From Our Farm to Your Garden
Many of the plants found at Bordine’s begin their journey at the Bordine’s Farm in Grand Blanc. Purchased in 1999, the 100-acre site has grown into the center of our plant-growing operation and is also home to our Grand Blanc garden center.
Here, millions of seedlings and cuttings are carefully nurtured by our growers before making their way to Bordine’s locations—and ultimately to gardens throughout Southeast Michigan.
Growing on a Remarkable Scale
Behind every Bordine-grown plant is a combination of experience, careful attention and modern greenhouse technology.
Our specialized growing environments allow our team to manage light, temperature, humidity, water and nutrients according to the needs of each plant. From the earliest seedling to the finished plant, every stage is monitored to encourage healthy, consistent growth.
Much of our annual and perennial selection is grown by Bordine’s, along with many of the trees and shrubs offered at our garden centers.
Growing Greener for Generations
Environmental responsibility at Bordine’s began long before sustainability became a familiar term.
In 1977, founder Darrell Bordine applied for a patent for a greenhouse bench designed to collect and recycle water. The patent was granted in 1978, and some of the original concrete benches used by that system remain in the Rochester Hills greenhouse today.
That same spirit of innovation continues through the ways we heat our greenhouses, manage water and reduce waste.
Heating with Local Wood
In 2008, Bordine’s installed a biomass heating system at the Grand Blanc growing facility. Instead of relying entirely on fossil fuels, the system uses wood chips from local Michigan sources to heat water used throughout the greenhouses.
A large hot-water storage silo allows heat produced by the biomass boiler to be retained and used more efficiently. Together, these systems help reduce our reliance on traditional heating fuels during Michigan’s colder growing months.
Learn more about Bordine’s wood-energy system in this Michigan State University Extension case study.
Conserving and Reusing Water
Water is one of our most important growing resources, so our Grand Blanc facility is designed to collect and reuse as much of it as possible.
Rainwater and runoff from much of the growing facility are directed into a large retention pond. That water can then be used to grow trees, shrubs, roses and small fruits before draining back into the pond to begin the cycle again.
Additional water-saving systems include:
- Flood-floor growing areas that collect, filter and reuse water
- Automated watering booms programmed for the needs of specific plants
- Water delivered close to the plants to reduce evaporation
- Carefully controlled fertilizer systems that apply nutrients only when needed
Reducing Energy and Material Waste
Our conservation efforts extend throughout the growing process.
Energy-retention curtains inside the greenhouses help hold warmth during cold weather and provide shade when temperatures rise. This reduces the energy needed for both heating and ventilation.
Reusable growing trays are cleaned and sterilized so they can be used repeatedly, reducing the amount of plastic required during plant propagation.
Each improvement—large or small—helps us grow healthy plants while using water, energy and materials more thoughtfully.
Proudly Bordine-Grown
Growing our own plants gives us greater control over their care and quality from the very beginning. It also gives our Purple People the opportunity to select varieties especially suited to Michigan gardens.
When you choose a Bordine-grown plant, you are taking home something that has been carefully tended by our team, right here in Michigan.