Community Corner

Homestead Gardens Founder Don Riddle Dead at 62

Riddle was found dead aboard his boat on Thursday.

Don Riddle, 62, founder of Davidsonville's Homestead Gardens, died overnight.

Homestead Gardens spokesman Tim Hamilton confirmed that Riddle was found dead on his boat on Thursday. No cause of death has been reported.

Riddle founded Homestead Gardens at its location at the crossroads in the small country town of Davidsonville in 1973. There wasn't a lot of traffic back then, so Riddle set out to make the nursery a destination store. In a tradition that lasts to this day, Riddle offered visitors festivals and educational events that proved a draw.

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Homestead Gardens is not only the largest employer in Davidsonville, but it is one of the largest home garden centers in the country. Riddle opened the Severna Park location on Ritchie Highway in March 2010.

The growing division, Homestead Growers, incorporates two farms totaling more than 250 acres, and includes a state-of-the-art five-acre greenhouse, also located in Davidsonville.

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Riddle was involved hands-on in the day-to-day operations of the business, and was very involved in the community, regularly offering the beautiful surroundings of Homestead Gardens to local charities for fundraising events.

Homestead Gardens was named Garden Center of the Year by the Garden Centers of America (GCA) in 2004, and Nursery Retailer of the Year in 2008 by Nursery Retailer Magazine.

Riddle also was awarded the prestigious Jack Schneider Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. This award, selected by the Garden Center of America’s board of directors, is the organization’s top honor. It is based on the nominee’s lifetime career contribution to the garden industry and support for GCA.

Riddle served on the Commerce First Bank Board, as vice-chair of the American Horticultural Society, past president of GCA and past president of the Board of Managers of the Excellence in Creative Gardening Concepts Group (ECGC).

Riddle served locally on the board of directors for the South River Federation in Edgewater. Erik Michelsen, president of SRF said, “Don’s commitment to the community and to protecting the health of local rivers was tremendous. As a pillar of the local business community, he was proud to give back and to make Homestead Gardens a model for beautifying the landscape while at the same time working to improve water quality. He was always excited to host Federation events at his wonderful facilities and we felt lucky to have him serving on our board. He will be missed.”

Riddle's father, Don Riddle Sr., passed away in January.

Riddle is survived by his wife Laura, his mother Evelyn (of Annapolis) and his brother Gerald Riddle of White Post, VA. 


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