About Us

Our business started as a vegetable farm by the late Judge Samuel E. Holdridge in the year 1912. The farm specialized in strawberries and began to conduct large mail order business in berry plants.

Since 2002 our business has proudly been women owned and operated.

Our History

During the late 1930’s, Paul Holdridge, Sr. began to manage the farm. He started to sell fruit trees in addition to berry plants. This led, very quickly, to a full line of nursery stock.

A small store was built on the home farm on Geer Hill in 1941. The business continued to grow and prosper, especially after Paul Holdridge, Jr. and Alden Holdridge became active in the Company during the 1950’s. A new, more modern retail garden center was opened in Ledyard Center in 1963.

Since then, additions and expansions have been made almost yearly.

We added multiple departments including hardware and a gift line. In 1976 we opened a second garden center in Norwich called “Holdridge Plantland”.

In 1980 we opened our third retail garden center in East Lyme “Holdridge Gardenland”, and in 1985 our fourth retail garden center was opened in Columbia. For a short time, we had a floral shop in the Crystal Mall in Waterford. We currently maintain our flagship store, here in Ledyard Center.

We are now looking towards the future. With your help, we hope to maintain our good business reputation by making the extra effort to give personal service to our customers. We continue to grow and prosper together at Holdridge Home and Garden.

Currently, Shari Hewes (fourth generation Holdridge) along with her husband Matt, maintain the family tradition of offering quality products and service. Shari and Matt’s desire to continue with the family history carries on with their daughter, son, and grandsons.