By Eric Kuznar

Allisonville Nursery, Garden and Home will celebrate its 40th anniversary in Fishers with a party open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. June 30.

The nursery first opened in 1976 with 15 spruce trees for sale on a three-acre plot carved out of family farmland approximately a half mile south of the current location, 11405 Allisonville Rd.

“Originally the nursery was directly across from the airport on Allisonville Road,” Marketing Manager Scott Bardash said. “But after a few too many planes crashed into the nursery, they ended up having to move.”

Allisonville Nursery has since expanded to five acres and a 7,500-square-foot garden store since Owner Jeff Gatewood first opened in 1976. The shop features a wide variety of products from both indoor and outdoor plants, tree, lawn care and home decor items.

“There was nothing around. It was just the middle of farm land,” Bardash said of the nursery’s origin. “It’s been lucky to be right where it is with the growth … We have had such strong support from everyon. I feel like we have become a fixture of Fishers at this point.”

Guests at the nursery’s 40th anniversary celebration can enter for giveaways, take advantage of plant specials and enjoy live music by CW and The Working Class Trio, pizza from Hot Box Pizza, beer from Bier Brewery and wine from Rettig Hill Winery.

And since Allisonville Nursery, Garden and Home is celebrating its ruby anniversary, guests can expect special offers on products with “ruby” in its name.

“Since we cannot charge 1976 prices, we are going to be charging 76 percent of the price,” Bardash said.

There is no cost of admission for the event, but the nursery asks that guests register online at AllisonvilleGarden.com beforehand.