Woodley's Garden Center

Our Story

On June 1, 1981 was the day I took a deep breath and with the help of a partner organized what is today Woodley's Garden Center.

In the early days, we were strictly residential/commercial lawn maintenance.

Then we went a little deeper and began to dig holes, filling them with various trees, shrubs and other colorful plants- what most people call Landscaping!

In 1983, after two years in business and people stopping by to purchase the plants we had ordered for landscape jobs, we quickly realized our business needed

to be on a main traffic artery. The thought crossed my mind, "Hey Rick, maybe you could name a street after the garden center, Woodley Way sounds nice, but that will have to wait".

On July 12, 1985, Four acres of prime land was purchased on Two Notch Road in the Northeast area of Columbia (back when it was us, the woods and the railroad, what's the saying "if you build it they will come" and ya'll came).

In April of 1986 our garden center and retail store opened and has remained and expanded, at this location. I did get to name a street after the garden center

as I used to say on the radio: "turn off Two Notch Road and a quick right

on Woodley Way".

Today, Woodley's Garden Center- Two Notch is a full-service retail operation on 5 acres

and is known for its professionalism, horticultural knowledge, variety, quality of materials and of course, excellent service.

In 2004, I took another deep breath with the support of my family and began work on a second location in the Irmo/Ballentine area. Construction began in Summer 2006 in a cow pasture off Dreher Shoals Road (that's the road going to and from Lake Murray from Irmo/Ballentine.)

This is a village-style retail and residential mixed-use concept. We opened our second location March 17, 2007 with Grand Opening ribbon cutting event on May 4, 2007.

We like to say it takes a village to raise a garden center and while we wait on the village to arrive, our loyal and new customers have raised our Woodley-Irmo location. The residential area, Garden Brooke is growing, quietly nestled behind the garden center with beautiful green spaces and walk paths.

Today, Woodley's Garden Center- Irmo is also a full-service retail operation on over 3 acres and is known for its professionalism, horticultural knowledge, variety, quality of materials and of course, excellent service. We are here to serve you!!!

I want to thank our many loyal customers, you are part of our family and I'm very grateful to those who have followed us in our journey, joined us along the way and who are with us as we travel down the winding path of the future.

"Woodley's Garden Center, this is Rick!"

Woodley's Garden Center is proud to be members of

- The Garden Center Group

- VPG

- True Serve

- SNA

- SCNLA
- Columbia Green

- SC Chamber of Commerce

- Irmo Chamber of Commerce
- SC Home Builders' Association

- Certified South Carolina program

- City of Columbia's Green Business program

- SCLA

-Fairfield Co-Op Connection

-we're business partners with several Columbia area schools

These groups help us help you our customers.

Meet your family:

If you need help with a particular project for your outdoor room/landscape let us know we would love to help!

Likewise, if you have a concern or can't find what you're looking for let us know we'll contact our growers and suppliers and find just what you're looking for. Below we've listed our department managers by location so you can address them directly.

Everybody loves a great story, mine is above and our managers have now added their stories- ENJOY!

Rick - Owner

Rick is the one you hear on the radio! He bounces back and forth between stores. He has fantastic managers in each department that can help you.

Two Notch Store:

803.788.1487

10015 Two Notch Rd. Columbia SC 29223

Robin - General Manager

She puts on every "hat" in the garden center. She's been with us for 12 years, if you have ANY question Robin can answer it!

" I began my career with Woodley's as the Office Manager utilizing my degree in business. I remember interviewing with Rick and asked when I finished my office work, could I go outside and play with the plants. He laughed... and said "ok, just make sure you have your desk work done." I just love flowers and gardening, it is my passion and my favorite pastime. There is something great about digging in the dirt and feeling the satisfaction and joy when a plant does well. Luckily my husband's career is in landscaping so we have lots of peaceful (lol) conversations about what we going to do with our new yard. Most weekends, weather & work permitting, I am playing in the dirt."

Need to talk to Robin? rklein@woodleygardencenter.com

Kelly - Retail and Tropical Department Manager

The Retail department handles bag goods, containers, gifts, fountains and statuary.

The Tropical department handles plant rentals, indoor plants perfect for all occasions year round.

Kelly's story is coming soon

- Annual Department Manager

Annuals, those are the plants FULL OF COLOR that last for one to two seasons. Annuals are seasonal accessories for beds, containers, hanging baskets and more!

Do your containers need sprucing up? Our talented staff can help with that also.

Caren - Perennial Department

Perennials, those are the plants that go to sleep in the Winter and emerge with warmer weather, some are even evergreen! Perennials are the "spices" in the plant world. They add texture, color, and an unexpected twist to your foundation plantings. Create an entire bed of perennials for interest or attracting certain wildlife.

The Two Notch Perennial department also has veggies and herbs. You don't have to plow the backyard up into long rows, try planting veggies and herbs in your perennial or annual beds for the texture and shape of the plant and get the added benefit of the "fruit" of your labor.

"I was born in South Africa. My mother was such an avid gardener, she was known as 'The Lady with the Garden'. She instilled in me her love of plants by having me be her hands during her last days. In South Africa, I designed and landscaped new developments. Now here in the states it gives me great joy to know that there at Woodley's I have the opportunity to be working in the field that my mother planted her seeds." Caren was the Annuals Manager at Irmo- she's so excited she still gets to be with the veggies and herbs at Two Notch!

Vicki - Trees & Shrubs Department Manager

Aaah, Trees and Shrubs these are the bones of the landscape, they soften the harsh vertical and horizontal lines of your home.

"I started at Woodley's in February 2003, I'm formally from Kentucky, so I love the great outdoors. I've grown with Woodley's for the past 8 years. Met a lot of great people and made a lot of good friends. I love helping people get the look they want for their yard. I also love animals: I have (2) Chihuahua's at home that I adore. I also love taking care of the animals that we have here at Woodley's"

Irmo Store:

803.407.0601

2840 Dreher Shoals Rd. Columbia SC 29212

Denyse- Tropical & Retail Department Manager

The Retail department handles bag goods, containers, gifts, fountains and statuary.

The Tropical department handles plant rentals, indoor plants perfect for all occasions year round. Denyse and her staff make beautiful Gifts to Go and Anytime Occasion baskets. Denyse and others have extensive experience in the floral business and are waiting to help you with your special occasion.

"I was literally raised in a florist. My parents started Kirby Croft Florist in 1947 on Main Street in Columbia, SC. When I was in college my father built a greenhouse for me onto the florist and we would make trips to Florida several times a year to buy the plants to fill the greenhouse. When I left the florist I was employed by a large Orchid producer. I was able to learn a new branch of the industry I was raised in (Not to mention being surrounded by beautiful orchids all day long!) Then Rick Woodley decided to open a store in Irmo, SC; I had visited the Two Notch location and was in awe, so having one close enough that I could commute just made me happy. I opened the Tropical greenhouse at Woodley's Irmo and am very happy to now be the Retail Sales Manager at this location. Come see me!"

Mikki- Annual Department Manager

Annuals, those are the plants FULL OF COLOR that last for one to two seasons. Annuals are seasonal accessories for beds, containers, hanging baskets and more!

Do your containers need sprucing up? Caren and her staff can help with that also.

The Irmo Annual department also has veggies and herbs. You don't have to plow the backyard up into long rows, try planting veggies and herbs in your perennial or annual beds for the texture and shape of the plant and get the added benefit of the "fruit" of your labor.

David- Landscape Designer & We Plan, You Plant Designer

Let David come to you and design your outdoor space.

Do you have an area in your landscape that you're just not sure what to do?

Do you want to attract birds and or butterflies to your landscape? David can help, give him a call.

"I was born in Greensboro, NC and moved to Lexington,SC in the seventh grade. I've been in Columbia, SC since then. Aside from gardening, my other love is music. I've played the drums since I can remember and have played in several local bands throughout the years. I'm currently in a new band that I'm trying to get up and on it's feet. I've also started branching out a bit and making electronic music. As for gardening, I really love anything from lush, tropical to rigid, spiky succulents and everything in between. I'll never decide on a favorite plant 'cause there's way too many."

Allison- Perennial & Tree and Shrub Department Manager

Trees & Shrubs Department Manager

Aaah, Trees and Shrubs these are the bones of the landscape, they soften the harsh vertical and horizontal lines of your home.

Mikki- Tropical Department

The Tropical department handles plant rentals, indoor plants perfect for all occasions year round. Mikki, a florist for over 28 years makes beautiful Gifts to Go and Anytime Occasion baskets. Mikki has extensive experience in the floral business and weddings are her specialty. She is waiting to help you with your special occasion.

"I started picking flowers for my mom when I was just a little child. Any beautiful flowers like Dandy Lions, weeds and Mrs. Dan's prized bearded iris. I got in a bit of trouble and banned from Mrs. Dan's yard. My mother also had quite a hard time keeping me out of the mud and has more than one picture of me covered hear to toe and really happy. My father would till a good size piece of land up each year for the garden and I just couldn't wait for it to rain and make it mud. I lost a many pair of socks that way throwing them away so Momma wouldn't find out. I guess this business is just inside some of us when we are born."

Did You Know...

- Customers can come pick-up grower pots for free,

we only charge for the 30 & 45 gallon pots ($.10 per gallon: $3.00 & $4.50

respectively).

- We will give our customers a $.10 credit for each cardboard plant carrying box

that is returned.

- We recycle office paper, plastic, aluminum, & florescent bulbs.

- We sell many products produced/grown in SC; including SC honey.

Come experience Woodley's for yourself.

We'll see you soon in the gardens at Woodley's,
where the Best Gardens begin.