Our Staff
Chris Shonnard
Owner
OSU graduate with over 36 years horticultural experience. Has had a love of plants since his grandmother gave him a pansy at the age of 5. Met Lynnette in a greenhouse and started growing both family and business from the ground up.
Gardening Tip: Gardening that is well planned and well designed will give more enjoyment to the gardener. So always plan ahead.
Lynnette Shonnard
Owner – Nursery Manager
Corvallis High and OSU graduate. Over 32 years horticultural experience. First love was houseplants. Married Chris Shonnard 1979 and raised two kids, Andrea and Joel.
Gardening Tip: Plant flowers for continuous color all the seasons of change.
Andrea Shonnard
Merchandiser – Buyer
Working since she could see over the counter. “I love working with nature and helping people make their living areas greener and healthier,” Andrea says. Benton County Master Gardener since 2009. Philomath High and OSU graduate. Enjoys hiking, disc golf and hanging out in the garden.
Gardening Tip: Adding drip irrigation to containers and gardens will allow you more time to enjoy the benefits of gardening and over all better looking plants guaranteed.
Joel Shonnard
Ponds Consultant – Certified Holiday Lighting Consultant & Installation Technician Specialist
Started working in the pond at age 6 and currently installs ponds and water features in landscapes around town. Philomath High and OSU graduate. Enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time with his yellow lab, Claire.
Pond Tip: Adding plants to your pond is the best way to keep water clear and free of algae.
Darren Morgan
Nursery Manager – Shrub & Tree Buyer – Plant Whisperer
Attended OSU. Began working for Shonnard’s in 1990 as part of the landscape crew and later moved into the retail nursery end of the business. He is the nursery manager, with a primary focus on trees and shrubs. Married with two children. Loves reading, writing, drawing, listening to music, backpacking, and cooking, as well as gardening.
Favorite Gardening Experience: Planting peas with daughter Cara and harvesting them for the first time.
Eveliena (Lieneka) Groenink
Nursery
Worked at Shonnard’s since 1997. Our resident “Dutchie” with over 12 years horticultural experience. “I love working at Shonnard’s because I get paid for doing what I love most – gardening,” Lieneka says.
Gardening Tip: Plant your beds in layers so weeds don’t get through. Always make sure to use compost when planting. If you have extra left, top dress your bed – your plants will thank you.
Laura Mills
Annuals & Perennials
Worked at Shonnard’s since 2005. Born and raised in Oregon and earned a degree in botany from OSU. Says her job combines her two loves: being outside and plants! Is the perennial buyer for Shonnard’s.
Quote: “Every time we get a cart of new plants from the growers I still get so excited! Yea! New plants!”
Cynthia Wallace
Cashier
Lives in Corvallis and graduated from OSU in the ’70s. Master Gardener in Washington and Benton Counties. Loves home landscape, plants (especially new ones!) and garden design. Currently working to learn Latin plant names.
Gardening Tip: Create something interesting in your landscape that you can view from your windows. No matter what the weather you can always enjoy it, even if you can’t be outdoors.
Diana Magdefrau
Florist Manager
Worked at Shonnard’s since 1999. Central Oregon native with 12 years’ restaurant management experience before leaving that career to pursue her creative side. Besides being a florist, Diana dabbles in painting and jewelry making. She enjoys funeral arranging the most because she feels that flowers help in the grieving process and are a final tribute to a loved one.
Fresh Flower Tip: The biggest mistake people make with their fresh flower arrangements is not adding water to them. Daily watering can add an extra week of longevity to cut flowers.
Roxanne Vrtiska
Florist
Worked at Shonnard’s since 1994. Born and raised in Corvallis. “As a florist I have the advantage of offering a vast array of plants, cut flowers, garden baskets and gift baskets to customers,” Roxanne says. She likes working in a family business that offers a comfortable, local feel and more personable attention.
Favorite Gardening Experience: Sitting at the pond in the evenings enjoying the sound of the water and watching the fish play.
Sandie Banowetz
Florist
Worked at Shonnard’s since 2005. Member of the Hanging Basket Society.
Shawn Waring-Murphy
Landscape & Hardscape Foreman
Worked at Shonnard’s since 2005. Graduated from LBCC in 2000 with a degree in horticulture. Enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and canoeing.
Kurt Frey
Irrigation
Worked at Shonnard’s since 1999.
Matt Malusky
Maintenance Foreman
Worked at Shonnard’s since 2005.
Bryan Kyllingstad
Maintenance Foreman
Worked at Shonnard’s since 2007. Graduated from LBCC in 1997 with a degree in horticulture.
Chris T.
Backflow Tester
Olive
Resident Cat
Olive arrived at Shonnard’s in Andrea’s warm sweatshirt pocket and has enjoyed every day since. Enjoys playing with Filbert, chasing balloon strings, hiding in plants, and when customers come in and play with her. “Don’t forget when you stop by to come give me a pet!” Olive says.
Filbert
Resident Cat
Arrived shortly after Olive and found the best home a little boy could find, a yard full of bugs, snakes, and more.
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