History

The first Harry L. Lockwood bought farmland in Hamburg in 1914. The Lockwood Family owned land in South Buffalo, between McKinley Pkwy and Abbott Rd, but saw the need to move to the country because the city was becoming too crowded.

When Harry’s son Clarence married Margaret Holmes in 1925, they moved to the Hamburg farm to take care of the land. On the farm, Clarence grew a variety of vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, and corn. The vegetables were then sold wholesale at the Clinton and Bailey Market in Buffalo where Harry L. Lockwood was the manager until his death in 1939.

In the 1930's, Clarence bought his first greenhouse to start growing vegetable plants earlier than he could have outside. He then used the greenhouse to begin growing geraniums on the side as a way to keep himself occupied in the winter. He also sold these flowers wholesale at the market downtown.

Clarence’s son, Harry J. Lockwood, graduated from Cornell and returned to the farm to work with his father.

Harry married Barbara Brodie in 1958. They built a home for their family on the Clark Street property. Harry likes to tell people that he has lived on the same street all his life. Harry and Clarence added more greenhouses to grow additional flowers and plants.

Harry and Barb’s children (Stephen, Leslie, Marcia and Louise) also helped on the farm by picking vegetables and getting orders ready for market. While he was in high school in the 70’s, Steve Lockwood began to sell some of the produce they were growing at a roadside stand to earn some extra money; his siblings soon followed suit.

Ultimately, Stephen followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Steve went to Cornell University to study Horticulture and Floriculture. In 1986, Steve graduated from Cornell and joined the partnership with his dad. Steve and Harry refined their partnership and interests, setting the business on the path that it is today.

Steve married Liz Shettler, and they have four daughters. Each of their daughters, along with many of their cousins, worked part-time in the business.

Our 10,000-square-foot glass greenhouse is now complete. It is our only growing facility that remains open year-round. Our production cycle begins in January with the arrival of unrooted cuttings. By April, the greenhouse is at full capacity with annuals and hanging baskets. Following the annual season, we use the space for late summer crops and houseplants. During the fall and winter months, we transition to growing poinsettias.

Steve’s expertise and passion are centered on the cultivation of spring annuals and hanging baskets. As the greenhouses expanded to produce a diverse selection of flowers, he and Harry decided to open a retail store in 1991 to serve the Southtowns community with their high-quality flowers and vegetables.

Lockwood's added a 3,000 sq ft Greenhouse and the Retail Store. Other greenhouses were added to meet the growing interest from the western New York communities. Lockwood's began to grow the majority of our perennial flowers as well as to offer ornamental trees and shrubs.

The Buffalo Blizzard snowfall took down the Boers greenhouse and was rebuilt. The Boers greenhouse that was replaced is 16,000 sq ft. 

We added a new, customer-friendly addition to our retail area. 

That simple retail greenhouse structure has evolved over the years as the business has grown. The retail complex now occupies 36,000 sq ft of the farm and the growing greenhouses another 44,915 sq ft. We have come a long way from a tent on Clark Street to a beautiful
destination for gardeners seeking quality and unique plants and gifts. We look forward to seeing you here!