As the old adage goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And this is especially true in Scott Smith’s case. A certified nurseryman and owner of River Valley Horticulture Products, Smith’s family has been in the horticulture business for more than 75 years, and he’s been immersed his entire life. He’s a native of Little Rock and spent a portion of his childhood in McMinnville, Tenn., which is touted as the “nursery capital of the world.”
Smith has two brothers, gardening author and television personality P. Allen Smith, and Christopher Talley Smith, who works with P. Allen. “Several of my uncles and cousins were in the nursery industry too,” Smith said. “I worked with my uncle, Reggie Talley, in Dallas for several large contracting companies while I was in school. I started my own business called Landscape Materials & Design while in high school.”
He launched RVHP in 1989 and owns it with Kevin Grisham, who has been the general manager for more than three years. The company provides plants and related landscape materials mainly to contractors and landscapers, but also to the general public.
This year Smith, who recently joined the Arkansas Green Industry Board, is serving as chairman and president-elect of the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. It will be held Friday, Feb. 26-Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center, and the hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens; $1 for youth six to 12 years old; and free for children under six. A three-day pass is $10.
Proceeds from the show—which is in its 20th year— benefit the Greening of Arkansas mini-grant program and provide educational scholarships in horticulture-related fields to students in Arkansas colleges and universities.
Special events planned for this year’s show are sure to make it a success. “An Evening with Susie Coelho,” best-selling author and host of HGTV’s “Outer Spaces” and “Surprise Gardener” will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, at the Governor’s Mansion. Lunch with The Southern Living Plant Collection will be held at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at The Peabody Little Rock and will include lunch and a presentation from the gardening experts at The Southern Living Plant Collection.
For more info about this year’s show, visit ArFlowerAndGardenShow.org, or call (501) 821-4000
Over the Hedge:
Soirée: What is your favorite plant? Shrub? Garden tool?
Scott Smith: Group of plants: Japanese Maples » Shrubs: Encore Azaleas and Knock Out roses » Garden tool: a quality pair of hand pruners
Tips for spring planting?
Check out our website for seasonal garden tips, RiverValleyHp.com.
What do you like most about your career?
I really enjoy the people that are on my staff. The future of the industry is challenging too. Purchasing, deal making and growing the business keeps me motivated.
Outside of horticulture, what are your other interests?
I have a real passion for hunting. I hunt big horn sheep, elk, deer and other big game. I also enjoy bird hunting and mule riding.
Are you involved in any other business endeavors?
My other businesses include Two Rivers Nursery, LLC, just outside of Searcy. Danny Swanson is my partner, and we both have 50 percent ownership. I also own Blue Dog Designs in Little Rock, which is a screen-printing, embroidery and specialty ad printing company. I operate an alfalfa and wheat farm in western Kansas. We’ll soon have a low-voltage landscape lighting business, Aglow Lighting. Lastly, I operate Smith & Brown Long Range Hunting Equipment, LLC.