LE ROY ? Andrew Fox has always had something of a green thumb.
There was one year he started a garden, and began reading about the wide varieties of tomatoes gardeners prefer, so he decided to try his luck, too.
He grew plants in his basement, then took up flower gardening, filling his mother?s 40-foot planter with geraniums.
He was 8.
?I?d always enjoyed it,? he said.
That hobby, turned passion, is now Fox?s career.
In September, the Syracuse native and Kansas State University graduate acquired Arnold?s Greenhouse in Le Roy, inarguably a regional signature greenhouse and garden center.
Now, six months into his venture, Fox is ready to tackle the spring growing season with Arnold?s annual open house celebration, which begins Monday.
On top of the 10-percent discount on all plants, Arnold?s will host guest speakers next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Included is Dr. Raymond Cloyd, an entomologist at Kansas State University, as well as a speaker from the Kansas Forestry Service.
The talks will be at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each of the three days.
?We?re just trying to get everybody excited about spring,? Fox said.
Andrew Fox has purchased Arnold?s Greenhouse.
Patrons will see the same friendly faces who have greeted them for much of George and Rita Arnold?s 41 years of ownership.
?We have the same staff, the same people,? he said. ?We have a good team. They all know their jobs. They?re good at training new employees we need to bring in every spring when we?re busier.?
That was one of Fox?s goals ? to maintain continuity.
?One of the things that was attractive in buying an existing business is the brand,? Fox said. ?There?s a reason people drive two hours to come here. It?s a good name, with a good customer base.?
The Arnold?s name will remain as well.
?That was never a question,? he laughed. ?The name is what people know. You say, ?I?m going to Arnold?s,? not ?I?m going to Arnold?s Greenhouse. Everybody already knows what you?re talking about.?
The Arnolds continue to live just down the road.
