. They appreciate our great service and ability to help.”

Rolfe calls Verde Valley a “complete nursery.” It is a garden center, and offers landscaping services, but also has water features, garden art, artificial turf and other merchandise. Rolfe has added some big brand name items such as Scott’s fertilizers and Miracle Gro products.

“We want to meet our customers’ needs,” he said. “By offering some of the bigger name brands, we can provide the same products offered by bigger stores in the Valley.”

Rolfe said if he doesn’t have something in stock, he is able to do special orders.

“We can usually get special orders within 24 hours,” he said. “We really want people to take advantage of our services.”

Rolfe said he is careful with the growers he uses and isn’t afraid to reject plants that come into the store.

“If they are not the best quality, I won’t keep them here,” he said. “I have sent plants back if they are not of the quality I want to sell.”

He added that customer service is at the top of his list on running his business.

“Customers are what it is all about,” he said. “I intend to reward our customers with great quality and great service.”

Verde Valley Nursery is located at 12025 N. Saguaro Blvd. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Call (480) 837-8131. The company is launching its website, www.verdevalleynursery.com the end of November.