Shades of Green Nursery Blends Family, Faith, and Flourishing Landscapes
Every spring, as the air gets warmer and colorful flowers bloom and blossom petals among the green grass and trees, homeowners begin to think about outdoor renovations and gardening. Every time you walk past your flowerbeds, do you imagine an overhaul? Maybe you want a splash of brightly colored plants or perfectly manicured trees and bushes, or maybe you just want plants you can actually keep alive in the Texas heat!
Shades of Green Nursery + Landscape, a local family-owned business, offers so much more than just plants. Upon arrival, visitors are met with seven sprawling acres of plants, trees, flowers, shrubs, and so much more, a majority of which you’ll find outside soaking up the bright sunshine beneath the branches of a truly awe-inspiring and majestic 200-year-old cottonwood tree. Cutting through the beautiful, serene scene is a trickling spring-fed creek, classic old barn, and windmill, creating a peaceful shopping experience that customers always look forward to.
Here, the helpful, friendly professionals know all the ins and outs of the plants you need in order to add the perfect finishing touch to your yard’s landscaping. Shades of Green specializes in native perennials, and like most of us, these plants also made their home here in Texas during the hot summers and unpredictable winters. These plants have perfectly adapted to North Texas soil and pests. Shades of Green plants don't just survive in North Texas, they thrive! Native and well-adapted plants ensure that customers will use less water, less fertilizer, and less pesticide, leading to healthy soil and landscaping that lasts.
Jarratt and Rebecca Calvert, the husband-and-wife team that owns and oversees the day-to-day operations at Shades of Green in Frisco and Celina, run this more than 40-year-old local business. Shades of Green’s original founder, Jeff McCauley (Rebecca’s father), is “a landscaping genius when it comes to sustainable, low-maintenance designs,” Jarratt shares. In addition to these family members, Mary (Mrs. Calvert’s mother), also helps out with special projects. With more than 50 part and full-time employees between the Frisco and Celina locations, the staff is uniquely made up of “plant people” – gardeners who love plants and sharing their knowledge about the native varieties offered at Shades of Green.
A Bit of History
Established in 1977, Jeff grew up absolutely loving plants. While studying horticulture at Texas A&M University, Jeff’s passion for plants and landscaping evolved even more. After purchasing his first lawnmower on his mother’s Sears credit card, college-aged Jeff started mowing lawns and taking care of landscaping with a friend.
Fast forward to the early 1990s, and Jeff opened his first nursery located at Highway 380 and Custer, which was then considered “the middle of nowhere.” In time, the nursery moved to Frisco (by what is now Hobby Lobby, off of Preston Road), next to the asphalt, two-lane road. “It was just us and La Hacienda Ranch at the time,” Jarratt shares. Jeff also purchased land to start a tree farm featuring native varieties of trees, which, sadly, was destroyed by a brushfire.
After discovering a nearby family that was selling their farm, Jeff purchased the homestead where Shades of Green in Frisco now resides today. At this point in time, Frisco was on the cusp of what would become tremendous growth. Jeff also turned the farmhouse he purchased into a nursery and re-invested in the tree farm to grow plants and perennials native to the area.
Meet the Owners: Jarratt and Rebecca Calvert
Today, the second generation has stepped up to continue running the beloved company known for offering landscape design, installation, tree planting, clean-up, maintenance, and plant sales, including wholesale accounts.
Jarratt and Rebecca, who met in Celina back in seventh grade, eventually got married and later took over the ownership and legacy at Shades of Green. In 2022, the next phase of the family business was afforded the opportunity to open an additional location in Celina, and the growth only continued as the husband-and-wife team cultivated what made the Frisco location so special into the second location.
Before taking over, Rebecca worked in corporate Human Resources for ten years. Today, she and her husband have remained successful in running Shades of Green by sticking to its core business values. “For more than 40 years, the company has never settled on less than the best. We stick to our core values, love this community, and are always honest. We are really proud of that!” Rebecca shares. “We make sure our customers have success by giving them the right plants.”
Customers see firsthand how the carefully-selected plants that are grown in the native climate and soil are successful. “We are selective about what we bring in. No one wants to struggle to make a plant work.” Jarratt adds.
Success That Speaks for Itself
Setting a new standard for local garden centers is a task the Calverts are ready for. Shades of Green is not a big box nursery. As strong advocates of native plants and placing them in the right location at the right time, the soil in your yard will always match the type of soil used to grow any plant from the very beginning. Customers are often encouraged and inspired to nurture their green thumb and learn how to create a beautiful space of their own. Plant experts provide customers with practical solutions based on the regional climate and outdoor environment.
Another fun fact? Jeff, who still consults with customers on unique, custom-designed landscaping, still presents his design by doing pencil drawings that he brings to life on paper, providing work that is done the right way. He doesn’t want his work to look good for a year, but for many years to come. Plants are never crowded, and Jeff’s years of experience make him the professional he is today, doing what other people won’t – standing his ground, and providing landscaping for customers who may have even moved multiple times, needing more landscaping completed. “He has the brains and power that make our business go. Word of mouth around Frisco often brings in people who have heard all about what Jeff can do and want to work with him. He is a lost art in the landscape and design world,” Rebecca shares about her father.
“We strive to cultivate joy through people and plants,” Jarratt says. “We can always learn more from each other. With family, especially my wife, I know that no matter what, I work with someone who always has my back and wants the best for me. We have a lot to be thankful for. We get to work and love our employees and customers as family.”
Rebecca grew up around plants and learned so much about them from her mother and father. “We sell something created by God, that is beautiful and full of life. We work together, but also on totally different things. As leaders of a large team, there is a lot of growth opportunity and we are so thankful,” Rebecca shares.
Bringing the Mission of Shades of Green to Life Every Day
“Creation is such a beautiful thing – an example of being faith forward. As believers and Christians, our mission and vision is very important. We want to be a premier plant destination by honoring others and God. We believe in being good stewards of what you have been given. We feel so connected through nature and our faith in creation,” Jarratt says.
Both the Frisco and Celina locations are designed to stand out and feel like you are strolling through a park. Customers show up to buy plants but end up staying to learn more from the friendly people who know all about plant life in Collin County. They can certainly teach you all about plants. Customers, who can always expect a unique experience, are inspired by the beautiful gardens, creeks, bees, and more that bring the store setting to life – almost like a natural playground.
Within the nursery, the inventory, which includes perennials, trees, shrubs, succulents, grasses, seeds, vegetables, houseplants, and more, is primarily displayed outdoors. At the Garden Center, customers will find mulch, potting soil, compost, organic fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, rocks, and even special decorative items.
Finding the Right People for the Job
Oftentimes, people arrive looking for something specific that may require an expert. At Shades of Green, they find what they need. “Family extends beyond blood relatives. Our employees are the best. Often given the chance to lead free classes like the recent canning and jarring for winter informational, employees always know what they are doing and can spread their wealth of knowledge. “We are native to the area and we know how to work with the land here,” Jarratt says. “People are passionate about plants! Sometimes they even treat them like pets or kids. We take that seriously. We want people to come to a place they can truly trust the advice and feel confident about their purchases. They trust our advice and expertise!” he adds.
Shades of Green’s employees are equipped with firsthand knowledge and a passion for plants. They know the right questions to ask to make a gardening project a success – How much sunlight does the area get? How often are you able to water the area? Gaging how much or little you want to be hands-on with your plants helps Shades of Green experts bring your landscaping vision to life, without giving you another huge task for your to-do list.
Events and Classes
Shades of Green has proudly offered classes and clinics for a while now. These events, tailored around what customers are asking about, help people get their questions answered and give them the opportunity to learn about something new. Accompanied by nice weather (especially in the spring months), these exclusive events always bring positive feedback.
Shades of Green’s social media pages and website are the best places to find a schedule of classes, of which cover everything from wreaths to pumpkins to holistic gardening. This spring will be packed with gardening clinics, happy hours, and tons of fun, special events.
The nursery also offers party packages and event venues for meaningful moments like birthdays, engagements, bachelorette parties, baby showers, anniversaries, retirements, summer kickoffs, back-to-school celebrations, and more.
Faith in the Future
With more growth happening every day in North Texas, the Calverts plan to continue growing their landscape footprint. “There is no shortage of new homes that need landscaping in our area. We are putting time and energy into growing locations, taking care of our employees, and continuously expanding our offerings,” Jarratt says.
The Celina Shades of Green location is now in its third year of operation. The family plans to expand their footprint there and at the tree farm. They also plan to start growing more vegetables and herbs that are unique or more difficult to find. “Come visit us and see all that we can do!” Jarratt says.
Regardless of the season, Shades of Green can help complete any gardening project or help maintain your lawn and landscaping. Be sure to check out Shades of Green on social media for more news and to learn all about upcoming weekend classes! For more information visit shadesofgreeninc.com, facebook.com/ShadesOfGreenTX, and @shadesofgreentx on Instagram.
