Denise Membreno

Denise writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

Recent columns

• Park gearing up for return of the osprey
• As waistline expanded, wallet deflated
• Couple happy with alternative water systems
• Countertops seem bare without tomatoes

Rosalin Walter did not set out to grow fancy plants. She learned about plants working in the family greenhouse business in Ontario, Canada. When she put up her first greenhouse in Hardy 22 years ago, it was so she could use the profits from selling vegetables to help pay for her daughters' college educations.

Not only did Walter's Greenhouse help pay for college, it became the family's livelihood and Rosalin Walter's legacy.

Now the family business is in transition. Last year Walter lost Ray, her husband of 42 years to a heart attack. Husband, wife and daughters had worked side by side since the business began; the survivors now are adjusting to live without Ray, and the daughters are getting used to the notion that their mother is "retiring."

"Nothing is really changing," said Janet Walter, Rosalin and Ray's youngest daughter. "Mom is still there every day; and Dad, bless his heart, never stuck his hands in the dirt. He did mechanical stuff."

"Mom started the business," said Evelyn Elwell, the oldest daughter. "He joined her after he was an engineer for Cooper Industries, and they designed drilling, diamond-blasting equipment.

"So we've got nice incubators, heated benches and a trolley system," Elwell said of her dad's contribution to the business. "If it was broken and needed fixing, he was able to fix it. I'm learning to do that now. I did get my dad's mechanical abilities."

The Walter family moved to the Roanoke Valley in 1983 for Raymond's work. Three years later, Walter put up her first greenhouse. She said it was easier to get the business off the ground because the climate in Ontario is similar to the one in this area, but it warms up here two to three weeks earlier.

That first year she sold her plants on the Roanoke City's Market. Walter's Greenhouse has been a fixture there from mid-February to July ever since.

After the first year, Walter decided she needed a hot greenhouse and a cold greenhouse.

So Walter's underwent its first expansion. The business grew again in 1992 when Ray's engineering firm wanted to transfer him to Texas. He decided going to work for his wife was more appealing. So not only did Walter bring on a new employee, she put up three more greenhouses.

Somewhere in the midst of all this growth, Elwell went to Virginia Tech and earned a degree in interior design. She said she went to school for half the week and worked in the greenhouses the other half. Elwell married her husband, Chris Elwell, and moved to Ohio.

They later returned to Virginia.

"I love having my hands in the dirt," Elwell said. "I actually did work in my field for two-and-a-half years after I got married, and I missed [working in the greenhouses]. I had to come back."

Walter was happy to bring her oldest daughter on as a full-time employee. Soon after, two greenhouses and a storage barn were added. Walter's crop of greenhouses had grown from one to seven. Her inventory was about to change as well.

"I grew just a very few plants, simple plants like vegetables," said Walter of the early years.

"We really didn't take off until I came back," added Elwell. "I was bored with what we grew, so we expanded, but what [her mother] grew, she grew very well."

Now you can find 1,800 varieties of annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables at Walter's Greenhouse. Everything is homegrown.

"We don't have them shipped in," said Walter. "We're a working greenhouse from the seeding and such all the way straight through. We're a little more expensive than Wal-Mart, but we have a better product."

When Elwell came back to the business, Walter's started selling herbs wholesale. Now customers from the New River Valley to Richmond buy herbs propagated in Walter's greenhouses. Some customers travel hours to choose from the large selection.

"I drove from Greensboro. I found them on the Internet," said Pam O'Leary. "For years I've wanted to come up here because of the varieties of herbs, the vegetables and flowers."

Business continued to grow. When the youngest daughter, Janet Walter, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with a degree in horticulture, she brought in her own expertise. Rosalin Walter got another full-time employee and -- you guessed it -- two more greenhouses.

Janet Walter serves as the point person on the market. She also advises customers on how to get the most out of their plants.

"Mom started the business when I was 9, so I've been doing this for quite some time," said Janet Walter. "When I was little, Mom would make me do stuff and I hated it. Now, I just like plants. I enjoy coming down to the Market. I enjoy what I do."

Rosalin Walter said it is time to pass the baton. Ask her and she will tell you her daughters are managing the business and she is retired. Go to Walter's Greenhouse and you will find her watering plants and talking with customers.

"I really don't feel like anything has changed," said Elwell. "I've been involved with the business, managing the production for the last 10 years, and mom, as you can see, she doesn't do retirement very well." Elwell added with a laugh.

The women of Walter's Greenhouse are quick to tell how much they value their customers. Many have become friends over the years. During the Walter family's most difficult time last year, the death of Ray, those friends made their feelings known.

"Our customers are wonderful," said Elwell. "The outpouring of sympathy was amazing."

Walter's Greenhouse, 1356 Coopers Cove Road, Hardy, VA, 24101. 427-3578 or rwaltergh@cs.com; www.waltersgreenhouse.com. Open mid-February to July, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. On the Roanoke City Market Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Open House: Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.