814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 10. 1993 Former Dairy Farm Transformed Into Autumn Breeze Nursery SHARON B. SCHUSTER Maryland Correspondent NEW WINDSOR, Md.—lt’s a family affair at Schmidt’s Autumn Breeze Nursery. Suzanne Schmidt and her husband, Bruce Schmidt, who is ‘retired’, keep busy through the week looking after the family’s nursery business. The Schmidts reside in a large Federal style brick home that is situated along McKinstiy Mill Road, New Windsor. to accommoi convene •my Suzanna Schmidt’s stenciling wraps around the kitchen near the 12-foot high ceil ing. The mantel, at left, Is an example of “punch and gouge” woodwork. zoom features a pegboard decorated wl and a 10-piece rope bed. The house is at the heart of the 6S-acre operation and it is big enough to accommodate two fam ilies and serve as a refuge for their son, Greg, and his family on weekends. The Schmidts’ daught er, Wendelyn, who holds f» PhD in pharmacology, lives in the former slave quarters of the rambling homestead. “We love this house,” said Suzanne Schmidt. “We’ve enjoyed fixing it, and have done a late the nursery business. / /• (Bk r i. 4 I a I t - * vintage doming, antique dolls, fairly decent job.” When Greg Schmidt, who holds a degree in horticulture and works as a land scaper in the Silver Spring, Mary land area, was searching for just the right location to start his own nursery, he settled on the former dairy farm, complete with bam. outbuildings, and a fixer-upper of a house. “We chose this area because we wanted to develop clientele in the area. It is fast-growing. We / Suzanne Schmidt readies her Federal-style home for visi tors on the New Windsor Heritage Committee’s Tour of His torical Homes. wanted to be in a 30 to 40-mile radius of the Baltimorc- Washington area,” explained Mrs. Schmidt. The nursery is just a stone’s throw from Carroll Coun ty, but officially, it is located in Frederick County, Maryland “We have only deciduous trees,” said Mrs. Schmidt of the nursery stock. Not far from the large established maples around their home are neat rows of young maple trees and flowering trees. “We plant two thousand trees per year.” she added. They have planted 12,000 trees since they first established the nursery in 1987. The family agrees that running the nursery is “labor-intensive work.” On any given day, visitors might find Bruce Schmidt behind the rototiller or operating equip ment that is crucial to the nursery such as the tree spade, backhoe, tractors, auger or mown. Daught er, Wendelyn, is quick to jump in when she sees dial a task has become a ‘two-man job.' “I’m die gardener,” she quipped. “I’m the salesperson.” said Mrs. Schmidt “I enjoy it” I let them know what we have and distribute price lists to the nurseries. Schmidt's Autumn Breeze Nursery is a supplier to the public, as well as to landscapers. The Schmidts' son, Greg, founder of the nursery, oversees all facets of the business and performs his duties on weekends. The outbuildings at the farm have been converted to accommo date the needs of a different ‘branch’ of agriculture, so to speak. And the splendid house, which dates to 1812, has been renovated to serve as a lovely and comfortable homestead. The dou ble fanlights above the front entry bespeak the elegance that lies ■ r m>irvf.r* ♦ Vr m V it*** «** ■ML Many, the main house. It.. kitchen. Note the original crane on the hearth. Wendy’s col lection of harness brasses decorates the mantel. This room was once used as a oaraae. r- Schmidt’s Autumn Breeze Nursery supplies landscapers and homeow* ners with deciduous trees. within. The home will be featured on a Tour of Historic Homes, sponsored by the Heritage Com mittee of New Windsor, on Octob er 3. The eight rooms of the main house are home to Bruce and Suzanne Schmidt, while the adjoining former slave quarters are home to their daughter, Wen delyn. Each room is a showcase for family heirlooms, antiques, collectibles and the handiwork of family members. “My father was a tinsmith,*’ said Mrs. Schmidt. His tool chest now serves as a table in the sitting room, and his tools are part of Bruce’s collection of antique tools that hang on the wall. Adjoining the room is a large, eat-in kitchen, which features a fireplace mantel with punch and goo"e woodwork. “There is a fire (Turn to Pag* B 16)
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