With three master gardeners on staff, Wild River Nursery endeavors to be the convenient neighborhood nursery destination for those seeking advice from a professional yet approachable staff.
“You don’t need to read the plant tags and wing it, we help you figure out how tall plants will be when full grown. We like to be competitive on price, but our knowledge separates us,” said Teresa Lorton, the nursery’s store manager.
Open since early April, the six-acre nursery complex is a great resource for vibrant flowers and shrubs, as well as mature trees. “We’re a great resource for tall trees. We’re so lucky to be in a bunch of neighborhoods where trees are needed,” Lorton said.
The nursery store features lawn and landscaping items, including customized rugs and garden flags for Geist residents. You can also find pots and planters as well as fragranced soaps and lotions to complement a floral gift.

Manager – Teresa Lorton

Wild River Nursery owes its name to the man-made stream that the owners added as a tourist attraction. “If kids like it, the moms will end up liking it too,” said Lorton” Kids get to send rubber ducks down the river to win a t-shirt prize.
The river includes resting places where patrons can relax and take in the wide variety of plants and flowers on the property. “We often see local runners and walkers taking a break on our benches,” Lorton said.
Co-owner and former teacher Jane Kay Thomas incorporates many of the same principles she used as a teacher to help customers. “It’s important to me that I help guide those looking for new plants or trees. It’s lot like teaching—you guide,” said Thomas.
Thomas also sees it as an opportunity to help her children understand how to manage a thriving business in a hands-on way. “When people come through the door, I expect them to be treated like family by our staff,” Thomas said.
Customers seeking advice can bring in tree samples. “We want to be the place where you find answers. If someone comes in with a tree fungus question, for example, we can learn how to treat the problem,” said Thomas.

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