Amanda’s serious interest in gardening began while working at Tallahassee Nurseries in the mid-nineties. While there, she gained much experience in their retail division, landscape design division and bookkeeping department.

With her passion for plants growing, Amanda decided to gain some formal training by enrolling in the horticulture program at Lively Vo-Tech.  After a year at Lively, she enrolled in the Landscape Design Program at Florida A & M University. Benefiting by many experienced teachers and creative gardeners, Amanda decided to step out and open up her own business, Landscape Design by Gardens, Inc., in Tallahassee, August of 2000.

Ultimately convinced that she had done the right thing by opening the business, Gardens, Inc. grew and in 2001 “gardener-girl” Amanda was joined by “landscaper-extraordinaire” Bill Kollar.

The two first met in 1998 while Amanda was employed at Tallahassee Nurseries and Bill was running his own business, William Kollar, Landscape Design. They married in April of 2002.

Gardens, Inc. has greatly benefited by the addition of Bill. He brought with him the knowledge of commercial design, irrigation, turf, drainage and construction. A native of Philadelphia, Bill often says that he got to the south as quickly as he could! He “got to the south” in 1984 to enroll in the Landscape Design Program at FAMU. During his time at FAMU he also worked at Tallahassee Nurseries and gained experience in their retail operation as well as working for several years there as a landscape designer.

After six years of operating Gardens, Inc, in Tallahassee, the pair decided to transplant themselves and their business to St. George Island. On the island they have been able to further develop their interest in native plantings and conservation of natural resources. Thankfully, it has proved to be a fruitful move. Bill and Amanda have enjoyed all aspects of helping local homeowners solve challenging issues all the while giving Bill the opportunity to spend just about every morning and evening on the water feeding his addiction to kayak fishing.

With a strong desire to add retail to the thriving landscape design operation, The Garden Shop was opened on St. George Island on a chilly Saturday morning in the spring of 2007. Never to be forgotten, March 10th, Amanda’s Mother’s birthday. This first shop was lovely and they learned a lot. They learned that it is better to have shade in a garden shop and it is good to have cover from salt spray and torrential winds. In November of 2007, just seven months after opening the shop on the island, The Garden Shop began moving to Apalachicola. The new shop has many shade trees; it is on a lot wedged in between old buildings in the historic district. With shade and cover in place, The Garden Shop opened February 13th, 2008.