A Family Business
Three Generations & Thirty-three Years in the Nursery Business!
In the spring of 1988, Colorado Tree Farm began a retail branch of our wholesale nursery (founded 1977) at Chapel Hills Mall. Until the 1999 season, we called the retail branch of our business Chapel Hills Nursery. Since then both wholesale and retail nurseries use the name Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery LLC. In 2003 we moved to our current location on Woodmen Rd., just east of Powers Blvd. We have also purchased the land directly to our south, so look for expansion!
Back Row: Joel, Dad, & Levi. Front Row: Grandma, Grandpa, Kaite, and Matt
Grandma and Grandpa minded the retail store in the early years, while Dad (Jerry) kept things going both on the wholesale side and producing nursery stock for the retail nursery. Dad is a nursery encyclopedia, and we are lucky to have him as our guide. Today us “kids” manage the nursery. Levi, the oldest son, graduated from Colorado College in 2002 with a degree in Economics and assumed full time management of the retail business. Levi, and his wife, Heather live in Falcon. Their son Cooper and daughter Pipper are the newest editions to our family. They keep us all laughing and on our toes. The only Daughter of the bunch is Katie. She also graduated from Colorado College, in 2004, with a degree in Anthropology. She also is a licensed nurse (very nice to have on hand). She keeps us all in line and is the nuts and bolts of the office. Katie, her husband, Rick, and their daughter McKenzie live on the ranch south east of town. The youngest, but biggest brother Joel, has taken a full time role in the nursery. His creativeness and knack for customer service are key assets. Joes will head up our vegetables, herbs, and annual hanging baskets. He has really lightened the load for Levi. Joel lives in Colo. Springs so he can keep an eye on the nursery.
All of us siblings have helped in growing and handling nursery stock since we were toddlers! In the future we plan to expand our business without losing our family touch, so we are looking for “family like” outside help. If you are interested in being “adopted”, talk to us.
Our Family
Levi Heidrich
Levi has worked in the family nursery since he was old enough to hold a shovel, maybe even earlier. In 1998 while a Freshmen at Colorado College he began to work with Dad at the retail location at Chapel Hills Mall. In 2002, after graduation, Levi decided to take on a full time roll and manage the nursery. In 2003, the nursery moved to its current location where Levi has been the Managing Partner of the nursery. He oversees day to day operations, handles tree/shrub purchasing, AR, AP, residential and commercial bidding, and if he's lucky gets to help Dad dig when there is time. Levi, his wife Heather, son Cooper, and daughter Piper live in Falcon, CO.
Katie Graf (Heidrich)
Katie also has been a part of the nursery since day one. While attending Colorado College she worked spring and summer at the nursery. She received her degree in Anthropology from CC, then her Nursing Degree from CSU Pueblo after that. It is very nice having a registered nurse on hand! Katie manages the office, and keeps Levi and Joel in line. She helps out in all areas of the nursery and makes sure things are done right. She also does residential/commercial bidding, AR, and payroll. Katie, her husband Rick, and daughter McKenzie live on the farm South East of town.
Joel Heidrich
Like his older brother and sister, Joel has been in the family nursery since he was a baby. In 2007, Joel moved to Colorado Springs and started working full time. Over the past three years Joel as grown leaps and bounds. Today he is a key asset to the nursery. He is in charge of anything with a computer, will head up our new vegetable/annual division, is great with customers, does residential bidding and consultations/design, and does a great job of keeping a since of humor in a growing family business. Joel lives near the nursery to keep an eye on plants and irrigation during off hours.
Wendy Beery
Although her last name isn't "Heidrich", she is truly part of the family. In 2003, while shopping at the nursery her husband volunteered her for a job. She has never looked back. You will not meet a nicer gal anywhere, and we are fortunate to have her as a friend/neighbor, let alone part of our nursery. Wendy is great with customers, loves plants, and is never in a bad mood! She is also our resident weather forecaster!
Jerry Heidrich "Dad"
Dad (Jerry) founded the nursery in 1977. In 1979, he moved to Colorado. In the early years the nursery was strictly wholesale. Dad dug 1000s of native Pinon Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, native Birch, and Russian Olive and supplied them all over Colorado and to other parts of the US. In 1988, and down economy forced him to open a retail nursery in Colorado Springs. From 1988-2003 we had a retail nursery in the Chapel Hills Mall area, most recently on the north side across from JC Pennys. Today, we like to think of Dad as semi-retired. He helps us when we need it, digs all of our Ponderosa and Pinon, fixes equipment that Levi and Joel break, and is developing our Kansas farm and our farm North East of town. You won’t find a more knowledgeable person when it comes to plants anywhere, and we are lucky to have is experience to tap into whenever we need it! Depending on the week, Dad lives at the farm south east of town, in our mobile office at our Ponderosa or Pinon fields, or at the Kansas Farm. Dad was a graduate from the University of Kansas in 1966. Go Jayhawks!
Evelyn & Hank Heidrich "Grandma & Grandpa"
In the old days 80's and 90's, Grandma and Grandpa ran the retail nursery at the Chapel Hills Mall while Dad produced trees and took care of the wholesale side. If you bought nursery stock from us then, they sold it to you. They both do some advertising for us in Kansas. Grandma passed in 08', and is dearly missed. Grandpa tries to visit once a year to make sure we are doing things right.