Our History

Perennial Gardens
by the Years

Three generations. One location. Continuous operation since 1946.

Garden center brimming with selection
Eighty Years in Bedford
1946
Gus Alvarez, a Spanish immigrant returning from military service in World War II, purchases property on Route 22 in Bedford, New York. He sees potential in the land and the community forming around northern Westchester.
1948
Gus partners with Karl Katschke to establish Perennial Gardens as a retail nursery. The garden center stocks nursery trees, perennials, annuals, and seasonal plants — serving a growing population of homeowners settling in Bedford, Katonah, and Pound Ridge.
1968
Augie Alvarez joins the business after his own military service, marking the start of the second generation. He introduces a landscape maintenance division, expanding from retail into property services for the estates being built across northern Westchester.
1972
Augie purchases Karl Katschke's share of the partnership and becomes sole proprietor. He begins planning a purpose-built garden center to replace the original structures, envisioning a retail space that matches the quality of the properties Perennial Gardens serves.
1978
The current garden center building is constructed on Route 22 — the same location where Gus began thirty-two years earlier. Landscape construction services expand to include hardscaping, masonry, and full property design. The business becomes a true design-build operation.
1990
Sean Alvarez joins operations, bringing the third generation into the family business. He takes on project management and field operations, expanding the company's capacity for estate-scale landscape construction throughout Westchester and into Fairfield County, Connecticut.
1997
David Della Vecchia joins as Project Manager, bringing formal landscape architecture training to the team. His expertise elevates the design capabilities and allows Perennial Gardens to take on more complex estate projects with architects and builders.
2000
Stephen Alfano joins as Project Coordinator, strengthening day-to-day field operations. The management team solidifies: Sean leading strategy, David overseeing design, Stephen coordinating execution across multiple concurrent projects.
2016
Operations are now fully established across four integrated divisions: Garden Center retail, Landscape Design & Construction, Floral Design & Delivery, and Wedding & Event Services. The integration of all four divisions under one roof becomes the company's defining competitive advantage.
2026
Eighty years on the same Bedford property. Three generations of continuous family operation. Service area spans Westchester County, Fairfield County, New York City, and the surrounding region. The principles remain unchanged: quality materials, seasonal honesty, long-term thinking.

Continuous Practice

Same property. Same commitment. Expanded expertise.

Three generations of regional knowledge inform current work. Understanding of Westchester properties, seasonal conditions, appropriate plant selections accumulated over decades of continuous practice.

Relationships span years. Some clients worked with all three generations. Properties maintained long-term. Landscapes observed through establishment and maturity.

This continuity provides advantages competitors can't replicate: accumulated understanding of what thrives here, knowledge of local soil variations, observation of long-term plant performance, relationships with regional suppliers, multi-generational client trust.

Bedford foundation remains constant while services evolved to meet changing client needs. Core principles unchanged: quality materials, appropriate design, seasonal restraint, long-term thinking.

Meet The Team
A garden center specialist helping a customer.

Perennial Gardens

 Bedford, New York
(914) 234-6311

Hours

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Get Directions

414 Old Post Road
Bedford, NY 10506

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