Jefferson Bank has been serving the Jefferson City area for 54 years. As the business has blossomed over the years, so has its garden - and in October, it caught some attention.
Don Ittner, maintenance supervisor at Jefferson Bank at 700 Southwest Blvd., was surprised when he got a call from Heather Brown saying the business would be given the fall Garden of the Month award - he was humbled because it's the first time a business has received the honor.
Brown said the Bittersweet Garden Club and Master Gardeners started in 2020 asking what businesses, clubs and churches they could recognize with their award. The decision to choose Jefferson Bank has been discussed over the past three years.
"Jefferson Bank has always been brought up for its bright colors and all the effort they put into the gardens," she said. "It's been appreciated by both the garden club and the community for it's park-like setting. The trees turning for fall represent the season beautifully."
Walking on the grounds creates a welcoming environment, with pockets of flowers spaced out around the bank's Mortgage Lending and Lending centers, some featuring plants native to Williamsburg, Virginia, which was the inspiration for the grounds from the start. Much like the bank's theme - "people you know, people you trust" - the grounds create a sense of comfort. Along with lush foliage, shaded maple and native trees keep the grounds cool. A gazebo and breezeway are tucked away in the back of the property, where customers can sit at picnic tables around bright floribunda, Virginia sweetspire and winterberry bushes or walk on green pathways.
This connection to Williamsburg was intentional, Ittner said.
After the bank was established in 1967, his parents did contract maintenance work for it, and he was the designated "Saturday duster" in seventh grade. Ittner later chose to stay with the bank in maintenance and helped preserve its Colonial architecture style inspired by Williamsburg. The building utilizes symmetrical architecture, with moldings along the eaves, white and gold paint colors, and portraits of past presidents to transport customers back to 18th century businesses. Even the pea gravel and curbing outside point back to that era, marketing director Jayne Dunkmann said.
Harold Westhues, former president of Jefferson Bank, said in a 2004 News Tribune article the style serves as a reminder of American heritage and expertise.
"The Colonial-era building combines the beauty and dignity of our American colonial heritage with the financial services and professionalism that marks today's finest banking institutions," Westhues said at the time.
Landscaping is another part of the appeal.
Gordon Chappell, director of landscape and facility services for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, advised the maintenance crew on what plants would thrive in Missouri that were native to Virginia.
"At first planting, the folks at the nursery said 'I'm worried about those abelias,' but we never had problems with it," Ittner said. "I think (Chappell) knew what he was doing. We were kind of innovative around here."
Through trial and error, the maintenance crew has figured out which plants will last through Missouri heat and keep bringing them back. Adam Strobel, lead groundskeeper, said the crew will be planting 6,500 tulip bulbs for the cooler months, which takes work to maintain, he said.
"Everyone thinks if you plant tulips the same way, they're going to get the same result," Strobel said, "but there's a lot more to it. We dig (flower beds) up, fertilize and lime those beds; it takes a lot of work to keep them up to par."
Ittner said the Jefferson Bank grounds crew has helped maintain that high standard. They work shoulder to shoulder, without hierarchy, lending different perspectives based on their expertise. In the warmer months, they focus on lawn maintenance; when snow hits, they show up at 2 a.m. to clear the way for customers.
There is a necessity to it, kind of like working on a farm - Ittner's family nickname is "Farmer Joe" from his work on his family's century-old land.
"We have a successful crew because there is that camaraderie," he said. "Everybody has ideas and possibilities, so we go with it."
Strobel, who has worked with the bank since high school, said in addition to management making it a welcoming workplace, Ittner has set the standard for their work ethic. Jefferson Bank has some things that others don't - like the outdoor seating and Virginia-native plants - and a great maintenance supervisor, he noted.
"Don has done a fantastic job setting the bar," Strobel said. "It's all because of him and his know-how."