Founder Profile

Weidner’s Gardens, Inc.

Owner of Weidner's Gardens in Encinitas, California, Evelyn Weidner brings a lifetime of success and experience in new plant introductions to the Proven Winners group. It was Weidner's tradition of introducing new plants, fueled by the innovative varieties from Kientzler in Germany, that eventually led to the formation of Proven Winners under the talented leadership of John Rader. Born into the retail nursery business, Evelyn entered the greenhouse/blooming plant business when she married her late husband, Bob Weidner. Prior to forming her current business, Evelyn and her husband owned Buena Park Greenhouses, one of the largest wholesale foliage greenhouses in California. The Weidners sold this operation in 1968, retiring briefly before opening Weidner's Gardens, a wholesale/retail specialty nursery. In 1992 Evelyn sold the wholesale liner portion of her business to her former employee, John Rader, who used it to launch his company, EuroAmerican Propagators, Inc.

Skilled in public relations and promotions, Evelyn has built a solid reputation within the trade industry over the years through numerous trips to introduce and promote new blooming plants to audiences throughout the world. An accomplished public speaker, Evelyn has spoken before gardening clubs and nursery associations throughout Southern California. National events she has spoken at include the Ohio Florists International Short Course, the Grower Expo and the New England Growers Association.

An active member of her industry, Evelyn serves on the board of the California Floral Council and is a member of the Society of American Florists, the California State Florists Association and the California State Farm Bureau. Highly respected by her peers, Evelyn was the first woman to receive the Farmer of the Year award from the San Diego County Farm Bureau in 1990. In 1995, she received the Person of the Year award from the San Diego Flower Growers Association.