Jared
Co-Owner & Head Grower
Perhaps most famously known for his weekly morning walk-through videos that grace our Instagram, Jared is one of the co-owners of Groovy Plants Ranch. He has a huge passion for horticulture and has worked in this industry for more than 15 years now. Jared worked at Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse for a decade and built this business during his time there. He would grow succulents to sell at markets around Ohio and at 19 he grew his first crop of seed petunias from his college balcony. Jared received his Associates degree in Landscape Design from Columbus State and started GPR in 2007 (originally as a landscaping company). His first "greenhouse" was a piece of PVC pipe lean-to off his parents house and was about 5 feet wide. After the first year he built a wooden structure that was pretty crappy and almost blew over one winter. Through much dedication and hard work GPR has become what it is today! Back in 2018 Jared bred and developed 'Canary Wings' Begonia which became an instant hit among the industry and won the Retailer's Choice Award at the Cultivate 2018 trade show which was a huge career achievement.
Liz
Co-owner & Event Specialist
Liz Hughes is the owner of Groovy Plants Ranch along with her husband Jared. Liz has her MFA in fine art and was an art teacher for 10 years before joining Jared at Groovy Plants Ranch. Together they have built a business that is known for its excellent selection, cleanliness, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and eccentric details like a hippie van. Liz teaches most of the fun and education at The Ranch, creates educational content for online customers, and coordinates most of the onsite events. Liz was chosen by GPN as Forty under 40 2021. Liz, Jared, and Groovy Plants Ranch have been featured in my digital and print media including Midwest Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Greenhouse House Grower, GPR and many others. Liz wears many hats around the ranch, and through her leadership and professional edge, she is paving the way forward for The Ranch and helping others grow in the process.
Craig
Perennial & Growing Specialist
With more than 30 years in the trade, Craig heads the perennial division of the business and is an absolute encyclopedia of plant knowledge. He's also just a super nice guy. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Ohio State in '84 and was the Perennial Grower at Millcreek Gardens from 1991 to 2010. Jared and Craig worked together at Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse and have been growing plants together for over 6 years! That's a lot of plants!
Felicia
Retail Manager
Felicia is a true horticulture industry professional. With well over a decade of experience in the horticulture field, Felicia is a true natural. Her extensive technical plant know-how, paired with her insightful and creative approach to retail, make her an integral part of the operations at GPR. If you’ve come to the greenhouse and loved the vibe or were intrigued by the selection or cleanliness, you have Felicia to thank.
