#1~ The Beginning

As recalled by James C. Steven, 2010.

In 1941, our family, the Stevens, and
the Wildings OPENED the "Steven-Wilding
Nurseries."

The doors opened for Business when we
found an affordable location on
4724 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in
North Hollywood.

~ Laurel Canyon circa 1941-Where Gelson's is NOW !

 
It was 120 by 300 feet deep and had a
12 by 24 foot building that had been a floral shop and rented for $30 a month.
equal partners our available capital
was about $6,000.00, so inventory
was sketchy.

The nursery was able to secure credit
with Bandini, Germain's, Sovett's,
Monrovia and American Hardware.
nursery celebrated it's First $100 day
with drinks and a steak!

During the WW2, business was good,
but stock was scarce or in short supply.
Three of us Steven Brothers were in
the Navy during those war years, and
the fourth Steven boy was in defense.
As the war wound-down and the boys
exited the service, we opted to join
the family business. We drew $40 a
week for about 60 hours and paid help
(very little help) 60-85 cents an hour.

About 1946, Walt Wilding, who had
no brothers or children decided to
leave and start up his own
Wilding Nurseries. Walt was an
alumnus of Armstrong Nursery in
North Hollywood and Armstrong's
Roof Garden Nursery in downtown
Los Angeles. Walt is probably the
most knowledgeable nursery person
I know, and was the only experienced
person in our fledgling company.
We dropped the Wilding name from
our logo and soldiered on with
the knowledge that we had gained
from Walt.

~ Laurel Canyon, circa 1960's ~

We operated the business on
Laurel Canyon for 24 years and during
that span of time we OPENED and
a nursery on Van Nuys Blvd near
Ventura Blvd.,

OPENED a Nursery on Lankershim Blvd.
near Oxnard Blvd., later trading our
lease for a nice 2 story hardware
building at the Laurel Canyon location,
bought one small nursery in Granada
Hills ~later sold to our Manager,
built a very nice installation in the
New Fritz Burns Development of
Panorama City, years later giving way
to the expansion of our next-door
neighbor, a medical facility.
We built a new branch on Sherman Way
Sepulveda Blvd. We operated there for
a number of years, then settled with the
developers to give up the location...
TOO valuable for the nursery to use.