Working the summers and weekends in 1968 at the original Stirling's Garden Center and Feed Mill on the Eberbart Road in Meridian through the spring graduation of high school at Butler High in 1972, Bob Stirling knew he wanted either to keep working with the horses at the riding stable at Stirling. or have a garden center.

His father loved working with people at the family pet store and feed mill on Wayne Street before his death in the early 1960s, and son Bob shared the same enthusiasm for working with people, except he had a calling because of his love of plants.

So in May 1972, he sought the advise of his friend and soon to be mentor John Eisler. Bob then began doing landscaping jobs, planting lawns and shrubbery, planting new homes and reconditioning old in the ever growing building market.

John Eisler of Eisler Nurseries developed a friendship with Bob and sent him jobs to do. Plus Bob was beginning an interest in pruning, trimming and removal of trees.

Bob Stirling bought most of his stock off Mr. Eisler. Also a new relationship developed with Butler's other nationally-known nurseryman, Orlando Pride.

Soon Stirling Landscaping was serving 3 counties and a tree service crew was established.

In 1973, Bob Stirling bought property on Route 8 North and within a couple years, he had a garden center. He specializing in a range of nursery items, fertilizers and chemicals for plants, insects and diseases.

Stirling boasted for years of having the most complete line of nursery items such as trees and shrubs in the area.

When in 1976 he married a local girl Cheryl Graff, she became a garden center clerk and expert taking the nursery sales business to the next level.

With her spotting the needs of customers and selecting, designing, assisting with plant problems, the Stirling Garden Center and Landscape Nursery expanded to 33 acres behind its business.

In 1990, the Stirlings bought a farm on Mercer Road in Center Township and moved the family business there.

The problem was the need for a new building, a home and garden center, warehouse, garages. shadehouses, pond and plant watering sources. The Stirlings enlisted 3 contractors, Boice Builders, Lenny Young Construction and P & W Construction, to build the complex, and in 90 days it was done.

Now it's 2005 and the Stirlings have kept on expanding to serve their customers. With addition of more facilities, large waterfalls, night landscape lighting, they continue to be proud of their nursery retail and garden center lines.

They have the largest availability of bark mulch in the area. Single ground or double ground choices, all dyed colors imaginable. Be assured no competitor has a larger choice than Stirling.

Another service Stirling. expanded in 2004 was the installation of walls, walks and patios.

Twelve years ago Stirlings saw the need to provide the finest soil grade to their customers. Topsoil buildings for storage and a topsoil screening plant were brought in. They have specialized in the finest grade of screened topsoil in the area.

This year is no different for Stirling. There is another expansion in the works, and it will soon be visible from Mercer Road.

Stirlings are licensed specialists for lawn care treatments and applications and all plant needs.

The future remains healthy and a still "young" Stirling Landscaping and Nursery on the Mercer Road remains committed to year-round service. It is open Monday through Saturday for all your needs. Call phone 724-287-7921.