Tumbleweed owners keen to start next adventure

When the Matakana business Tumbleweed closes later this year, business owners Wendy Schick and John Davies will say goodbye to Matakana and a lifetime of nursery work.

Their lease is up and although they were given the option to renew, they have decided it is time to step away from the pressure of a seven day a week business.

At 65 and 70 years of age respectively, they say they are ready to start enjoying their retirement.

“The last couple of years have been particularly hard,” Wendy says. “The covid lockdowns took their toll and then we’ve had the weather. We make our money in the spring, but last year there was no spring and no summer. People don’t want to plant gardens in the rain. It really hurt us.”

Wendy said although they had considered selling Tumbleweed, they didn’t believe that many people would be interested in a seven day a week business.

“Even on Christmas Day, you have to come in and water!”

When the doors close, the couple will head for their property at Whakapirau, which they have owned for nearly 20 years, and then they will move to a family farm, near Dargaville. John has already lined himself up a job as a tractor driver on a kumara farm, which he is keenly looking forward to. The closure of Tumbleweed will be the end of era for him. He is the fourth generation horticulturist of the New Plymouth based family business Duncan & Davies – one of the largest nurseries in the southern hemisphere.

After an apprenticeship at George Rainey’s Nursery in Auckland, he set up the Avondale Garden Centre. He ran this for seven years before buying the disused Model Nurseries in New Lynn, which grew to be the major supplier of plants to garden centres and landscapers throughout the North Island.

In 1996, the nursery relocated to the former Smith homestead in Matakana, now occupied by Goose Bakery. A few years later, they shifted to their present site on Matakana Road.

For Wendy, relocating to Matakana was a return to home. She grew up on a farm in Wayby Valley Road and attended schools in Wellsford before moving to Auckland where she worked as a hairdresser. She took a part-time job at John’s Avondale nursery on weekends and, as they say, “the rest is history”. She eventually became the sales manager for Model Nurseries, training in plant propagation and nursery work.

“When we opened the retail nursery in Matakana, my mum Margaret (nee Cruickshank) worked alongside me, and John ran the wholesale side of the business,” Wendy says.

“Eventually we saw the potential for a professional landscaping service, which prompted us to move to the larger site.” At one point, the business was maintaining 36 properties, and employing eight to 10 staff.

Wendy says the landscaping team Nature Vision has invited her to continue to be involved in garden design, which she thinks she might accept.

“Our move north is to be closer to family and to wind-down,” she says. “John’s not interested in travelling but I have a sister and niece in Australia who are, and I am looking forward to some great holidays.

“We won’t miss the work, but we will miss the customers, many of whom have become friends, and our staff. We’ve always been so lucky to have had such great staff.”

Wendy expects the business to close around October.