Dale Hendricks has been growing and propagating plants professionally since 1975. At Green Leaf Enterprises, Inc. of Lancaster, Pa. he assisted in sales and learned plant care & watering. In 1977 He was promoted to greenhouse manager and ran a range of glass greenhouses in Bird In Hand, Pa. and later in Neffsville, Pa. growing mostly houseplants and tropicals, and doing some experimenting with perennials. From that time through 1988 Dale’s responsibilities grew along with Green Leaf. After 5 years running a greenhouse range in Kennett Square, Pa and acting as perennial program manager, he left to co-found North Creek Nurseries, Inc. in Landenberg, Southern Chester County, PA with business partner Steve Castorani. Dale has taught perennial propagation at Longwood Gardens and lectures widely on native plants for sustainable landscapes, plant propagation, marketing and new and different perennials and grasses. In June 1999 Dale was presented with the American Horticultural Societies Individual Commercial Award for introducing many new varieties into the wholesale trade and refining the plug system for growing perennials. In August 2000, Dale received the Perennial Plant Association's Young Professional award.