If ever there was an optimist, it was Don Sprague, founder and owner of Don Sprague Sales and Garden Gallery Iron Works in Hubbard, Oregon. Don was well known throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Don Sprague Sales was founded in 1981 and was initially a distribution company selling horse feeders, hay racks, and other farm related items. The customer base was small mom and pop farm stores.
Through the years, as the market changed and mom and pop stores became fewer, the business evolved into iron products for home gardeners which were sold through independent retail garden centers. Don’s sister Carol was also working in the business, and she had a good eye for designing iron products that would appeal to home gardeners,
While the farm supply business continued, the market for selling iron trellises, arbors, screens, plant stands, etc., for the home gardener greatly increased. Probably their most well-known product, the Cinch Trap for moles and gophers, is sold nationally.
In 1999, a large outlet mall, Woodburn Premium Outlets, was built along Interstate 5 between Portland and Salem, not far from the Hubbard headquarters of Don Sprague Sales. The owner and manager of the mall at the time wanted to create a beautiful atmosphere with flowers and planters throughout. This became a great venue for showcasing some of Don’s iron work products.
The Petunia Tree was probably the most spectacular and was 15 feet tall with 300 individual pots of petunias. Even driving by on I-5, it was a focal point and hard to miss.
When local cities began to have beautification programs using hanging baskets, Don created the necessary heavy basket holders needed to support the weight of a large basket filled with soil and then watered. Lake Oswego, Oregon, was one of the first communities to create a hanging basket program and Don’s hangers were used and are still used today. Many other cities now use these hangers.
In 2018, Don was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The ongoing treatments caused many changes in Don’s life. Through it all, Don remained an avid gardener of both flowers and vegetables. He was inclusive of his grandchildren and they became involved in gardening with him. While they were learning about gardening, they were also infected with his love of gardening.
In mid-March, he wrote me the following note. It reflects the views of many in the gardening community and of how we pass on our devotion to the world of gardening.
“Life has taken a different turn for me. I went to the hospital the end of December to have some work done on my vocal cords and came out with a tracheostomy and a feeding tube, and no voice. I spent most of January in the hospital. Now I’m adjusting, I’ve been told these new changes will be my life and I’m going to make it work. I’m blessed with wonderful family and friends. I’m working with a couple grandkids to get the garden going. We are putting in more raised beds and a new watering system. I’ve got my garlic and onions planted — also peas. The potatoes will go in the ground on Good Friday (my dad’s old rule). I’m looking forward to good weather next week and I’m excited to see summer.”
Don’s condition worsened and in late June, his feeding tube was removed, and he was placed on hospice care. I visited Don on June 21, and we visited with me talking and him writing questions and responses on a white board. It was obvious that he was devoted to his garden and he was very concerned that his raised vegetable beds were not fully planted. As I was leaving, he motioned for me to wait while he wrote on his white board. He held it up for me to read, he had written, “I’m glad our paths have crossed.” He passed away later that same day.
Don, I too, am glad our paths have crossed.