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“There Will Always Be a Vestal” 
={HIS title to a feature story that appeared in the ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT 
Wai Magazine Section in 1953, refers to the generations of Vestals behind the 
oldest florist business in the state of Arkansas and, in fact, the largest in the 
entire South. 
The business is now operated by the third generation, but a fourth genera- 
tion Is preparing itself for the task, and a fifth 1s growing up to perpetuate the name and 
business. Even the founder’s father was in the plant business, but that was separate, and 
the present House of Vestal was not directly built on that foundation. 
Joseph Vestal would hardly recognize the business, now in its 75th year in Arkansas. 
From 300 square feet of glass, the greenhouses grew to cover more than 300,000 square feet 
of growing plants under glass. The greenhouse area, together with the retail and wholesale 
houses, the office and all the other necessary buildings, drives, gardens, etc., cover about 60 
acres. A nursery at Jacksonville takes in 256 acres, and up the Arkansas River ts a farm of 
300 acres used just for soil. And VESTAL’S just recently opened a second retail shop in 
the Marion Hotel in Little Rock. Being in the retail business (in Little Rock only), it under- 
stands the needs and problems of our customers elsewhere who sell at retail. 
The business is being ably carried on by Walter Vestal, grandson of the founder, 
Joseph W. Vestal, Iivmg up to the policies adopted by his grandfather, though 
modernized in keeping up with the Iatest business trends. For example, until recent years, 
sales were predominantly retail, but as times changed and more retail florists sprang up 
The Hydrangea Greenhouse. A dependable source of income for florists 
YOU ARE PROMISED THE PERFORMANCE THAT 
