John's first venture in sunny California was to purchase a few acres of property where he began growing Eucalyptus and Olive trees. His success as a nurseryman grew and he soon expanded his operation. Around the turn of the century, he opened his first retail garden center at 408 Euclid Street in Ontario. When John Armstrong stepped off the train in Ontario, California little did he realize that he was beginning a journey that would make his name synonymous with roses around the world.
Although roses eventually became the driving force in his success, John Armstrong also was an industry leader in the development of a wide range of ornamentals and fruit trees. He also became an innovator in growing and marketing citrus, berries, grapes, avocados and tropical fruit trees. He devoted production to flowering perennials as well.
The first Armstrong catalog was introduced in the early 1900s and soon became a treasured fountain of information throughout the United States and Canada. This extensive catalog was to become an industry standard and is a forerunner of today's wholesale nursery catalog and the foundation for the merchandise selection at Armstrong Garden Centers today.
In the early 1920s, Armstrong introduced his first series of roses. The first offering was a listing of varieties from a wide range of resources. Breeders in Europe were more than willing to provide their varieties and each year, the listing increased in numbers.
With an eye to the future, Armstrong created a research and development department. Dr. Walter Lammert led this department and soon became world-famous with his hybridization of such famous roses as 'Chrysler Imperial' and 'Charlotte Armstrong'. Following in Lammerts' footsteps were Herb Swim, Dr. David Armstrong, Jack Christenson and Tom Carruth.
John Armstrong's strong leadership and attention to excellence led to hundreds of new rose varieties, and a wide range of other plants. These introductions included the Boysenberry, the Babcock Peach, the Seedless Valencia Orange, Robertson Navel Orange and the Snow Queen Nectarine, the Red Baron Peach and the first genetic dwarf peach, Bonanza, followed by Bonanza II.
John Armstrong passed away just short of his 100th birthday. Armstrong Garden Centers was then led by John's son, J. Awdry Armstrong followed by John's son, John S. Armstrong Jr.
In 1974, the board of directors appointed Don L. Rogers the new president. Soon after becoming president, Mr. Rogers bought Rosedale Nurseries adding three more stores for a total of eight garden centers.
In 1989, Don Rogers retired and Mike Kunce became President. It was Mike Kunce who established Armstrong Garden Centers as an employee-owned company. In an ongoing effort to maintain high horticultural standards, a growing division was added, Armstrong Growers. This allows for full control of plant quality from start to finish.
Under Mr. Kunce's leadership Armstrong Garden Centers continued to expand and in 1998, bought San Diego-based Nurseryland. Out of the fifteen Nurseryland garden centers acquired, six were closed and nine were remodeled. Armstrong Garden Centers currently has 29 locations in Southern California and 2 locations in the Bay Area.
Armstrong Garden Centers became the majority shareholder of Pike Nurseries in Atlanta, Georgia. With an established leadership team at Armstrong Garden Centers, Mike Kunce moved to Atlanta to provide leadership and oversee the day-to-day operations at Pike Nurseries. Monte Enright was promoted to President of Armstrong Garden Centers.
In 2014, Pike Nurseries became wholly-owned by Armstrong Garden Centers. At the same time, Pike Nurseries transitioned to being employee-owned as part of Armstrong. Together, these companies' 49 stores comprise the largest independent garden retail company in the U.S.