The Trailblazer
In 1915, J.B. King, Sr. began growing strawberries in the tiny little railroad town of Tenaha, Texas. The strawberries that were harvested were shipped by train to Shreveport, Louisiana for sale. This lasted until a number of other strawberry farms popped up in the area, making the business less profitable and sending J.B. Sr. in search of a new crop! He made the decision to stop growing produce and to start growing fruit trees. Grafting peaches, pears, plums, apples, persimmons and pecans allowed him to provide his customers with the latest and greatest in fruit varieties.
![The King's strawberry farm (early 1920s)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580970107834-KO7YAD1EGNFEMFXWGG8B/Untitled.png)
The King's strawberry farm (early 1920s)
![J.B. King Sr. with fruit trees (mid 1920s)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580970129804-W99HE4RZ03TTCDUQ5RV1/Untitled2.png)
J.B. King Sr. with fruit trees (mid 1920s)
In addition to fruit trees, J.B. Sr. began growing select woody ornamentals. The alluvial, acid sands of East Texas proved to be ideal for these crops. He also added roses to the nursery offerings. Unlike with the woody ornamentals, customers needed illustrations to see the bloom type and color of the roses he sold. J.B. used a leather-bound book with color prints of many of the roses he offered to inform his customers.
![J.B. King Sr. (left)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580973351323-RNAR23Y6YJTTHXFFHKR1/Untitled4.jpg)
J.B. King Sr. (left)
![Katie King (J.B. Sr.'s wife)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580973399671-JS0CYNO04APA0G1Z7LVK/Untitled5.jpg)
Katie King (J.B. Sr.'s wife)
![J.B. King Jr.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580973447545-4RV53BTLEGFADT4C7UL3/Untitled7.jpg)
J.B. King Jr.
![Print used to educate customers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1580973101658-31UACVJC8U05F5WJ6RMH/Untitled3.png)
Print used to educate customers
The Plant Man
In 1949, J.B. King Jr. was called upon to take over the nursery. Having grown up there, he had a good idea of what the business would entail, but he brought some fresh ideas and a true passion for the art and science of horticulture. Though J.B. Jr. was very capable of dealing with the public, his true calling was to grow plants. Those closest to him have often said that he would have been totally satisfied to work with plants all day, everyday, without the need to hear from a soul.
J.B. King Jr.
J.B. and Wife Margaret in the late 1970s.
J.B. Jr. grafting in the late 1970s.
During his time at the helm, J.B. Jr. oversaw the move from balled and burlapped (B&B) trees and bareroot offerings, to containerization. Containerized plants, became popular in the 1950s and 60s and allowed the consumer to plant 365 days a year, as opposed to the highly seasonal nature of the B&B and bareroot offerings. J.B. Jr. also greatly expanded the plant selection available on the nursery. His forte was propagating and growing woody ornamentals, and his fingerprints can still be seen on the nursery today.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1609719440334-GM9RAM0L028SCWBOXH3Z/image25.jpg)
The Performer
Just like his father, Aubrey King grew up on the nursery. Unlike J.B., Aubrey didn’t develop a natural passion for growing plants (at least not initially). Aubrey earned a B.S. in political science from Stephen F. Austin State University and proceeded to work for a Savings & Loan for a few years after college. One weekend however, he came home to help J.B. with a landscape project and it was all over! Aubrey turned in his two week notice the following week and spent the rest of his life on King’s Nursery, as his ancestors did. Aubrey’s love for people and his innate charisma made him a natural at chauffeuring customers around the nursery, all the time charming them with one of his many stories.
![Aubrey, Cheryl, Andrew, Aaron and Margaret King (3 generations)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1609719694704-8T3PL3K9ZK386F5XZXO1/00036_s_r16anex2cax0036.jpg)
Aubrey, Cheryl, Andrew, Aaron and Margaret King (3 generations)
![Aubrey educating a customer.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3a29bdab22ee7164774444/1609719714843-6CHTQE1A38KVS8QB60QZ/image81.jpeg)
Aubrey educating a customer.