In the spring of 1964 Howard Crook opened the doors of his newly purchased nursery then known as Snake River Nursery. The original store was a small 20′ x 20′ block building with 2 small greenhouses attached. At that time the business was primarily devoted to growing and selling bedding plants, but has expanded over the years to include the area’s largest selection of trees, shrubs, mulch, gardening tools, plant pest solutions, Christmas trees and poinsettias. Howard’s son John purchased the business in 1983 and continued to expand the business building over 20,000 square feet of new greenhouses and 20,000 square feet of shade houses. We are proud that Town & Country Gardens has been voted southeast Idaho’s favorite garden center by readers of the Post Register every year since the polls have been taken.

 
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Our Founders

Howard Crook (1918-2012)
Larene Crook   (1922-2012)

Howard Crook left the farm in Fallon, Nevada in December of 1963 and purchased Snake River Nursery in Idaho Falls. Through hard work and uncompromising honesty and integrity he and his wife LaRene built Town & Country Gardens into one of east Idaho’s most respected garden centers. They retired from the business in 1983 but continued to participate for many more years after their retirement. They left a great legacy at their passing in 2012.

John & Diana Crook, Owners

John grew up in the family business and has been working in the nursery and greenhouses at Town & Country Gardens since he was 10 years old. In 1976 he enrolled in the horticulture program at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho and served as the first president of Metus Topiaria, the student horticulture service club on campus.

John began actively managing Town & Country Gardens in 1978 and purchased the business from his father in 1983. He has been a supporter and instructor in the Master Gardener program for many years and gives frequent gardening seminars at Town & Country Gardens and throughout the community. John  also co-hosts a call-in radio talk show on gardening on KID radio Saturday mornings from mid March to early October.

But the most precious garden in his life is his combined family of 11 children 35 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  John and Diana married in 2017 and Diana has used her expertise to expand the houseplant, gift, and decor departments at Town & Country. Both are now taking more time to spend with family, leaving the day to day operations to Rex Andersen, general manager and CFO, and Drew French, store manager.