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04/27/2009 - Drake's Announces Purchase Of Langdown Florist & Gardens

Portland, OR. – Leading Portland garden center and luxury landscape design and build firm, Drake’s 7 Dees, announced today the purchase of Langdown Florist & Garden located at 5645 SW Scholls Ferry Road in Portland.

The Langdown Florist and Garden Center has been a staple in its SW Portland location since 1948 when two sisters from England built the garden center and specialized in growing orchids. The name Langdown came from the sister’s family house in England. Jack and Pat Haslett purchased the garden center in 1981.  The Haslett’s son, Mark later took an ownership position in the business and he was the manager until the sale.

“We are thrilled to acquire this new facility.  We have been looking to increase our presence on the west side and we felt this was the perfect location to do so,” said Drake Snodgrass, owner of Drake’s 7 Dees.

The building features approximately 3,500 square feet of interior and greenhouse space. The new garden center will feature many of Drakes signature gardening stapes such as pre planted pottery, fruits and veggies, hanging baskets, garden gifts, live lady bugs, specimen plants and pottery, perennials, deer repellents, fertilizers, soils, mulches and the well known ‘pharmacy’ aisle with organic solutions.

Leader in Green Practices

Drake’s 7 Dees has long been recognized as having the most ecological landscaping and gardening centers. The landscape company prides itself on three major programs that have paved the way: greenSTART, Organic Foundation and the Water Wise Program.

Under greenSTART Land Development, Drake’s 7 Dees works on the relationship-building process of both designing and constructing. In the program, the company transforms existing landscape designs into eco-friendly and sustainable landscape projects. Starting with the soil, the Drake’s team applies the latest technologies in repairing urban soils and works with natural elements instead of using harsh chemicals, utilizes water management practices and provides a depth of resources for customers to change to ‘green’ gardening habits.

Drake’s organic foundation program offers customers a three step process. The first step is testing the soil’s biological components and chemistry in order to provide a unique prescription for organic and biological soil amendments. Secondly, the landscape team plants and sets the mulch for the garden and speaks with the garden owner about future practices that will conserve and foster the soil’s complexity. Lastly, the program consists of using BioSolutions applications, compost teas tailored to each garden are amended with soluble organic fertilizers, penetrating agents and specific microbial inoculants are then applied twice a year.

The Water Wise Program offers a different approach to conserve the area’s fresh water resources. The company designs and installs gardens based on principals of water-efficient gardening, provides appropriate irrigation technology with advanced weather based controllers, installs efficient pressure regulating irrigation nozzles and drip-irrigation, and educates customers in improving the garden’s health through organic practices.

In addition to the company’s environmentally responsible practices and programs, Drake’s 7 Dees prides itself on using organic fertilizers, sprays and other natural products.

About Drake’s 7 Dees: Established in 1956, Drake’s 7 Dees has been a full service nursery and the trusted source for gardening, plants and landscaping in Portland for over 50 years. The company operates two successful companies:  Drake’s 7 Dees Garden Center and Drake’s Seven Dees Landscaping.  Drake’s 7 Dees Landscaping is a certified ecological business. With over three acres of plants and shrubs, Drake’s 7 Dees Garden Centers are the go-to location for plants, shrubs, garden supplies as well as informative seminars.  Drake’s Seven Dees Landscaping has designed and built many notable and award winning landscapes for both residential and commercial locations.  The company is often called upon by prestigious homeowners to design outdoor kitchens, gazebos, gardens and retreats in the Portland Metropolitan area. Most recently, the company received the prestigious Eco-Biz Certification from the city of Portland. For more information about Drake’s 7 Dees and greenSTART visit: www.drakes7dees.com.

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