The city of Brookhaven added to their greenspace and park property in January of 2024 when they purchased 3086, 3068 and 3064 Osborne Road. When I first wrote about 3086 Osborne Road in Brookhaven over a year ago, the former home of the Morrison Farms nursery, the properties were under contract with a different buyer. When that contract fell through, the city made the decision to buy the acreage, bringing total greenspace up to 106.83 acres.
William Morrison opened Morrison Farms in 1970. He was born on a farm in Utica, Mississippi in 1920. Growing up on a farm, raising vegetables and flowers was part of everyday life, and he put that knowledge to use later in life.
Morrison entered the military in 1942 in Biloxi, Mississippi. From there he went to aviation school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and then to Walla Walla, Washington to continue training to fly B-24 bombers.
Morrison met Mary Elaine Kolberg while stationed in Walla Walla. When he was transferred again, this time to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 1944, he asked Mary to move there so they could get married.
Morrison participated in the Berlin Airlift after World War II. He attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and served 25 years in the military, both in the U.S. and overseas. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1966. Four years later he opened Morrison Farms in Brookhaven, which he continued to operate until 2006. Mary Elaine worked along with him as bookkeeper for the business.
In an Atlanta Constitution article recommending six metro Atlanta nurseries to visit for an enjoyable weekend outing, Morrison Farms was included. The 1991 article advises, “You might miss it because the sign was small with red letters and pointed the way.” Morrison Farms was the only nursery on the list that was located inside I-285. (The Atlanta Constitution, May 12, 1991, “A weekend escape: Hop in the car and find these 6 nurseries”)
Morrison Farms had 40,000 square feet of greenhouse space and offered vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, houseplants, hanging baskets, and clay pots. It is described as a farm with shade trees and level terrain, making it a fun place to walk around and explore.
In 1994, suggestions of Morrison as Father Christmas or Colonel Christmas are made. Poinsettias, which are native to Mexico, became the popular plant at the farm. “William Morrison doesn’t live at the North Pole. But a visit to his Morrison Farms in northeast Atlanta, near Oglethorpe University, will almost make you believe this engagingly energetic 74-year-old nursery owner is the real thing.” (The Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 23, 1994, “Colonel Christmas: Nurseryman’s knack begets a wonderland of poinsettias”)
The farm’s October 1996 newspaper advertisement announced, “Poinsettias are growing.” In November of 2000, the nursery was featured in an article about poinsettias. The greenhouses were filled with various varieties of poinsettias and other holiday flowers. Colors included the Freedom variety featuring red, white, and pink, Monet poinsettia with speckled red and cream color flowers, and the Red Velvet variety. (Atlanta Constitution, Nov. 23, 2000, “Welcome holidays with poinsettias from Morrison Farms”)
Morrison Farms also advertised their poinsettias and other plant offerings on a regular basis in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper.
Knowing that Morrison Farms was still open in 2006 makes me wish I had known about and visited the nursery.
Go to the city of Brookhaven website to read more about their purchase and future plans for the Morrison Farms property.