Dobbies Garden Centres plc · Lasswade, Midlothian United Kingdom

What started out as a hobby has become Dobbies. Dobbies Garden Centres operates about two dozen nurseries in the UK, providing merchandise for all types of gardening, including plants, fertilizers, and tools, garden furniture and grills, outdoor clothing, certain home wares, and books on gardening. Gardening centers also offer such services as demonstrations and catering facilities. The company was founded by James Dobbie in 1865 as a seeds and cut flowers shop, after a lifelong hobby as a horticulturist. It first floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1997. In 2008 Dobbies became a subsidiary of Tesco, the UK's largest retailer. Also in 2008, the chain acquired Sandyholm Garden Center in Crossford, Carluke. To read the full description, subscribe now.