Merchant Monday: Greenhouse Garden Center and Gift Shop, Owner David Ruf

When Dave Ruf drives around Carson City, he can see physical signs of his impact on the community sprouting up everywhere.

Ruf's father, a horticulture professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, started Greenhouse Garden Center 35 years ago, when Dave was 13.

"Back in the '70s when the freeway went through Reno, it went through his plots, and the university was looking at discontinuing the horticulture department, because horticulture wasn't a strong field in the '70s," Ruf said. "He said, well, I taught nursery, so I can go and do nursery."

Though the family lived in Reno, they chose the plot on South Curry Street in Carson City where the business, Greenhouse Garden Center and Gift Shop, stands today because there wasn't much competition in the area. What was once just a big patch of sagebrush is now crowded with multitudes of trees and plants, waiting to become part of someone's garden or yard.

"When the nursery started, there were about 25 different plants in the perennial section that we were able to offer to buyers," Ruf said. "Now today, we offer over 800. That's how much just that one area has grown."

Gardening and landscaping technology have grown tremendously as well. Drip irrigation systems and water gardens that are common today were very rare back then.

"Landscaping back then wasn't very technical," Ruf said. "You just planted it and watched it grow. It wasn't as artistic as it is now. We didn't have pavers back then, concrete was always poured in a square, everything was flat, nobody put rocks in their yard. There have been a lot of improvements today."

Ruf graduated from Colorado State with a degree in horticulture, and moved to Carson City to take over the business. And since then, he's had a hand in beautifying large swaths of Carson City.

"My kids are tired of hearing me say, 'I planted that tree.'" Ruf said. "I always look forward to the future. I know that in planting trees it's not a 30-days out or 60-days out, but sometimes I'm looking 20 years, 40 years out. I'm looking out for people's children and my children to have a nice place. It's important to me."

Ruf enjoys passing on his knowledge of plants and trees, and how to care for them. He conducts weekly classes on different areas of the business, many of which are recorded on video and offered for sale by the Brewery Arts Center.

Greenhouse Garden Center offers many services, such as help with landscape design, pruning and sprinkler installation and repair. Besides the nursery, they also have a gift shop with decorations for inside and outside the home.

The number of employees working at the business varies from about eight during the winter to 60 in the summertime.

"I have more sales people than cashiers to help people with their needs," Ruf said. "Where a lot of times people will come in and want to start a garden, we don't just let them buy seeds and walk out. We talk to them about the type of seed, what time of year to plant it, how much watering, what type of nutrients it needs, what their soil is so they can make more food for them."

Ruf's chosen profession keeps him outside a lot, which is where he wants to be.

"I just love being outdoors, seeing the plants grow, it's always amazing,"

Ruf said. "I can always go out and find something that enthralls me almost every day here, whether it's a plant turning colors in the fall, or a plant starting to leaf out, or new plants that come to the market. It's just amazing what's going on."

As the plants in his nursery come out of their winter hibernation, Ruf can look forward to another season of helping residents with their gardening needs, as well as improving the area where he lives.

"I want to be a responsible part of the community," Ruf said. "I'm pleased I can drive up and down almost any street here in town and find where I've touched people in the community, by selling them plants, giving them advice, helping in a way. It makes me feel good to do good for other people, so they can turn around and appreciate it, and know they have the ability to improve their lives themselves."

- Contact reporter Kirk Caraway at kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com or 775-

881-1261.

WHAT: Greenhouse Garden Center

WHERE: 2450 S. Curry St.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Extended seasonal hours begin May 1 "

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CONTACT: 882-8600 or visit www.greenhouse

gardencenter.com