Bean Creek Garden Center is owned and operated by long time Hudson community member, Janet High. Bean Creek was purchased in 1997 and after a season of clean up and renovations, it opened for business the following year.

Before owning a garden center, Janet worked for an automotive parts supplier and worked her way up from production laborer to Quality Engineer. Twenty one years into her first career, The Greenery came up for sale. After consulting with Dr. Dean Krauskopf, a greenhouse consultant from MSU and thinking long and hard about his honest advice, she purchased the property and Bean Creek Garden Center became her passion.

Janet could not have done it all without the help of many family members, state resources, and friends. Her dad helped with the many repairs and cleanup needed to open in 1998. He continued being an important part of the garden center for many years to follow. She’s very grateful to the many friends and family members that come and help her during her busiest weekends, for support, and in times of need. MSU Extension continues to be an important resource as well as classes through Michigan State University and the Master Gardener Program. The business of greenhouse management is not for the faint of heart! Janet’s hard work, perseverance, and commitment to quality has been vital to the success of her business.

The past few years as a business owner has been, well, interesting, to say the least. Janet is most proud of her (and her team’s) perseverance to adapt to whatever this world throws this way. Since she bought her business she has endured so much; 911, a great recession, large box stores with the buying power a small business cannot compete against, and a pandemic. We change, we adapt, and we hope for the best.

What makes Bean Creek unique? The dedication of the people that work here. From customer service to plant maintenance, we all work together to make sure our customers have the best experience possible, as well as the healthiest plants, most robust hanging baskets, and the best varieties of veggies for your garden.

What do Janet’s employees have to say about her? All good things of course! Janet is an excellent listener and often asks for employee feedback, she trusts her employees to get the job done, and she’s there if you need her. We all love the atmosphere we work in, love being outside, and working for someone who cares so deeply about the quality of her product. Janet’s dedication to growing quality seedlings, customer relationships and bringing in unique varieties makes Bean Creek a really great place to work.

Meet the Crew

Ellie May: Ellie has been our customer greeter for 10 years. She can be found sprawled out on the counter, sleeping in a basket, strolling across the driveway, bringing mouse treasures to the door, or trying very hard to get pets and scratches from the employees and customers. It’s a cat's life at the garden center!

Brian: Brian has been the garden center’s longest employee. He’s known as Janet’s right and left hand guy! Brian does all of our seeding, cares for four greenhouses and handles daily operations when the boss is gone. Brian has seen it all here and yet he comes back every year. Janet feels so lucky to have Brian; she could not do it without him!

Pam: Pam is so talented in so many ways! Floral designer and instructor, artist, including store displays and signage, musician, gardener, and the hardest working, knowledgeable, and the sweetest person you will ever meet! Pam’s artistic touch can be seen all over the store and greenhouses and we are so lucky to have her on our team.

Sandy: We are so glad to have Sandy! Sandy works at the counter, does seed packaging, merchandise pricing, transplant, watering… Sandy does it all! She’s a long time 4H leader, is a Master Gardener, an avid reader, and great with our customers! She is a very trusted and hard working friend.

Dana: Dana is a self taught cut flower grower, floral designer, former teacher, and the Bean Creek transplanter. Nobody transplants like Dana! All of our baby plants that come in will pass through Dana's hands; hanging Baskets, flats, combination planters, veggies, annuals, perennials, and anything else that is green, Dana pots up!

Marcy: Talk about movers and shakers! Janet and Marcy have been friends for over 19 years. Every plant flat on the bench, every hanging basket, every planter will be moved from our transplant house to the benches, by Marcy. Every year, it is a huge undertaking of physical labor and organizational skills but nobody can organize a greenhouse like Marcy! I rely on and respect her thoughts concerning any issues I have with the business. I am lucky to have her as a friend and employee!