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Our knowledgeable staff members are key components of our success. Each has their areas of special interest and expertise.
Dick Bemis
Richard “Dick” Bemis, with a handful of perennials and a truckload of ambition, started Bemis Farms Nursery in 1947. Using knowledge he had gained as a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMASS – Amherst he grew plants in soil beds (nobody had yet started growing outdoor plants in pots) and began selling them to the public. Over the years the business grew and flourished. Dick served as president and board member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Congress, the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Worcester County Landscape Gardeners’ Association. Dick was a visionary before his time (and I say that as an industry associate, not just as his son). Long before recycling and naturalistic landscapes were common, or even considered, he was a pioneer in both areas. He started growing large sized annuals for instant summer color in the early 1970. Some thought he was a nut, but that is a major part of the industry now. He and the family were presented with the Silver Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for “noteworthy horticultural accomplishments in the horticulture industry.”
He is now "semi-retired", meaning he works only five days a week instead of seven!
 Ed Bemis
Ed Bemis is a tree hugger. Not in the hippie sense of the word, but rather he loves plants; especially plants that provide a sense of permanence in the landscape. Trees and shrubs are his first love (after his lovely wife Tina, of course). He grew up in the business, learning it from the weeds on up. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and from Cornell University with a BS in Landscape Horticulture. Ed has served as chairman of the Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist Board, and on the Boards of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association, the New England Nursery Association, and the MNLA Foundation for Educational Excellence. He is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, has taught horticultural classes at Becker College and the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and has written for American Nurseryman magazine.
He is currently the co-host, with his wife, of a local television gardening program entitled Bloomin' with the Bemis'
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Tina Bemis
 Tina Rovito Bemis attended the University of Delaware and Cornell University graduating with a BS in Floriculture. Her first love is annual flowers, probably due to her lack of patience for slow growing, long-term crops such as trees. Perennials and vegetables run neck and neck for second on her list of plant loves. At the nursery she is responsible for growing and/or purchasing all of the annuals, perennial, vegetables and herbs for the nursery. She also offers workshops on container gardening in the spring and summer, as well as garden-related crafts in the fall and winter. The classes have become a significant part of the nursery’s charm. She is thrilled, as of late, to be asked to travel across the country on occasion teaching groups of garden center owners how to start putting on workshops.
Tina started Bemis Farms Greenhouse in 1991, a completely separate wholesale greenhouse operation located here on the farm, catering to the garden center market in suburban Boston and Metrowest. The two businesses combined in 1998.
Tina has taught Herbaceous Landscape Plants at Becker College and Greenhouse Management at Clark University through the New England School of Gardening at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. She is a board member of the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association, the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, and was a past member of the Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist Board. She currently serves as president of the Northeast Greenhouse Conference. Tina is also a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist.
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Andrew Ahearn
Andrew keeps us running smoothly. A truly well rounded individual, Andrew works with customers choosing plants that are right for their situation. He does a marvelous job crafting installations in a marvelously meticulous way. When that isn't keeping him busy (yeah, right) he makes sure our equipment is ready to use. A business graduate of Worcester State University, Andrew lives in North Brookfield.
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Beth Bernard
Beth is a dynamo of energy and enthusiasm. Whether it is getting all of our little plants started in the greenhouses in February, helping customers in May, or helping to teach Christmas Workshops in December. She is a multi-talented young lady for all seasons. Many times we read bad things about young people in society. Beth is the exact opposite! An ambitious young lady, she recently took second place (and it was a close second) in a statewide cosmetology competition as a contestant from her school. If the last name sounds familiar, that's because her brother Nathaniel has worked here in the past, and at every opportunity we can steal him away from his Landscape Architecture studies in Amherst.
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 Amanda Purinton
Amanda is a Jill of all Trades. From planting the baby plants to running the register quickly and efficiently, to teaching Christmas Workshops. She is a young lady wise and mature beyond her years. Always willing to lend a helping hand to our customers!
Tony Cole
Tony's strength an interest is in shrubs, trees, and landscape design, but he is very well "cross-trained" with annuals as well. Tony is the artisan who does most of our Plantscape Express creations. Tony was recently awarded the Bayer Advanced Scholarship to attend the American Nursery & Landscape Associations Management Clinic in Kentucky.
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Bart Krug
Bart Krug is the newest addition to the Bemis Farms Nursery "family." He is the former owner of a florist shop in Providence RI, and brings his extraordinary design skills to held you make each moment, from loving your "every day" garden to special occasions, memorable with his unique way with plants, flowers and accessories. For a little fun rent the movie 27 Dresses with actress Katherine Heigl (of Grey's Anatomy fame) to view all of the flower arrangements he designed for the movie.
Barbara Stafinski
When opportunity knocks, answer the door. We were not looking to hire any new staff but when one of the regions respected garden centers closed, Barbara was looking for a job. Her previous employer told us we "would be stupid not to hire her." We did and we haven't looked back. Barbara's knowledge and experience span the horticultural spectrum but are most concentrated among perennials, trees, & shrubs. Barbara is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, and was recently elected to the Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist Board. We have enjoyed with her and we are sure you will too!
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