Sargent's Nursery has been around a long time -- since the late '20s.

We owe our longevity to the wonderful and talented horticulturists, gardeners and landscapers who have managed and run our business throughout most of the 20th century, as well as customers like you who keep us going strong into the 21st! Discover our unique story here.

In 1928, Forrest H. Sargent purchased the bankrupt Burnside Nursery and renamed it Red Wing Nursery, Forrest H. Sargent & Sons. During the '30s the nature of the business was to sell bare root shrubs and trees in the spring. They grew and sold fruits and vegetables in the summer and fall. In 1940 the name was changed to Red Wing Nursery. Forrest H. Sargent died in 1942 and until 1948 the nursery was owned and operated by Ed Sunquist of Lake City, Minnesota. After the war, Forrest's son Max returned and purchased the nursery from the Sunquists, who were in poor health.

Max and Carol Sargent successfully ran the business from 1948 - 1987. During his tenure the business added a landscape design & installation department, expanded the retail store and our first retail greenhouse was erected. Carol managed the bookkeeping aspects of the business. Both are well known throughout the Red Wing community as outstanding business owners and kind people. Max passed away in 1987 and Carol in 1995. They are both greatly respected and missed!

In 1973, Max's daughter Marge and her husband Bob Lewis joined the business and in 1984 his daughter Julie and her husband Lloyd Peterson became active participants. Bob, Marge and their oldest son David manage the retail and production phases of the company. Julie and Lloyd, along with their daughter Anne Matzek oversee the landscape division. With the fourth generation onboard, the business will definitely remain in the family for generations to come!

1929-2010

Marge, Bob, Julie, Lloyd a Dave have been leading Sargent's for over 25 years as a team. They are five of the many employees that have been at Sargent's for 10 or more years. The staff section on our website is a great way to get to know our employees. Take a look at the group of people that make Sargent's who we are today!
Visit Staff Page of Website

After 80 years we certainly enjoy reminiscing the years past. If you have any stories to share please contact us! We're excited to hear from you.

Did you know?
Max Sargent collected Maple trees from the Wisconsin woods, graded them in the winter, and shipped them by boxcar to various nurseries around the country in the Spring season.

Max's big dream was to get a piece of machinery to dig B&B trees. He knew that it would solve the biggest problem they faced. Eventually they were, indeed invented and first came in to use just before Max passed away. They are readily available now, of course. "Traditional nurserymen thought tree spades were not acceptable and did a poor job, but dad would have embraced them as a solution to efficiency and sore back problems which plagued all nurserymen. He always said nurserymen had to be short so they could more easily get in the hole to dig a tree!" Forrest Sargent, son of Max.

THEN

NOW