Grafton and Rose Mangum

Rooted in Maryland

Bell Nursery rooted almost a century ago when Rose and Grafton Mangum built a greenhouse behind their home in Langley Park, Md. They initially sold Greenhouse grown flowers at the Woman’s Farm Market in Silver Spring, Md., and eventually to wholesale florists in Washington D.C. In the 1930s, the Mangums opened Mangum Florist in Silver Spring, and later sold it to their daughter, Lola Mangum Bell, in 1947. Lola renamed the florist Bell Flowers and moved to the Georgia Avenue location it holds today. Bell Flowers sold again in 1956 to Lola’s brother, Bob, who’d recently returned from service in the Marines. Bob, along with his wife, Shirley continued to operate and grow Bell Flowers as they raised their family and expanded its footprint.

Easter deliveries from Bell Flowers

A Tropical Bonanza

Bell Flowers operated successfully for many years and, in the late 1960s, Bob and Shirley sensed a coming tropical plant boom. They founded Creative Plantings, one of the nation’s first, and eventually largest interiorscape companies providing interior plants and care in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metro areas. Then, in order to increase buying power and increase retail plants sales, they also opened Interior Plant Distributors (IPD), a first of its kind 35,000-square-foot tropical plant mega center in Rockville, Md. A front-page article in The Washington Post set off a tropical plant buying frenzy in the 1970’s, and business boomed.  Gary began his career in the family business while working at IPD.

Bob and Horrace Thompson, Bell’s first head grower.

Gary and Mike: An Early Look

Bob and Shirley’s son, Gary Mangum, was embedded in the family trades early on. In high school, he grew spider plants in the school greenhouse, and sold them for $5 to teachers and family friends. When he graduated in 1974 he went to work for Creative Plantings to help pay for college while attending the University of Maryland and Towson.

Meanwhile, family friend, Mike McCarthy also began working with Creative Plantings in high school, and eventually married Gary’s sister, Lisa.

Bell Nursery Begins

In 1978, the Mangums purchased a 55-acre property on Bell Road in Burtonsville, Md. In order to help meet the potted plant and floral needs for the family’s various businesses, they began construction of what would become Bell Nursery – when interest rates were at 19%.

Gary and Mike: The Partnership

The Mangums sold Creative Plantings in 1992 and when Bob and Shirley retired in 1994 Gary and Mike purchased Bell Nursery as partners. Gary focused on the sales and merchandising side of the business, while Mike concentrated on operations and finance.  Later in the decade the two also started Premier Plantscapes, a leading interior and specialty exterior landscape provider in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.

Enter the Home Depot

Without the guaranteed sales to Creative Plantings, the duo needed to find new customers. Gary began visiting independent garden centers and larger retailers to gauge opportunities. He saw an opening in the areas of quality and service. In 1995, Vinnie Naab, a respected merchant for The Home Depot recognized Bell’s quality difference – big, colorful flowers. He gave Bell Nursery an opportunity to stock 100 New Guinea impatiens hanging baskets – they sold out in one day. That first summer, Bell had the opportunity to stock a small percentage of the annual bedding plants at one Home Depot location in Catonsville, Md.

This photo (right), taken in the 1990s shows a cart of Bell-grown flowers (right) compared to a cart from another grower (left). This picture played a pivotal role in Bell’s expanding business with The Home Depot.

Earned Space

Grower Network

As Bell grew with The Home Depot, so did demands for additional plant material and growing space. Over the years, several greenhouses and ranges have been added to the company’s operations. In addition, Gary and Mike conceived and established Bell’s Grower’s Network – made up of 40 family farmers, primarily in Maryland, who grow plants for Bell Nursery. It’s a successful, win-win where farmers are able to diversify their risk while adding to their income. And, with limited capital investment, Bell gets increased production from a hands-on grower vested in growing great product. This type of network could benefit family farms nationwide.

Owner Operators

In 2007 Bryan Ulery, and Ulery Greenhouses of Springfield Ohio, joined the Bell family. Shortly after that acquisition, Brett Guthrie helped facilitate the sale of Virginia Growers to Bell. In each case these owner operators had outstanding teams that became part of the Bell family and the original owners still run their respective operations.

Harvest Discipline

Bell utilizes production and greenhouse technology, but relies on great people to grow the best plants and practice discipline at harvest. Bell seeks to ensure finished plant material is shipped at near-perfect stage, and not before. For the customer, this means deliveries of consistent, quality plant material.

Jesse King, first Bell’s employee hired in 1978.

Flowery Future