Squak Mt. Greenhouses and Nursery has grown up in the beautiful Tibbetts Creek Valley of Issaquah, Washington. From a mainly wholesale growing operation specializing in fuchsias and house plants, it has blossomed into a complete retail garden center serving the greater Seattle area.
In 1976, Jim and Becky Pommer, the current owners, purchased Smith Gardens from Walt and Myrna Smith. For three generations, the Smith family had farmed the southern end of the Mercer Slough off Bellevue Way. When the Factoria interchange was built, the Smith farm was purchased to aid in the highway construction. In the early 70’s Walt dismantled his glass and wood greenhouses in Bellevue, reassembled them on our current site in Issaquah, and continued growing.
Early in the business, we increased the crops grown and went from seasonal to year round production. In 1980, Squak Mt. Greenhouses and Nursery expanded the retail business selling many of the flowering annuals grown in our greenhouses. In the ensuing decades, wood framed double poly houses were replaced with metal and glass houses from Holland to improve the quality of the plants. Shrubs, trees and perennials were added. A shade house, gazebo, waterfalls, landscaping and hardscaping have also enhanced the natural setting of the nursery.
Christmas has always been a favorite holiday in our family. The first Christmas the nursery was open to the public, cut trees, wreaths and garland were sold to compliment the poinsettias being grown in our greenhouses. Soon ornamental accessories were added. Each year the selection of holiday decorations and gifts for gardeners grew bigger. In the fall of 1999 The Garden Shed opened with a fabulous display of fully decorated Christmas trees and holiday gifts. Today gardening is celebrated year round in this gift shop filled with garden related home décor and garden accessories.
The best of our acquisitions have been the wonderful and knowledgeable people who have served as part of the Squak Mt. team, and who continue to be an integral part of growing Squak Mt. into the friendly place it is today.