John and Mary Weaver opened Weaver's Lawn and Garden next to Hedlund's Hardware at 62nd and Keystone in 1961. They started offering Easter flowers. Later they had produce, fountains and bird baths. Weaver's was located to the north of Hedlund's, where Sparkling Image Car Wash is today. In the 1960s this was right in the middle of a small amusement park called Little America. The kiddie rides, such as pony rides, and small boats and cars that circled around a pole like a merry-go-round (see www.broadripplehistory.com for pictures of Little America), were on the south end of Little America along 62nd Street. North of Weaver's, along Keystone Avenue, was the driving range. The land was leased from Jack Endsley, who years later moved the golfing part of the business, which included miniature golf and par 3, to west 56th Street. To the east of the property was a small concession stand run by the Thomas brothers who invented the "flame broiler" technology. That stand moved a couple of lots down and became Burger Chef (this is where Donato's Pizza is now).

The Weavers have run Christmas tree lots since the early 1950s. According to Tom Weaver, current owner and son of John and Mary, at one time there were four Christmas tree lots, including ones on Keystone at 38th and 42nd.

When the first garden center opened, Tom was a freshman at Tech High School. Tom's siblings went to Broad Ripple High School when the family moved from their "G.I. home" in Tacoma Village (3155 North Tacoma Avenue) to Broad Ripple to be closer to their business.

Around 1964 the Weavers moved the business to its present location at 1316 Broad Ripple Avenue [H10 on map]. On the property at the time was a fruit stand and a Shell service station. Weaver's Garden replaced the fruit stand, renting that space for about 10 years. Eventually, enough money was accumulated and the property was purchased.

Tom Weaver said that the concrete bird bath business that his father had started soon had them shipping the bird baths and statues all over the Midwest. There was little time off. Even during the winter, concrete was being poured into the 30 molds every day. The signature Weaver's bird bath was designed in clay and then molds were made from that prototype. It featured a tree trunk with a knob on top that locked into a hole in the bowl, protecting the bowl from squirrels and dogs knocking it to the ground.

Weaver's has expanded over the years, adding landscaping and nursery businesses. The garden center also supplies many local landscapers.

John Weaver passed in 1991, and Mary just this summer. Well into 2011, 91-year-old Mary was at the garden center every day. Tom and his sister Pam are the current generation running Weaver's.

Tom said that the garden business has changed over the years. Today customers want more herbs and vegetable plants. He said in addition to pumpkin, squash, watermelon, pepper, and lettuce plants, the store offers 15 to 20 varieties of tomato plants.

Weaver's is now stocked for Halloween and fall decorating with squash and pumpkins and fall flowers. Soon, December will be upon us and Christmas trees will fill the space.

Congratulations to Weaver's for 50 years of business. Weaver's has been an advertiser in the Gazette since our first issue (it was only 4 pages!) in 2004, helping to bring the paper to you at no cost. We hope they remain on the banks of the White River in the Village for many more to come.