Featured Partner

Don Penner & Andrea Patti
of A Growing Concern

A Growing Concern—a journey much like the life-cycles of the garden plants we love.

ORIGINS

A descendant of early California settlers, the Berryessas, I, Don Penner, was born and raised in the Santa Clara Valley. My love of gardening took root, when at the age of nine, my County Fair ribbon-winning Armenian Cucumber, landed my picture in the SJ Mercury.

A Growing Concern has had a journey much like the life-cycle’s of the garden plants we love.

The business was originally conceived and germinated, by David and Nancy Broce, in 1984.

It initially started small, but eventually sent forth roots and grew in size and scope, adding employees, clients and adding to our skill set.

I joined AGC in 1993. I was a very green, but budding and intrepid horticulturist. I learned the trade by jumping in the trenches, with the help of Cabrillo College’s horticulture program and several dog-eared copies of Sunset Western Gardens.

Eventually, my wife Andrea Patti and I purchased the business from the Broce’s. Andrea and I have been partners in life since 1988 and have grown together through college, raising a family, and now running a business. While I interface with crews and clientele in the landscape, Andrea holds it down behind the scenes, as the full charge bookkeeper.

FINE GARDENING STAFF & CLIENTELE

Our dedicated, long-term employees are the bedrock of our success. We strive to maintain a small family business culture with a personable and positive work environment, competitive wages and benefits. We primarily specialize in residential landscapes to provide careful and attentive service, for gardens ranging from standard suburban yards to sprawling oak woodland estates and rustic retreats. We are focused on a plant healthcare approach, educating our crews in Green Gardening practices, I.P.M., and water-efficient irrigation. Ultimately, our business is grounded in the relationships we’ve developed. Our weekly clients make up the bulk of our business and many of our clients have become great collaborative partners and promoters of our services. We continue to evolve by word of mouth referrals and enjoy creating, installing, and maintaining beautiful outdoor living spaces.

DESIGN & INSTALLATION

I am an informal/on-site garden designer and have recently begun collaborating with fellow landscape designer, Elizabeth Burton. Our installation crew, led by Matt Dotten (Oregon State Horticulture graduate), is kept busy with ongoing improvements for our regulars, as well as a few additional larger landscape installations per year. We build plantscapes, edible gardens, irrigation systems, paths and walkways, flagstone and unit paver patios, dry stack stone borders and retaining walls, fences and wood-work, and low-voltage lighting.

As we look toward the future, we hope to leave a fertile ground for the growth and potential of the next generation of plant and garden enthusiasts.

Thanks to our local CLCA chapter for your support and encouragement through this journey!

DON penner
a growing concern
CCL# 1065249

Phone: (408) 483-0126
Email: donpenner33@gmail.com

Andrea PaTTI
a growing concern
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Phone: office (831) 458-3447
Email: andrea2020agc@gmail.com
PO Box: 2010, Santa Cruz, CA 95063