Margie and Judson Wingard didn’t set out to create a big business. It developed out of their love of plants and their desire to help others enjoy them just as much as they did.

The seed was planted in the late 1960s, when the Wingards began propagating azaleas for their yard. Thanks to their green thumbs, they found themselves with more than they could use, so they set up a roadside stand with a hand-painted sign advertising "azaleas for sale 50 cents." (CLICK HERE)

 

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Path of Construction

The State, Columbia, South Carolina - August 11, 2005
"Living in the path of construction"

By Tim Flach

The pots of azaleas already are pulled back, and orange-and-white barrels line Wingard's Nursery at the corner of North Lake Drive and Pilgrim Church Road.

But the three-decade-old business near Lexington plans to stay open amid the road work that will change its entrances by spring. The nursery is losing about 50 feet of its front side.

"It'll slow it down for a little bit," co-owner Marge Wingard said, "But doing this (widening) is best in the long run for our community."

Pilgrim Church will also be widened as part of this project, moving it closer to their home, which is across the road from the nursery.

Wingard plans to put up more drapes on the windows if the increased traffic buzz proves annoying.

"It'll be close," she said, "but not enough to be bothered."