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By Kevin Allen * Rappahannock News StafF Writer
It all began with a backyard landscaping project in Adel phi. Md.
Richard and Sandy Antony wanted to plant azaleas on their quarteracre inside the Beltway, but prices for the plants were pretty steep by a young couple's standards.
So Richard decided to take a cutting from an azalea tn his mothers yard, and propagate his own plants. It worked beautifully and the Antonvs became more and more intrigued with azaleas.
Neighbors raved about the Antonys' garden. One friend even suggested that Richard and Sandy should grow more azaleas and sell them. They did.
That was more than 30 years - and thousands of azaleas - ago. In the time in between, the Antonys moved from suburban Maryland to 25 acres on Tiger Valley Road and cultivated Long Mountain Nursery.
After 28 years in the business, the Antonys have announced that they are closing the nursery but plants will still be available this spring until inventory is sold out. Richard believes strongly in recycling, so he wants to sell the nursery's hoop houses. pots and other infrastructure as well.
At its peak. Long Mountain grew 500 varieties of azaleas. From the early 1990s until a couple years ago. when the Antonys began easing back production, the nursery grew some 30.000 azalea plants annually.
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