October 11, 2017
Growing Grapes and Best Soil for Your Garden
Gary Matsuoka from Laguna Hills Nursery

Laguna Hills Nursery   http://www.lagunahillsnursery.com/
1829 N. Tustin Avenue
Santa Ana, California 92705
(714) 542-5600

President Gary Matsuoka CCNP gary@lagunahillsnursery.com
cell (949) 395-2609

Laguna Hills Nursery has been an established business in Orange County since 1970. It was a successful garden center for 40 years at its Lake Forest, California location.

Gary worked at the nursery through high school and college and permanently joined the staff in 1978. He became President in 1994 and was responsible for making it a destination garden center. It was well known for its extensive selection of plants and gardening knowledge. It specialized in Roses, Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Perennials. Gary wrote weekly educational ads in the Orange County Register newspaper and was mentioned frequently in the newspaper as well as in Sunset Magazine. Chuck Henry at NBC News once mentioned Laguna Hills Nursery as one of the top three nurseries to visit in Southern California. Gary has been an instructor in the State’s Master Gardeners program and has instructed and tested applicants to the State’s Nursery Certification program. In 2000 Gary received the Pacific Coast Nurseryman of the Year award from the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers.

Nancy joined the nursery staff in 1987 and became its CFO in 1994. She was responsible for creating a business structure that resulted in a wonderful working environment and highly efficient staff. Nancy is also a trained, professional landscape designer. She was largely responsible for the success of its gift wear, garden products, hardware, pottery and bedding plant departments.

The land was sold following the deaths of its founders (Gary’s parents) and from 2010 has been operating at local farmers markets. Their success at farmers markets has been due to several factors including:

1. Best local selection of herbs.
2. Best potting soils developed by Gary also being sold at 2 local garden centers.
3. Best selection of fruiting plants, many being exclusive offerings.
4. Maintaining contact with over 3000 customers by sending weekly newsletters.

Laguna Hills Nursery was invited to become a future fixture at the Orange County Great Park unfortunately a loss of state funding due to the recession has resulted in alternate park plan that no longer includes a nursery.

Laguna Hills Nursery opened a retail store in Santa Ana (1829 N. Tustin Avenue) in the fall of 2014. The site was formerly operated by Armstrong Garden Centers more than 15 years ago. Besides an excellent collection of plants, Laguna Hills Nursery offers a weekly Saturday morning class on current garden topics.

Gary K Matsuoka
Mission Viejo High School
graduated CSF, awarded scholarship
University of California Irvine
Graduated cum laude, BS in Biology with Honors in Biological Research
University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston
Attended graduate school for 18 months until research program was discontinued
California Certified Nursery Professional
Pacific Coast Nurseryman of the Year 2000