R-P Nurseries was established in 1866 by William Rakestraw and Josiah Pyle as The Rakestraw-Pyle Company (a.k.a. Willowdale Nurseries). Starting out as a bare root tree operation that shipped its trees all over the East coast, we also had greenhouses along Route 82. Over the years, the focus shifted to landscaping and grounds maintenance. In 1984, William Rakestraw’s great-great-great nephew, Richard Pratt, along with his wife Kathy, took over the business and renamed it R-P Nurseries. In late 1984 we opened our gift shop, and in 1985 we opened our retail Garden Center, which is continually expanding. One hundred forty five years later we are still owned and operated by the same family, giving us the distinction

of being the oldest family run nursery in the United States!

     In the upper left background you can see our old greenhouses as well...

RP Nurseries

Spring 2009

2008 Landscape Design Award from

Four Seasons Garden Club