Meet Michelle – Third-Generation Plant Geek-in-Chief
Michelle is the third generation of her family to own and operate Lakeview Nurseries, but she’ll be the first to tell you that plants are not just her career—they’re her lifelong obsession. She’s been known to give talks on perennials and landscaping to anyone who will listen (garden clubs, community groups…sometimes even her neighbors who just came over to borrow a rake).
Her articles and garden advice have appeared everywhere from local newspapers to trade shows, and she’s served in leadership roles across the green industry, including President of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and a gubernatorial appointment to the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. Translation? If it grows in New England, Michelle probably has an opinion on it.
🌸 Favorite Plant: Carol Makey Daphne. Michelle’s grandmother had one and maintained a classic love/hate relationship with it (if you know, you know). Michelle now grows one in her front yard as a sweet—and occasionally finicky—reminder of her grandmother’s garden.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: Daphnes are notorious divas. They’ll reward you with heavenly fragrance one day, then mysteriously drop every leaf the next, just to keep you humble.
Meet Alec – General Manager & Man of Many, Many Skills
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep Lakeview running smoothly, the answer is usually “ask Alec.” Officially, he’s our General Manager. Unofficially, he’s the man of many, many skills—from wrangling greenhouse production in early spring to making sure the whole store hums along once the season is in full swing.
Alec’s story is one of our favorite Lakeview legends. Nobody actually remembers hiring him. As the tale goes, Alec—who grew up just down the road—wandered into our greenhouses one day after school. A new staff member mistook him for after-school help and put him right to work potting plants. Instead of correcting anyone, Alec just kept showing up…and never really left. Twenty-plus years later, we’re all glad he didn’t.
🌸 Favorite Plant: Alec flat-out refuses to pick just one. His heart belongs to native pollinator plants, because he loves the way they support bees, butterflies, and all the little garden MVPs.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: Planting even a few native pollinators in your yard can create a vital “rest stop” for migrating butterflies and boost pollinator populations right at home.
Meet Rick – Living History & Plant Problem Solver Extraordinaire
If Lakeview Nurseries had a time capsule, Rick would probably be inside it—because his story spans over 30 years of shaping, building, and growing this place. With a background in lumber and construction, Rick became our General Manager and oversaw three decades of growth and expansion. Most of the structures you see that aren’t original to 1954, Rick built them. The ones that are original? He updated them. Basically, if it has a nail in it, Rick’s probably swung the hammer.
Though he “retired,” don’t let that word fool you. Rick can’t sit still. After a stint designing landscapes for a local company, we begged (yes, begged) him to come back part-time. These days, he’s the guy we turn to with the toughest plant questions. Challenging problems are his jam—and his encyclopedic plant knowledge still blows us away.
In 2024, Rick welcomed his first granddaughter, Amilia, into the world. Proud mom Jessica is a licensed Landscape Architect, so it looks like the family’s green thumb is carrying on to the next generation.
🍅 Favorite Plant: Tomatoes. Rick’s garden once boasted more than 300 plants (yes, three hundred). These days, he’s dialed it back to just under 100. His absolute favorite? The Black Cherokee tomato. Sweet, juicy, and apparently worth dedicating an entire summer to.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: A single tomato plant can produce up to 200 fruits in a season—so imagine the harvest from 300 plants! No wonder Rick’s friends and neighbors never left empty-handed.
Meet Kim – Smiles, Ship Shape & a “Salubrious” Day
At just under three years with Lakeview, Kim might be one of our newer team members, but you’d never know it. She’s the friendly face keeping the store ship shape and is usually the first to greet you when you walk in. After cashing you out, she’ll send you off with a cheerful “Have a salubrious day!”—a favorite phrase she picked up from her dad. (For the record, salubrious means health-giving or pleasant…which makes sense when you’re working around plants all day!)
Before joining us, Kim managed coffee shops—so yes, she probably does run on lifelong caffeine exposure. But what really fuels her is her love of all things green. Houseplants are her friends and confidants, each with its own name and personality: some low-key, some chill, and some delightfully finicky.
🌿 Favorite Plant: Philodendrons. While some might shrug and call them “boring,” Kim knows better. To her, they’re classic, calming, and endlessly reliable—kind of like a good friend who always remembers to water you.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: Philodendrons are nature’s air purifiers, quietly removing toxins while looking effortlessly stylish. Basically, they’re the plant equivalent of a spa day for your living room.
Meet Shayna – Our Neighbor & Animal Whisperer
Shayna really is the neighbor’s kid—she lives just a few houses down! We’ve been lucky enough to have her on our team since her high school days, and now she still helps out while she’s in college.
Her love of animals shines through in everything she does. If you stop in with your fur baby, you’ll know right away it’s Shayna—she’s the one sneaking in extra ear scratches and puppy cuddles between helping customers.
🌸 Favorite Plant: She loves them all!
Meet Jacquie – Folklore Keeper & Landscape Harmonizer
Before joining Lakeview, Jacquie worked for a landscaper and designer, honing her skills in creating outdoor spaces that are both functional and beautiful. But what really makes her stand out is her gift for weaving tradition into the modern garden.
Jacquie is our resident Folklore Keeper, drawing on wisdom passed down from her grandparents and her deep connection with the natural world. She believes the best landscapes strike a balance—where people, plants, and wildlife can all thrive together.
🌿 Favorite Plant: Jacquie is drawn to plants with history and meaning, especially those tied to traditional uses in gardens and folklore.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: Many of our common garden favorites—like yarrow and sage—were once prized not just for their beauty, but for their roles in folk medicine and cultural traditions.
Meet Phil – Forester, Cheerleader & Plant Matchmaker
With a background in forestry and customer relations, Phil brings a unique mix of plant knowledge and people skills to Lakeview. Around here, he’s known for boosting staff morale (his good humor is basically contagious) and for making sure customers leave with the right plant for the right spot. Think of him as a matchmaker—except his love stories end with perennials, shrubs, and happy gardeners.
Phil’s also a big softie when it comes to pets. If you bring in a fur baby, don’t be surprised if he bends down to say hello before he even notices the plant in your cart.
🌿 Favorite Plant: Choosing just one is tough, but Phil has a special place in his heart for White Perennial Hibiscus—those huge, dinner-plate blooms never fail to wow him.
💡 Plant Geek “Did You Know?”: Some perennial hibiscus flowers can span 10–12 inches across—that’s bigger than a dinner plate and arguably prettier than what’s on it.