The man that makes Morganton bloom: Jim Pless honored for lifetime achievement

Morganton’s 51 planting areas, 34 planters, 32 hanging baskets, and three water features create a sense of place that can only be accomplished through the vision of a skilled gardener who loves his work as much as his community.

That person is Jim Pless.

Instead of accepting praise, he highlights the work of his crew. Pless is as humble as they come.

The lifelong resident of Morganton said gardening is in his blood. Many days of his childhood were spent with his father and grandfather in the garden. As supervisor of cemetery and grounds for the city, he oversees thousands of plantings each year, and with a yellow legal pad in hand, he’s always on the lookout for areas of improvement.

Now, he is a Morganton Downtown Development Association winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It’s an honor,” Pless said. “I never dreamed of anything like this, I just come to work every day, and I always thought it’s my job to do the best I can and be informed and educated the best I can be.”

Pless credited the beauty of Morganton to his staff, who are outside every day, often working in rainy or hot conditions. “I still try to get out there because if I’m going to ask them to do it, even though I’ve done it a whole lot, I still try to be present,” he said.

Pless started his professional horticulture journey when he enrolled in Western Piedmont Community College’s first-ever class for horticulture technology. From there, he went to work at Broughton Hospital in 1980 and then for the City of Morganton in 2009.

His horticulture knowledge spans decades, and he passes that knowledge to his crew of six groundskeepers, whom he relies on not only for tasks like watering, planting, and fertilizing but also for their ideas and input.

“I’ve always wanted my employees to take ownership in their job. It’s not just my way, but I want to hear their input,” Pless said, adding that his crew is full of professionals in their trades, especially in turf grass.

His team’s work spans the city and plants thousands of plants each year. For the annuals, Pless said his team plants 10,000 flowers in the spring and 10,000 in the fall. Main areas that require a lot of attention include the old courthouse and both the 104 and 105 interchanges at Interstate 40, which are more recent additions to his roster of responsibility.

The job requires attention to detail and paying close attention to the needs of each type of plant. Having a green thumb and years of experience, Pless knows what works in Morganton’s environment. Pless said the crews plant a lot of Vincas, Begonias, Coleus, Angelonias, Dragon Wing Begonias, and Petunias. For shrubbery, Pless prefers Burford Holly, and for trees, he prefers Locusts, Redbuds, Blackgum, and Crape Myrtles.

Planting, watering, fertilizing, trimming, replacing — you name it — Pless and his crews work year-round to keep the city’s landscapes looking fresh. Currently, they are working to remove and replace some aging Locust trees downtown.

His biggest supporter is his wife, Dawn, whom he has been married to since 1988. He said in a way, Dawn has also contributed to Morganton’s landscaping. Their drives to see the beauty in such far-flung places as Canada and San Antonio further inspire him. The planters that sit on downtown’s street corners are an idea he brought back from Washington, D.C.

“You’re always looking and you’re always learning,” Pless said. “I’m learning today even though I’ve been doing this for 40-some-odd years.”

Pless is not only a gardener. He’s a farmer on his family’s hobby farm where he raises a few beef cattle. He’s also a father to two sons and a grandfather to one.

OTHER WINNERS

The Morganton Downtown Development Association also awarded honors to three businesses downtown. The association originated in 1985 as a membership-based organization for local merchants and business owners in downtown Morganton.

The winners of the Picture Perfect award are Benjamin and Libba Belton, the owners of Benjamin’s & Libba’s. The pair was chosen for their store’s visual charm and presence downtown. Their thoughtful seasonal decorations, eye-catching merchandise, and community spirit made them a perfect fit for the honor.

The Cherry on Top award winner is The Olive of Morganton. This award recognizes exceptional customer service and the business’s consistent effort to go above and beyond to serve the community with care, attention, and genuine hospitality.

The Breath of Fresh Air award winner is West Union Art Studios, which is owned by Adam and Molly Mackay. The award recognizes the business and their effort to host engaging events or programs downtown, whether brand new or beloved annual traditions.