Walter Andersen Nursery has always been community oriented. The Andersen Family understands that the community is where our customers are drawn from and if it weren't for them, we would not be in business.

The Nursery and the Andersen Family are very involved in all types of community projects and groups, which include youth sports in both Point Loma and Scripps Ranch, elementary, middle school, high school and colleges throughout the city, various museums, and various civic and community service groups. By supporting these various projects and organizations the Nursery and the family give back to the people that have given so much to us.

Walter Andersen Nursery has built its reputation on providing the highest quality plant material and the best customer service backed by a professional staff. This, along with the widest variety of plant material available anywhere in San Diego has kept generations of San Diegans coming to Walter Andersen Nursery year after year.

With the fourth generation of Andersens growing up in the business now, Walter Andersen will continue to be the gardening authority in San Diego for many years to come!

Walter Andersen Nursery was opened in 1928 by Walter Andersen Sr. on Juan Street in Old Town near the intersection of Taylor St. In the early years of the company Walter Andersen Nursery provided all landscaping and garden services, from regular maintenance to landscape design and installation to selling plants.

Over the years the landscape and plant sales side of the business grew to be a majority of the business and the maintenance side was phased out. Throughout the depression the business and customer list grew. Walter Andersen's reputation for the finest plant material and quality landscaping grew as well.

Walter Andersen left his mark on San Diego in many ways. Some of the larger projects he worked on over the years include The San Diego Post Office downtown, the County Administration building, numerous projects for the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, the West Gate Plaza Hotel, National Steel and Shipbuilding, and Westgate Park the original Mission Valley home of the San Diego Padres, and the Christmas Tree shaped Cedrus deodoras planted in the center median along Orange Avenue in Coronado just to name a few.

Walter Andersen Nursery has also participated and supported many flower and garden shows over the years. From the Orchid Show to the Coronado Flower Show and the Del Mar Fair, Walter Andersen Nursery is the longest running exhibitor at the Del Mar Fair Flower Show, not missing an exhibition since its inception in 1938

As the plant sales grew to be a larger portion of the business, Walter Sr. and his son Walter Jr. decided to stop landscaping and concentrate on selling plants and gardening supplies. From this point on Walter Andersen solidified its standing as the gardening authority in San Diego. Daily operation of the nursery was turned over to Walter Jr. in the mid 1970's, but Walter Sr. continued to take an active role in the business and was at the store 6 days a week until shortly before his death in 1983.

Walter Jr. and his wife Jolene's son Ken joined the management of the nursery in 1981 to help keep the nursery growing and prospering. After receiving a bachelors degree in business in 1986, Ken became General Manager of Nursery Operations.  Walter Andersen Jr. continued to work a full schedule as President of the company. 

Karen Andersen Thatcher, Ken's sister, has worked for the nursery since 1995. Her husband joined the nursery full-time in 1996 as construction manager for the Poway store.

In 1995 the decision was made to expand the nursery operation by opening a second store. After careful study and consideration a piece of property was purchased in Poway for the second store. This store is twice the size of the Point Loma store and serves the communities of Poway, Scripps Ranch, Peñasquitos, and Carmel Mountain Ranch. The store opened in the Summer of 1998. This big step allows the nursery to expand its customer base and better serve the inland corridor of San Diego.

Today, the  nurseries are still family owned and operated with Walter Jr. as President, his wife Jolene continues to work in the main office overseeing financial, accounting and operational issues, Ken Andersen serves as VP of Nursery Operations, Karen Andersen-Thatcher serves as VP of Human Resources and CFO for the company,  John Thatcher continues to oversee various construction projects for the company, and Pat Hernandez, Jolene's sister handles the accounts Payable and Receivables for both stores.  In 2003 Ken's wife Melanie Potter left THE SAN DIEGO DAILY TRASCRIPT to become Director of Marketing and Publications for the company.