The History of Irma’s Garden
Midwest Groundcovers and Midwest Trading are family owned and operated, incorporating a value system that embraces quality, service and relationships above all. Leadership and employees are dedicated to creating and observing sustainable practices and products, with an emphasis on providing top quality plants and growing media — as well as exceptional service to customers and community. Long-term relationships are based on honesty and trust. Teamwork is key, and customers are considered to be an integral and highly valued part of the Midwest team.
Irma’s Garden® products are developed and created by professional growers who’ve been in business for nearly 50 years. Midwest Groundcovers was established on five acres in 1969 by Peter and Irma Orum, and it soon grew to encompass nearly 1,000 acres over several locations in northern Illinois and in Michigan. The company propagates and grows about 1,300 varieties of region-specific plants ranging from groundcovers and perennials to ornamental grasses, vines, hardy shrub roses, deciduous shrubs, conifers, and broadleaf evergreens. All are carefully selected and bred for hardiness and vigor in the Midwest.
In 1981, Peter and Irma created Midwest Trading to supply hardgoods and growing media to the Chicago area and surrounding states. The company’s state-of-the-art soil mixing facility produces top quality blends using proprietary “recipes” developed by staff soil specialists in cooperation with leading industry consultants. Raw materials are locally sourced and monitored onsite, following a rigorous quality control and quality assurance program. The company’s lab provides continuous analysis of both raw ingredients and finished product. In addition, each batch is subjected to inspection and analysis by a third-party lab.
Irma’s Garden® blends are developed and produced with the same quality ingredients and attention to detail as the mixes used to grow Midwest Groundcovers’ exceptional plants. Your customers will appreciate the professional-grade product created especially for their gardening needs.
The company behind Irma’s Garden is big enough to produce the best, but nimble enough to serve your needs. “Our people are engaged,” states Midwest Trading president and COO Joe Hobson. “We maintain strong personal ties to our clients and customers.
“It’s personal for us,” he continues. “We’re a small company with big capabilities, and we take our responsibility quite personally.”