Our Garden Center boasts 2 ponds brimming with ducks, goats for our guests to feed, and even a solar chicken coop. We offer everything you need to enhance your landscape and garden. We are truly a one stop for plants, trees, landscape design, and lawn maintenance services. So whether you’re looking to plant a single tree or you need help designing and landscaping your residential or commercial property, the professionals at FGS are available to serve you.
FGS was originally started by Chapel Hill resident JoAnn Davis. It is now owned and operated by Scott and Marsha Pearce who have managed the day to day operations since 2010.
Scott grew up in Lakeland, Florida and lived there until moving to North Carolina in 2008. He owned, operated and sold a lawn and pest management company in Lakeland prior to his move. Scott managed For Garden’s Sake from 2010 to 2015. He and his wife, Marsha, then purchased For Garden’s Sake and it’s been an adventure ever since. Scott’s degree in Business and Professional Leadership has come in handy over the years managing three divisions of FGS. He loves spending time and traveling out West and in the NC mountains with Marsha. When they are not traveling, he loves spending time with his daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter as well as his two sons. Scott is an excellent musician and uses his talents when he has the opportunity (and time). His favorite movie of all time is a tie between Father of the Bride and Christmas Vacation. During conversations, he can quote one-liners from both at precisely the right moment leaving most everyone in stitches. If he could do anything else in life that might be a “bit” less stressful, he would legitimately bartend. For real.
Email: scott@fgsdurham.com
Marsha grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then moved to Lakeland, Florida as a teenager. Marsha began her career in the Purchasing Department at Publix. She and Scott co-owned their lawn and pest management company in Florida. She spent many years at home with their three children until 2012 when she began part-time at FGS. Now, she wears many hats at FGS, but primarily is the visionary behind the scenes. She doesn’t meet strangers and loves trying new things. She refurbishes old furniture, loves working with wood and being outside. Her favorite new pastime is spending it with their granddaughter, Halle, and she imagines them getting into all sorts of trouble with Halle’s mom in the future. If she isn’t working or playing with Halle, she will be found binge watching Downton Abbey or The Crown for the 13th time, sketching her next idea while enjoying a Moscow Mule.
Email: marsha@fgsdurham.com
Hannah is from Ohio but has been in North Carolina since 2007, along with her two cats. She graduated from NCSU with a degree in Zoology, and has since worked her way through the animal field (vet med and rescue), then the people field (medical examiner’s office), and now the plant field. She’s a beginner plant parent and is learning how to overcome her “black thumb.” Succulents are definitely her favorite — the weirder looking the better! When not at FGS, you can find her writing, studying Korean, or participating in trash cleanups with The Great Raleigh Cleanup. She says “Waterfall” by B.I represents her best.
Shannon is originally a California girl, but she has established a beautiful home in Apex, NC. Numbers come easy to her, and she proved it by earning her Masters in Accounting at Brigham Young University. In addition to helping us navigate the accounting waters, she has spent a lot of her personal time helping other organizations with accounting. She enjoys knowing that using her skills frees others to do what they love with less stress! Shannon spends her time away from here involved at her church, running, or just hanging out with her two lovely girls at the pool. Shannon runs on sunshine!
Email: shannon@fgsdurham.com
Tess has spent her entire life in the Peak of Good Living, Apex, NC. She earned her Horticulture Science degree from NC State and spent several years working in public gardens, including the Biltmore Estate, Longwood Gardens and Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Her love for plants and people brought her to look for a change of pace and landed her here in our HR department. Tess loves spending time taking walks with her new baby boy, playing games or eating ice cream with her husband. And per FGS style, she loves filling her apartment with plants! Although she loves filling her life with color, she dreams in black and white. Her favorite TV show is Parks & Rec because it’s lighthearted and she loves happy things! Totally reflective of her personality, too.
Email: tess@fgsdurham.com
Lizzie grew up in New York, but lived for the past decade in Ohio, where she attended Ohio University. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Arts and Humanities as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Management, which blended her love for acting and theater with management, non-profit, small business, and leadership skills. Working at FGS is the perfect blend of all her experiences! She is a Disney and fairy-tale buff, looking for spots of magic each day. When home, she is likely spending time with her dogs, writing her next YA novel, horseback riding, or gaming and making pizza with her husband, Marco. Her toxic trait is ordering french fries but not finishing them. Like who does that? And if she won the lottery, she would buy a house, visit Italy and buy enough books to fill a library that would make Belle proud!
Email: lizzie@fgsdurham.com
Sydney was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. She recently graduated from North Carolina State University (GO PACK!) with a degree in Communications and a focus in Public Relations. Her background includes serving up deliciousness at Pelican’s Snoballs and taking care of littles as a Nanny. Sydney was drawn to FGS’ friendly work enviornment and of course, the beautiful property. Who wouldn’t love looking out their window at the gorgeous lake and Garden Center?! Her willingness to jump into any project with Marsha and Lizzie, fresh ideas and perspective, and immpecable taste in nail art makes Sydney the perfect addition to the office vibe. In her spare time, you can find Sydney diving into a Colleen Hoover book while lounging at the beach!
Email: sydney@fgsdurham.com
Doug is from Rocky Mount, NC, now living with his wife and son in Holly Springs, NC. He graduated from NC State with a degree in landscape architecture and a minor in horticultural science. Doug began his career at the JC Raulston Arboretum maintaining the gardens. He also spent a few years working for the NC State Parks system as a parks planner. He joined the FGS team in 2013 managing the garden center and became the in-house landscape designer in 2015. Doug spends his free time gardening, restoring furniture, playing guitar, surf fishing, and enjoying great food. His favorite food is a ribeye or Eastern Carolina BBQ, of course!
Email: doug@fgsdurham.com
Billy grew up in Philadelphia, PA. He made his home in Raleigh, NC, after receiving his Master’s in Landscape Architecture at NC State. Before making the decision to go to grad school, Billy worked as a solar technician in the Triangle. His easy-going personality took him to live out of the Mystery Machine Van for 10 weeks as he traveled in Australia back in 2017. If Billy is not at his desk creating beautiful designs, he is frolicking outdoors, especially at the beach or the mountains. You may also find him in his garden, playing a game of soccer with friends or traveling with his fiancé, Kim, hunting for future wedding venues! His favorite book is The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. A must read if you haven’t!
Email: billy@fgsdurham.com
Jack is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but moved to NC in 2016. Jack studied Horticultural Science, Turfgrass Science (yes, that’s a thing), Management and Spanish at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has worked in the Landscape, Golf Course and Design industry since 2002. Jack joined our team in 2017. On the weekends, you will find Jack enjoying a round of golf or disc golf, playing volleyball, relaxing at the beach and lake or just chilling with friends in his new home. His drink of choice would be a Brandy Old Fashion and well, who can go wrong with that?
Email: jack@fgsdurham.com
Josh is from Snow Camp, NC and has worked at FGS for 2 and a half years. He has completed the horticulture program at Alamance Community College and has been working in the field for over a decade. He and his wife Lindsey are high school sweethearts celebrating 9 years together! Their son, Kai, enjoys soccer and Josh helps coach the team. Josh enjoys fishing, surfing, and taking trips to the mountains and beach with his family and playing in his band, Murdub. He loves poke bowls and sushi. His biggest fear? The unknown. We can all relate, am I right?
Viridian was born in Veracruz, Mexico, but she grew up in Hillsborough, NC. She lives in Durham with her son, Navid. Viridian has an Associate in Arts and is currently working towards her Spanish Facilitator certification. Her Spanish-speaking skills are quite handy for us at FGS! She loves superheroes, but can’t choose a favorite. When she has free time, Viridian likes to play superheroes with Navid, read, work in her garden or watch movies. Her favorite book is, naturally, The Secret Garden. Viridian is thoughtful, kind and her smile always brightens our day!
Email: viridian@fgsdurham.com
AmberLeigh lived in Raleigh, NC before moving to Cary with her husband and fur babies. She is a UNCG graduate with a degree in Elementary Education and NonProfit Management. She decided teaching elementary school was not for her, however, and found her go-getter personality was perfect for working in sales, administration, and as an instructor. She keeps the entire office staff in line! Also, working at FGS seemed like a perfect fit for her since she currently owns 50+ houseplants, maintains her own worm compost and has a small outdoor garden. When she and her husband are enjoying time off, they love to relax, explore the Triangle and hang out with loved ones. Her favorite snack of all time? Lay’s Ranch Potato Chips and Pace’s Hot Salsa. Yes, you read that correctly! 100%.
Email: amberleigh@fgsdurham.com
Nick grew up in Bear Creek, just south of us, in Chatham County. He graduated with a major in Agricultural Business Management and a minor in Horticultural Science and Economics. Nick has brought an easy-going spirit to our team as well as great attention to detail. He is a strong communicator that has been appreciated by everyone he speaks to on the phone. Currently living in Raleigh, you will find Nick hiking in the state parks in his free time. He also enjoys woodworking and builds his own furniture. His favorite book and show is The Game of Thrones and he enjoys a good sub sandwich to round out the experience!
Email: nick@fgsdurham.com
Dylan is a graduate of Penn State University where he majored in Plant Science with a concentration in Turfgrass. He worked previously in golf course and athletic field maintenance. He and his beautiful wife currently live in Chapel Hill with their new puppy, Sadie. Dylan loves being outdoors and enjoys hiking, camping, fishing and archery. When he isn’t fishing, which would be all the time if he could, he enjoys watching history-based movies. His two favorites are Saving Private Ryan and Dances with Wolves.
Email: dylan@fgsdurham.com
AmberLeigh lived in Raleigh, NC before moving to Cary with her husband and fur babies. She is a UNCG graduate with a degree in Elementary Education and NonProfit Management. She decided teaching elementary school was not for her, however, and found her go-getter personality was perfect for working in sales, administration, and as an instructor. Coming to FGS seemed like a perfect fit for her since she currently owns 50+ houseplants, maintains her own worm compost and has a small outdoor garden. When she and her husband are enjoying time off, they love to relax, explore the Triangle and hang out with loved ones. Her favorite snack of all time? Lay’s Ranch Potato Chips and Pace’s Hot Salsa. Yes, you read that correctly! 100%.
Email: amberleigh@fgsdurham.com
Julia is from Pembroke, NC, but now lives in Durham, NC with her husband. Her professional background began in agriculture where she focused on the aggregation of local NC food. She is incredibly passionate about supporting local farms, so she is a perfect fit for sourcing locally grown plants in NC at our Garden Center. Julia loves small businesses and is delighted to be able to further her career at FGS where she can continue to foster her passion for plants. She loves personal finance and can often be found making monthly budgets. When she isn’t visiting gardens or other local nurseries in her free time, she is avidly gardening and caring for her cats, Loaf and Oden. Julia enjoys sci-fi films like Ender’s Game, and when she’s done working on her real-life garden, you can find her gardening virtually on Animal Crossing New Horizons.
Email: julia@fgsdurham.com
Morgan is originally from sunny Encinitas, California, but we were fortunate she made the decision to move to NC in 2021. Interestingly, she has quite a bit of training in marine microbiology, but her passion for plants and retail brought her to FGS and we’re delighted. Morgan is sweet and soft-spoken, but don’t let that fool you. She is on top of her game and has added an awesome energy to the Garden Center. She has a knack for details and organization which is perfect for her role! Morgan loves to read, garden, and be outside in nature as much as she can. She loves learning about NC’s native plants and incorporating them into her garden at home. When she has the opportunity, she loves traveling around India.
Email: morgan@fgsdurham.com
Mariah is the pottery queen at FGS. Originally from Mid-coast Maine where she grew up with 7 other siblings, Mariah has now been in Durham, NC for the past three years. She spent most of her career in grocery retail, but her love for plants and the green industry brought her to us. Mariah’s love for all things green grew out of spending summers working in landscaping. Her hard-work and exceptional communication skills, plus her exceptional eye for color and display make her the perfect fit for our Retail Merchandiser/Trainer role. When she isn’t perfectly placing pots or helping customers at FGS, she is cooking, gardening, camping or hiking with her husband. Her laugh is contagious to everyone especially with her favorite drink, a Greyhound cocktail (with vodka instead of gin) in hand!
Email: mariah@fgsdurham.com
Ann is a native of New York and grew up in New York City. She left the big city behind 13 years ago and moved to NC. She lives with her husband and dogs in Durham. Prior to managing our Garden Center, Ann was a teacher and worked in social services. However, she has always had a soft spot for gardening and would complete gardening projects on the side. She is a life-long gardener, and loves helping people find the right plant for the right place in their landscape while helping garden newbies overcome their fears. She spends free time with her dogs, kayaking or tracing her family tree. If she could pick three things to take if ever stuck on an island, it would be, of course, Brad and the dogs!
Joey grew up in Greensboro, NC, and lives in Graham, NC. Before finding his passion for houseplants, Joey worked extensively in the service industry. But he discovered what he really enjoyed was working with plants, and helping people find the perfect plant for their spaces. This made him a perfect fit for our FGS Houseplant Department Sales Lead. When Joey isn’t ordering or tending to the houseplants in the Garden Center, he spends his free time hiking, especially along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian mountains. He loves touring botanical gardens and discovering new music, particularly music that makes you want to move your feet! His favorite books are the Harry Potter series. If he isn’t reading, you might also find him watching Schitt’s Creek while sipping on his favorite cocktail, a Paloma!
Email: joey@fgsdurham.com
Sunshine lives in Hillsborough, NC with her family. Her brother was the one who named her Sunshine before she was even born. She joined our team in 2019 and has transitioned from part-time staff to Grounds and Hardgoods Department Sales Lead to currently our Tree/Shrub Department Sales Lead. She has always had a love for plants that was cultivated and passed down from her family–especially her grandfather. She knows tons about plants and chances are, if you have a question about one, she will likely have the answer. In her free time, you will find her in her own garden tending to the thousands of plants she has, creating beautiful art, playing with her adorable cats, writing, hiking or visiting arboretums. Her favorite guilty pleasure? Homemade garlic fries. Same.
Email: sunshine@fgsdurham.com
Caro grew up in Mooresville, North Carolina. When she was 12 years old, her father gave her her first pothos and she’s been growing her collection ever since. In college, she studied Journalism and Political Science at UNC Chapel Hill. Three words used to describe her would be thorough, caring, and creative. She’s been passionate about caring for plants, specifically houseplants, since early adolescence. In her spare time, she likes to visit art museums, travel as much as she can, watch horror movies, and see local live music. Her favorite song would have to be Center of Gravity by The Brazen Youth. While she may be soft spoken when you first meet, don’t miss the wealth of knowledge she has to offer. Her eyes and smile will brighten your day!
Email: caro@fgsdurham.com
Amber is from Hendersonville, NC. She grew up on a farm and was always playing in the woods. Her parents taught her plant ID at an early age. She has a minor in Horticulture, volunteered abroad in sustainable agriculture and has worked in the industry for nearly twenty years. Previously she has worked at the Biltmore Estate, The North Carolina Arboretum, in horticultural therapy, as a florist, and has run garden programs in schools. Amber has been a home gardener for many years and has more house plants than she can count! She enjoys spending time with her family, preferably outdoors, and is a long distance open water swimmer. She loves yoga, cooking, traveling and hoarding cats. Three words we use to describe Amber are friendly, adventurous, and sincere.
Email: amber@fgsdurham.com
Judy cannot call one particular place “where she grew up” because she lived in multiple coastal cities in the US and Japan. Judy has placed roots in Cedar Grove, near Hillsborough, NC where she lives with her husband, dogs, cats and Budgie Birds. Before working in Garden Centers and becoming our houseplant guru, Judy was a Certified Dental Assistant. We are so glad she chose plants over teeth! If you can’t find Judy tending to all the houseplants, she is likely spending time with her grandchildren, fishing in her lake, playing with her animals, tending her garden or watching Yellowstone. If she could visit anywhere in the world, she would travel to Block Island, Rhode Island and hunt for hidden hand-blown glass orbs. Yes, this is a real thing!
Email: judy@fgsdurham.com
Do you love working with a team that works hard, but likes to have fun at the same time? Working here allows you to enjoy a beautiful, natural environment every day. At FGS, we prioritize caring for our employees as much as we do caring for our customers. You will feel like a part of the FGS community, and you are given opportunities to train, learn, and improve your skill set in any of our divisions.
Would you be the perfect fit for one of these positions?
Doug has yet again worked his magic. His designs incorporated so many plants from my childhood, memories of my parents and grandparents. Friends bring friends to see our backyard gardens. We have gotten so many compliments on the front yard as well. All are looking forward to seeing it flourish. Jack was amazing. He was here making sure everything was done correctly, and when he didn’t think something was right he jumped in to help, even helping dig the dry creek bed by hand. Thank you. So much. That this special place I first knew with Mrs. Davis back in 1999 has made my garden dreams come true means everything to me.”
