In Memoriam: Ed Lynde

Chris Beytes

Our condolences to the Lynde family of Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery, which lost patriarch Edward Spencer “Ed” Lynde November 20. He was 71.

Ed was the fourth of five generations to operate the Minnesota family business, which started out growing plants and vegetables and, after WWI, found a niche in the flower business. He attended the University of Minnesota School of Business, where he received a degree in business administration, after which he did a stint with Ball Seed in the seed department. After coming back home to help run the family nursery, he opened Lynde’s original retail garden center in 1982. It did so well that a bigger, better one replaced it in 1989 (the original retail is now a growing facility). His son, Derek, has been serving as general manager of the company. GT