NURTURE
N U R S E RY
FO C U S W
hen Lanie and Gray walked down the aisle in 2002, they were bright-eyed about their future. Life has thrown them a few curveballs since then, but they’re stronger than ever, knowing they’re exactly where they’re supposed to be. As newlyweds, Lanie landed a job at a nursery while Gray worked in his family’s real estate and development business. But five years into their marriage, they hit their first speed bump.
THE RINER FAMILY
south.prolandscaperusa.com
T H U N D E R W O O D FA R M S AFTER A DEVASTATING TORNADO, L ANIE AND GR AY RINER REBUILD ON A FOUNDATION OF FAITH, FRIENDS AND FAMILY
“Not only was the real-estate market tanking, I found out I was pregnant,” says Lanie. “Like many women, I wanted to be near my mom. So, we sold the last of our properties, and we moved home to start a nursery on my family’s land. Cole was born in January of 2008, and we broke ground on our business in July.” Then 17 months later, the couple welcomed their daughter Reagan into the world. While they had a lot to juggle, they had a strong support system. Lanie says Gray picked up on the nursery business quickly, and Gray credits his wife for being a good teacher. The couple says the key to working with your spouse is to stay in your own lane. “She takes care of things like paperwork that I have a tough time doing,” says Gray. “And thanks to him, our processes are streamlined and we’re more efficient,” Lanie chimes in. “And he’s really good at the people side of the business and doing the sales and marketing.”
For the next several years, the couple ran their small but successful operation, growing perennial cultivars for wholesale nurseries, independent garden centers, landscaping firms, and cut-flower producers in the Southeast. Thunderwood Farms became known for its unique line of moderate to high-end perennials that perform well under the South’s intense heat and humidity. But on the winter solstice of 2017, the darkest day of the year became the darkest moment in their life. A tornado destroyed their farm.
Pro Landscaper USA South July/August 2021 39
