Celebrate 45 Years of Business This Friday

Charlie Whitmore was born to work with trees.

Though this Friday’s event at Whitmore’s Garden Center at 26 Montauk Highway in Amagansett celebrates his 45 year career in the landscaping business, in Whitmore’s recollection, his journey started far earlier than that— riding shotgun in his father’s truck as he went between jobs.

Whitmore’s father Doc Whitmore began the family business in 1946. Charlie Whitmore, born in 1951, spent his early youth tailing his father around, and in high school he began working on a spray truck treating fruit trees.

Ironically, Whitmore is adamant about the use of organic chemicals in his work today. “It’s essential for the health of the East End, our water and our environment."

Whitmore’s father also instilled in him a love of nature. Doc Whitmore was a naturalist by passion, and when not working would take his son on daily hikes through East Hampton. The 1950s, '60s and '70s were a great time to grow up in East Hampton, Charlie Whitemore said. “It was a smaller community then, more intertwined."

The 1970s are when Whitmore felt the change coming. One of the things he remembers most clearly is the outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease when the fungus destroyed much of the population of North American elm trees.

“I don’t think people can really appreciate how many trees on East Hampton Main Street and the surrounding areas we had to cut down. Hundreds, maybe thousands,” Whitmore said.

Not long afterwards, Whitmore’s business expanded, moving from home and garden landscaping and maintenance to tree and plant sales. During the recession in the early '80s, Whitmore decided to put some trees out on display on his Montauk Highway property, only to have them sold immediately. 

From that time on, he began travelling the country to collect a wide variety of trees and bring them back to Amagansett. They always sold quickly, he said. “That was the genesis moment when landscaping became big business. From that moment on we just couldn’t keep up with the work.”

So why celebrate now?

“Why not?” Whitmore said. “Every year is precious. It’s a nice way of sharing with the customers.”

The 45th year celebration on Friday will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. There is a 25 percent off sale for all trees and shrubs, and there will be food, goody bags and a raffle. First prize is a Katsura Tree with free planting service, second prize is a wooden bench valued at $899 and third prize is a pair of matching ceramic containers, valued at $278. Raffle tickets are available now at the Garden center, to be filled out following purchase. To be eligible to win, ticket holders must be present at the event itself.