By Cindy GladdenRecord Staff WriterWith an estimated 14,000 cars passing by his Dutzow business each day, John Lintzenich says Ferguson Valley Nurseries is located in a prime spot.“We did not realize the funnel that we are in,” said Lintzenich. “We have all the wonderful people who live north of the river as our customers.“And we mean what the sign says — ‘buy from the grower and save.’ ”Ferguson Valley Nurseries is located 2.5 miles north of the Missouri River bridge near Dutzow on Highway 47.Lintzenich is proud to provide “fresh trees,” with 90 percent of the trees locally grown. There also is a second location in Labadie.Lintzenich said his dad, Al, now 80, began the family business in the late 1950s. The focus of the business, located in Ferguson, was Christmas trees and greenhouse bedding plants.“He was really into orchids at one time,” said Lintzenich.“We sold a lot of cut blooms to the floral market on LaSalle Street in St. Louis. Dad still works five to six hours a day. I believe he’s very healthy because of all that hard work.”Lintzenich, an only child, finished his horticulture degree from Drake University in 1975, joined his dad, and added the landscaping end of the business, called Ferguson Gardens. For 30 years, he provided landscaping services to builders in the St. Louis area.When the economy started looking bad for homebuilding, Al Lintzenich thought it was time to start selling trees to the public. Taking a second look at property they had owned in Dutzow since 1989, the family began “jumping through hoops to make it happen.”During the Great Flood of 1993, the business lost nearly 40 percent of the trees growing at the Dutzow location. As they prepared to open a location catering to the public, Al obtained county and state permits and began a transformation to the Highway 47 property.“We are now 1 1/2 feet above the 1993 floodwater level,” said Lintzenich. “We opened to the public in the fall of 2007, working out of a tent. We built the current building in 2009.”Lintzenich said in addition to the customers who stop in to buy trees for their homes, they supply more than 30 small landscapers in the area.Customers may buy their trees and take them with them, pick them up later, request delivery or have Ferguson Valley Nurseries deliver and install their trees.Unlike trees found at discount locations, Lintzenich said his trees are not little sprigs. The trees benefit from a five to 10 year growing time. They also are four-to-five inches thick, up to 23 feet high, and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.Trees range from $60 to $250.“The most popular tree is still the maple,” he said.The best planting time, according to Lintzenich, is any time after Labor Day. Debunking a myth, he said a tree can even be planted in December or January as long as the ground is not frozen. Ferguson Valley Nurseries offers a 100 percent warranty the tree will leaf out.Lintzenich said his parents have special plans beginning the day after Thanksgiving and running through Christmas. They will provide Christmas wreaths, roping and door hangers inside the building. Train sets also will decorate the building, running for the enjoyment of the customers.“My dad is kind of like Orville Redenbacher,” said Lintzenich. “He’s 80, but he has more plans. He wants to bring in gems, petrified wood and rocks. He would also love to have wine tasting. My plan is to sell trees.”Lentzenich intends to continue selling trees as long as he can enjoy it. For 48 years he has been able to work outdoors growing things.“We grow oxygen generators,” he said. “One tree can produce more oxygen than a whole yard of grass. A tree has no carbon footprint. We are helping the world.”For more information on the business, call 636-742-0027. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

John Lintzenich is the owner of Ferguson Valley Nurseries located on HIghway 47 near Dutzow. With prime tree planting season in full swing, Lintzenich invites people to stop by to check out locally grown trees.