Meet Woodie: Richard Buller, The Approachable Gardener

Richard Buller, known to gardeners as Woodie, is a co-founder of Garden Goods Direct and brings more than 35 years of hands-on horticultural experience to his work. Born and raised in a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania, he worked on a crop farm throughout high school, learning early the value of hard work, healthy soil, and paying attention to what plants need.

Woodie's professional journey in horticulture began in 1990, building on a lifelong interest in plants and the natural world. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science from the University of Delaware, further developing his understanding of plant biology, growth, and production. That educational foundation, combined with years of practical experience, helped shape his approach to growing plants and sharing horticultural knowledge.

A Career in Propagation

His career has included a particular focus on propagation — the art and science of producing new plants from cuttings and seed. From 1993 to 2003, Woodie served as Propagation Manager at North Creek Nurseries, a nursery recognized for its work with native plants, perennials, and ornamental grasses. He subsequently joined Conard-Pyle/Star Roses, serving as Propagation Manager from 2003 to 2006, during which he continued to develop his expertise in producing healthy, vigorous plants. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to study under some of the most respected nurserymen in the industry, gaining valuable knowledge that extends well beyond the classroom.

From the Nursery to the Landscape

Woodie's professional background also includes nine years, from 2013 to 2022, at Complete Landscaping Service, one of the nation's top-ranked landscape companies, as well as experience with J. Franklin Styer Nurseries. These experiences gave him a broader understanding of horticulture, connecting the science of plant propagation and nursery production with the practical realities of landscape installation, maintenance, and long-term plant performance.

Active in the Horticultural Community

An active member of the horticultural community, Woodie belongs to the International Plant Propagators' Society (IPPS), the Perennial Plant Association (PPA), and the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA). His involvement in these professional organizations reflects his commitment to continuing education, sharing knowledge, and staying connected with the people and innovations shaping the horticultural industry.

His Garden on Maryland's Eastern Shore

Today, Woodie maintains his own extensive landscape in USDA Zone 7 on Maryland's Eastern Shore, where caring for trees, shrubs, and perennials keeps him closely connected to the everyday rewards and challenges of gardening. Even after decades in the industry, he believes there is always something new to learn from plants, fellow horticulturists, and the gardeners who grow them.

Why Woodie Shares What He Knows

As a co-founder of Garden Goods Direct, which he helped launch in 2016, Woodie brings that combination of professional expertise, practical experience, and genuine enthusiasm for plants to everything he does. He believes that choosing the right plant is about more than beautiful flowers or attractive foliage. It's about understanding how a plant grows, where it will thrive, and what it can contribute to a landscape over the years.

Whether he's explaining pruning, recommending a perennial, introducing a promising new shrub, or helping someone understand why a plant is struggling, Woodie makes horticulture approachable. His goal is simple: to share what he's learned over a lifetime of growing plants and help gardeners of every experience level become more confident and successful.

For Woodie, gardening has never been just a profession. It's a lifelong passion, and one he's always happy to share.