Field Notes – December at Spring Grove Nursery

~ December 1, 2025

December brings a shift in rhythm at the nursery. The urgency of fall digging has given way to a quieter pace. The ground is finally starting to freeze, and we’re wrapping up what has been a full and productive season. We are so grateful for the hard work put in for this past season, the way our crew stepped up to support us when Joey was hospitalized, the excellent growing season and weather, and the trees that made it off our farm to be planted into our communities to grow for generations to come! 

Closing Out the Season

Our crew spent the final weeks of November pushing to finish the last of the fall orders. We met our goal of wrapping up the bulk of digging and shipping before Thanksgiving, and it feels good to bring this season to a close on strong footing. The sales yard, once packed with trees staged and ready to load, is now mostly clear. Those trees have found their new homes lining parkways, homeowner’s yards, and filling out municipal plantings across the region.

This time of year is always bittersweet. We’ve spent months tending, shaping, and caring for these trees, and watching them leave the field is both the goal and the goodbye. But that’s the nature of this work, every tree we dig is meant to go out and do its work somewhere else.

We couldn’t have gotten through this year without our incredible crew. From pivoting in the Spring and working independently, to nursery pruning and maintenance during the summer months, to finishing strong this Fall to prepare for a restful Winter, everything we do here at the nursery would not be possible without their hard work and dedication to their craft of growing beautiful trees. We want to highlight the incredible group of guys and say THANK YOU for their hard work and dedication.

Juan Alberto Carrera Avila

Juan has worked with SGN for 3 years now, and has grown immensely during his time here! He’s an artist by trade and that comes through in the care and artistry he puts into tending to the trees. We’ve enjoyed keeping up with Juan and his family on Facebook, seeing pictures of his kids and the art projects his wife, Lulu, creates. Thank you for working with us again this season! 

Eduardo Antonio Almaraz Munoz

Eduardo, who goes by Lalo, has been with us for 3 years, as well. He is an expert pruner and truly has an eye for what makes a great tree. Lalo has really found his footing here on the farm – any task you have he quickly learns and excels! Thank you, Lalo, for another great year! 

Gustavo Alfonso Chavez Castillo

Gustavo – aka Poncho – has been with SGN for 3 years. You’ll find Poncho out in the field heading up our staking and watering crews, essential tasks that keep our trees thriving. His attention to detail ensures every tree gets the care it needs to flourish. When he’s not tending to trees, Poncho has a soft spot for Benji (don’t we all!) and during downtime, you might catch him going head-to-head with Joey in intense FIFA matches – friendly competition that keeps the team spirit strong. Thank you for a great season!

Jose Javier Avila Nieves

Javier is in his first season with SGN, and he’s already making his mark on the team. He brings energy and skill to the field, specializing in planting trees and staking, foundational work that shapes the landscapes we create. Javier tackles each task with care and precision. Off the clock, Javier has found a gaming buddy in Joey. The two team up in Minecraft, building virtual worlds when they’re not building real ones. Welcome to the SGN family, Javier! Here’s to a great first season and many more to come!

Jose “Chon” Avila

Chon is our nursery foreman and head of production for over 20 years. He’s been with the nursery essentially since the beginning. Chon is an expert pruner, planter, crew leader, equipment operator – basically anything that goes on at the nursery, Chon knows what’s up. We are so grateful for his leadership and commitment to the nursery, we would not be who we are without his hard work! THANK YOU! 

Eyes on the Horizon

Even as we close out this season, we’re already deep into planning for the next. Spring 2026 tagging appointments are underway, and it’s been great to walk the rows with customers, marking selections and talking through their upcoming projects. These conversations help us understand what’s working, what’s needed, and how we can continue to grow the right trees for the landscapes our partners are creating.

December is also when we turn our attention to the field itself. Equipment maintenance, row mapping, and crop planning all happen in these quieter months. We’re evaluating what performed well this year, what needs adjustment, and where we’ll focus our efforts as we head into the next growing season. The work doesn’t stop, it just shifts.

Looking Ahead to the New Year

As we move into winter, we’re grateful for the season behind us and energized by what’s ahead. This has been a year of growth, not just for our trees, but for our partnerships, our team, and our vision for what Spring Grove Nursery can be.

We’ve seen new customers join us, long-time partners expand their orders, and community projects take root in ways that remind us why this work matters. Every tree that left our field this season carries with it the care, effort, and intention of everyone on our team. That’s something we don’t take lightly.

A Season of Gratitude

To everyone who partnered with us this year: thank you! To the customers who trust us to grow the trees that shape your projects, to the team members who show up day after day to do hard and meaningful work, and to the community that continues to support local agriculture and green infrastructure, we are deeply grateful.

As we work to close out 2025, we’re reminded that this work is about more than trees. It’s about legacy, stewardship, and the belief that what we plant today will grow and thrive for generations to come.

From all of us at Spring Grove Nursery, we wish you a restful and reflective December. Here’s to wrapping up the year strong and setting deep roots for the seasons ahead.

The Spring Grove Nursery Family,

Jamie, Becky, Joey, Maggie, Zach, Fern, & Benji