LEFEVRE GARDENING ROOTS

GROW DEEP

SPANNING FOUR GENERATIONS

Bud's horticultural genes trace back to the early 1900’s

when his grandpa, Edwin William LeFevre

tended the private gardens of both

the Benson and Bittorf’s,

families that started National Mfg in 1902. 

Edwin was also in the first crew at National.

1ST GENERATION 

He raised a family of four including sons, Charles and William.

2ND GENERATION

Edwin’s influence on young Charles “Jink”, 21,

and William “Red”, 18, was evident

when they started their horticulture careers in 1929

at Sterling Floral Company.

 

 

At the time, Sterling Floral Company

was one of the largest and oldest

floral companies in the state of Illinois.

  

 

Sterling Floral Co. started in 1871

by Mr. Mangan and was purchased by

Robert Lundstrom in 1904.

 

 

In 1933 Robert Jr. took over

and ran it until he left

for the service in 1942,

later reopening in ’46

after the war ended.

 

 

In the 50’s he changed the name

to Lundstrom Florist and Greenhouse.

 

 

For thirteen years, Red and Jink honed their skills

at Sterling Floral Co/Lundstrom Florist.

 

 

In 1942 during the war, while Robert Jr

was away serving, Red and Jink,

left to venture out on their own

and start up Sterling Floral “Shop”

in downtown Sterling, Il.

 

 

It would be 30 years before another

LeFevre worked at Lundstrom Florist.

 

 

The two brothers also had a corner on the market

with fresh produce they sold to area restaurants.

 

 

Red and Jink successfully operated

their business for 17 years,

from 1942-1959,

the year that

Jan “Bud” LeFevre

was born.

 

 

On the other side of Bud’s family,

his Great Uncle Vinny Oehl

was a founding member

of the Dixon Men’s Garden Club

and very active in the Dixon Farmer’s Market.

With all the interest in horticulture

it’s no wonder that one of Red’s two boys

picked up where he and Jink left off. 

3RD GENERATION

Red’s youngest, “Bud”, grew up learning

at the knee of his dad and uncle

about flowers and vegetable gardening.

 

In 1973, at 13, Bud started working

for Lundstrom’s Florist.

 

He was the second generation LeFevre

to work for Lundstrom’s.

 

Lisa's grandmother, his neighbor, Mary Higby,

and the person who gave him his nickname, “Bud”,

got him the job.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1980, Bud received a degree in Ornamental Horticulture

with emphasis in greenhouse and garden center management

from Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL

and then went to Swartley’s Greenhouse

in Sterling as a grower.

 

 In 1985 he ventured out on his own

freelancing, and, like his grandfather,

also worked at National Mfg.

 

He did this for the next twenty-two years.  

 

In 1992, the fourth generation

of LeFevre’s to work in horticulture,

Quin Allen LeFevre, was born.

 

Later in 1999, Distinctive Gardens opened in Dixon, IL.

 

Bud’s son, Quin, started working

with his dad at 8 years old.

 

To present, Quin, at age 22

is still working at Distinctive Gardens

after graduating from college.

 

 

For Bud, he feels very fortunate

to do a job that he loves

while working with his family

at the same time.