Three brothers, Bert, Joe and Leonard Otten, were raised on a farm near Buffalo, Minnesota. They came from a family of fourteen children. The brothers combined their various skills to create the new family business of Otten Bros.

One brother had years of nursery and landscaping experience. Another had carpentry, masonry and excavating knowledge. The third had a business background.

As the business prospered and the workload became greater, it became necessary to hire other experienced people in specific areas such as tree-trimming and removal, patios, retaining walls, and lawn maintenance.

During the early years of the Otten Bros. business, many of the second-generation family members came in to help out at the nursery. they potted plants and worked on the landscaping crews. A few of these workers returned year after year and learned the business. One of these second-generation family members was Leonard Otten's son, Cliff.

In 1970, Cliff became a partner in the company and by 1975 had acquired full ownership of Otten Bros. after two of the original founders retired.

Originally, Otten Bros. headquarters and center was set up in Wayzata. Then, in 1979, a second garden center opened in Long Lake and it became the new headquarters of Otten Bros. In 1985, the Wayzata center closed and planning began for the design and construction of the present nursery, landscape and design center.

It took five years of planning and the last move was made to the present 11-acre site in 1991. This new site allowed Otten Bros. to offer a larger selection of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, as well as a more complete selection of garden and gift-related items.

Otten Bros. now employs a staff of over 100 part- and full-time people. It has taken a leadership role in the nursery industry and has sponsored numerous community events over the years.

Today, Otten Bros. is considered one of the premier garden centers and landscaping firms in the United States.