After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Blake and Julie Hurst returned to Tarkio, Missouri to join Blake's father on the family farm. They lived in Tarkio for the first few years of their marriage. In town, Blake built their first greenhouse and they opened for retail business in 1982. Julie grew a few bedding plants and poinsettias with a lot of help from their two daughters, Lee and Ann, ages 3 and 2 respectively.

In 1983, Blake, Julie and the girls moved to a farm 10 miles northeast from Tarkio near the small town of Westboro, Missouri. Blake built two greenhouses there, approximately 2,700 square feet. In 1986, their son, Ben was born and Julie raised her first crop of mums. By 1988, Blake had built 2 more homemade greenhouses and Julie hired the first Hurst Greenery employees to help with the expanding business. At this time, Julie and Blake sold plants to the local grocery stores and nearby Earl Mays.

Since then, Blake has built or replaced a greenhouse nearly every year. Most recently, he built the first gutter connect range. Today, Blake and Julie sell bedding plants, perennials, mums, asters and hibiscus and deliver to a 4 state area with three Dodge pickups and horse trailers. Hurst Greenery has around 2 acres of greenhouse space and employs 15 people seasonaly.

In 2002, Blake and Julie moved back to town. Lee and Ryan Harms, who have joined Blake and Julie in the business, have moved into the house on the farm. Ann and Matt live in Tarkio with their son Aaron.

In September of 2003, Blake and Julie's first grandchild, Aaron, was born. He enjoys spending his time at Hurst Greenery keeping his grandparents and Aunt and Uncle in line! 

Blake and Julie welcomed Gabe and Abbie (Lee and Ryan's) and Lizzie (Ann and Matt's) in May of 2007. Kenzie Fischer also joined the family in marriage in December of 2007 to Ben. 

Ben and Kenzie will graduate from college (Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri respectively) this spring and will be moving to Virginia where Ben will attend Law School at the University of Virginia.

Hurst Greenery on a busy spring day.

Shown here is one of the bays of the gutter connect in early spring. The walls are lined with posey pouches, which are plastic bags with holes filled with impatients, begonias, vinca or portulaca.

This picture is of the "seed greenhouse." Julie and Lee do all the seeding using an automated seeder and dirt machine. This greenhouse also houses the germination room where fog and grow lights give the plants a good start.

Shown above are gallon tomatoes. These are one of Hurst Greenery's most popular spring items.

Ben, Blake and Julie's son, is shown with his nephew Aaron as construction takes place on Hurst Greenery's 2007 addition to the gutter-connect range.

Abbie, Gabe and Lizzie play among Julie's potted plants in Summer 2008.