By John W. Oliver
During the thirties, John Oliver Sr. took up gardening as a hobby. Within ten years his garden was renown in Westchester County, New York. Principal in his interest was his love for azaleas. He constantly questioned the status quo. "There has to be some other color than the magenta red you see all over." As a result of his search for something different, he came upon the Glenn Dale hybrid azaleas—which he virtually introduced to the northeast. Upon his retirement, a friend suggested he start a hobby nursery. He enlisted his friend, Karl Simson, and thus began Oliver and Simson Nurseries, in Scarsdale, New York. The nursery would specialize in ericaceous, acid loving evergreen plants.