When MWN needed an experienced landscape center manager to oversee its Orange County operations, it looked no further than the San Juan Capistrano site. ThatÕs where Keith Lazenby was working when MWN acquired the facility earlier this year. Keith managed the site when it was California Landscape Maintenance and Capistrano Wholesale Nursery, then stayed on for MWN.

As MWN’s San Juan Capistrano and Lake Forest nursery sites serve many of the same clients, it was decided that one person would manage both sites. In September, Keith was appointed sites manager for the Orange County operations.

“This is a great opportunity,” Keith said. “I really appreciate the chance to use my skills.” Keith has a long history in the nursery business. He has a degree in ornamental horticulture, is a California Certified Nurseryman, and has his landscape contractor license.

Keith owned a retail nursery in the San Fernando Valley for 15 years and was with California Landscape Maintenance for 17 years in San Juan Capistrano before MWN took over.

By uniting the two Orange County sites under one manager, MWN expects to improve the flow of products, materials, and information between the nurseries. “The goal is to increase efficiencies,” said Suzie Wiest, branch manager for all three locations. “We want to combine resources, both product and people, to improve service.”

“I want to preserve our product line and expand it,” Keith said. “I want to develop and expand our sales staff, will-call opportunities, and our customer base.” With Keith’s experience, the support of his sales staff, and the resources of the 200-acre San Diego site, MWN hopes its Orange County sites will become a dependable landscape resource for the region’s landscapers and commercial properties.

Red Oleander offers up a bright red boom at the Orange County facility in October.

Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (MWN) expanded into Orange County earlier this year, and one location they acquired was SeaTree Nurseries in Lake Forest/Irvine. At the time, the 75-acre site was known for its great selection of trees. Now it’s known for its great selection of everything landscape related.

“We’re a one-stop shop for all landscaping needs,” said Keith Lazenby, a sites manager of the Orange County locations. “From irrigation supplies to fertilizers, we stock everything.”

The addition of a commercial landscape center is what made the difference. Like the MWN locations in San Diego and San Juan Capistrano, Lake Forest now stocks a complete inventory of plant materials and landscape supplies, including trees, bedding plants, bulk soils, sod, and distinctive trees from the Vista Hill Collection.

“The production and sales staff have worked well together to increase stocking levels and develop a full line of landscape products,” said Suzie Wiest, branch manager for all three MWN locations. “They are committed to serving the landscape industry as a trusted resource and supplier of quality material.”

The production team, led by Jacinto Munoz, assisted greatly in setting up the commercial landscape center, while continuing to produce and maintain an extensive inventory of trees and shrubs.

Stop by the site and meet the staff. Along with Keith and Jacinto, you will meet Max Steen and Bob Everett, sales representatives and tree experts; Donna Johnson, commercial landscape center sales manager; Sam Banuelos, assistant CLC sales manager; Helen Stamate, office administrator; and the shipping and will-call team of Hugo Jorge, Arturo Orozco, Felipe Godoy and Abel Diaz.

“The Lake Forest team has shown a lot of strength and have made many positive changes,” Suzie said. “They are committed to the customer and we are very proud of what they have accomplished this past year.”

Like the other commercial landscape centers in San Diego and San Juan Capistrano, customers at Lake Forest can call ahead to place an order for quick delivery or pick-up, or drive through the facility to directly pick up the plants of their liking. “Architects like to come out early in production to pick the trees they want. We tag them and hold them until they’re ready to place them,” Keith said.

Look for more improvements to Lake Forest in the next six months. Part of the land the facility sits on is scheduled for redevelopment, so in January the landscape center will relocate to another larger site nearby. The center currently takes up about six acres; the new facility will cover about 10 acres, providing additional room for even greater selection. The remaining 70 acres will stay where it is and continue as the production site where plants are grown.

The Lake Forest staff, left to right: Arturo Orozco, Donna Johnson, Max Steen, Bob Everett, Felipe Godoy, Helen Stamate, Keith Lazenby, Hugo Jorge, Sheila Checkley, Sam Banuelos, Jacinto Munoz, and Abel Diaz.