Brian Keele has grown his hair out long, and he has many days’ growth of beard that he doesn’t plan on shaving anytime soon.

It’s what you have to do when you’re getting ready to play the part of Santa Claus during the upcoming holidays.

Keele owns Queensgate Gardens in south Richland at 1040 Queensgate Drive, near the Interstate 182 traffic circles.

Fall fun

Set on 1.5 acres of land, the garden center offers plenty of options for plant lovers and families.

There is a produce stand inside of a 1,600-square-foot canvas tent. But currently sharing space with the produce inside the tent is a bounce house.

The public walkway that runs through the facility is adorned with bales of hay and pumpkins of various sizes.

A 1,750-square-foot greenhouse is home to plants and flowers.

In between the two structures is a hay bale maze for the young ones and across the parking lot an archery facility is available for anyone to use.

Next to the hay bale maze is a large tank of water filled with hundreds of fish, waiting for children to catch them with a pole.

There are two slides on different parts of the property, which children can use at any time.

And if customers get hungry, they can visit Eat Hot Tamales’ food truck. On hot days, there’s also an ice cream truck. The bustle of activity looks like a smaller version of Middleton Farms near Pasco.

Keele likes that comparison and smiles.

On the day the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business interviewed Keele, a never-ending stream of customers pulled into the parking lot to shop or let their kids play on the grounds.

He’s seen a lot of growth since he and his ex-wife started growing plants in a couple of window boxes at their home near Red Mountain.

Growing the Gardens

Like the business, the planting of various flowers and plants continued to grow.

Suddenly, trays of seedlings were all over the house.

Eventually Keele, a former chemist who worked at Hanford at the time, would set up a stand in front of the old Tony Roma’s (now Buffalo Wild Wings) on Gage Boulevard in Kennewick.

He did that for a number of years, and there was a loyal clientele. Business never slowed down and so more inventory was needed.

Eight years in business

With the continued growth, Keele found the property on Queensgate, and it opened in March 2015.

He keeps adding new attractions.

“We started out with some pumpkin painting, then added a straw maze,” he said. “We just set up for Halloween. After that, we’ll set up for Christmas. Our main sales then will be Christmas trees and poinsettias. Inside the greenhouse, we make ornaments with the kids.”

Keele has one full-time employee and four part-timers. “Mostly those are students or people working a second job,” he said.

After the holidays, the rush for spring planting begins.

“We grow all of the flowers here,” Keele said. “Our goal is to get them looking good on the shelf and have them do well at home.”

The rest of the inventory comes from wholesalers and farmers; Keele has built a Rolodex of 40 to 50 suppliers over the years.

Countdown to Christmas

Keele may like all the seasons, but it’s easy to tell that he’s pretty excited for Christmas.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he had a Santa’s house built so families could visit with old Saint Nick.

This is where the beard comes in.

“I had a fake beard that would irritate my face,” Keele said. “I just bought my first comb after years of having short hair. This is the first year I’ve grown a beard.”

As an owner, he’s pulling rank. No one is doing the job of Santa but him.

“I’m going be Santa. I wouldn’t need someone else to do it. I like being with families,” he said. “I just like doing it and all of the people who come by, interacting with them.”

Queensgate Garden’s hours are

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Fishing and archery are available from 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Queensgate Gardens: 1040 Queensgate Drive; 509-460-7182; [email protected].