Let me tell you a story…
Y’all know me as Granny, but my real name was Viola Clore. Long before Granny’s Garden was started, my husband, Paul Clore, and I lived on the farm. We are the couple in the picture many of you have asked about. Together we raised cattle, pigs, chickens, a garden, and two children. I loved to garden, and my husband loved woodworking. That led to the beginning of a humble roadside stand where we sold fresh produce and handcrafted furniture. As we got older, the roadside stand eventually came to an end.
After we passed, my daughter Belinda, daughter-in-law Carol, and granddaughters Jena and Chasity thought it would be good to carry on our legacy by creating “Granny’s Garden”. The first store was based in our open-air garage where they sold produce, flowers, fudge, crafts, and jams and jellies. My girls started with an inventory of 250 jars of jams and jellies, scared to death they wouldn’t sell. Little did they know in two months, they would need another 250!
As the business grew, they moved into the house where we lived. This was about the time my great-granddaughter Viola Elizabeth was born. Belinda started baking pies and cakes, and Jena focused on the garden and greenhouse. If you have been a customer of ours for a while, you may remember the old, white farmhouse and our “fudge plants” sign out front. It’s funny, all because they didn’t have a comma to separate “fudge” and “plants”, they suddenly became known as the store that sold “fudge plants”. It has been a running joke for 20 years, and some people even take it seriously! Over time, the business kept growing, and space was a hot commodity in that little house. In 2017, to our great dismay, the road came through our property and forced them to give up the old place.
My girls didn’t give up, however. Belinda and Jena built our third location, the iconic red barn, and moved in during 2018. After being in the house for 13 years, they had no idea how they would fill up all that space! Needless to say, it didn’t take long for them to grow into it. With the additions of local produce and goods, serving lunches, and the ever-expanding menus of casseroles and desserts, they are constantly trying to find space.
The growth of the business called for extra help, and they were fortunate enough to find a flock of hardworking, goofy girls to work beside them. Now, after 20 years in business, Jena still leads the cooks in the morning, whipping up delicious lunches, casseroles, soups, salads, and meals for y’all. In the afternoon, Belinda and Viola Elizabeth take charge of the desserts, baking: pies, cakes, breads, fudge, brownies, cookies, and everything in between.
I could not be prouder of my girls and all the hard work they have put into Granny’s Garden. Papaw and I are honored to have our legacy carried on and our story shared with others. Now you know a little more about us, I hope I didn’t talk your ear off. If you want to know more about our history and see some photos just stop in. We’d be happy to see you! Alright, see y’ins soon, love ya bye! - Granny
