Four plant patents were granted in the name of John D. Siebenthaler starting in 1947 with perhaps the first shade tree patented, the Moraine Honey Locust. Sales were helped by the fact the “rakeless” tree gave off no seed pods to propagate the trees outside of the nursery. Courtesy Bob Siebenthaler

This October 12, 1950 obituary for third-generation president Clarence O. Siebenthaler credits him for developing the Moraine Locust. The 1947 patent is actually in brother John’s name, assigned to the company. Courtesy Bob Siebenthaler

Bob and Joan in 2010, hosting a fundraising event for the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association. They made a partial gift of the Siebenthaler Fen in 1995 to the non-profit group. The restored 130-acre Fen is now a prime wetland park in the area. Courtesy Kate Hagenbuch

The first plant patent was issued in 1931 to Henry F. Bosenberg for his “climbing or trailing rose.” The Plant Patent Act came about as horticulturalists like Luther Burbank learned to develop new varieties. The Siebenthaler family would soon make their own contributions. US Patent Office

The nursery’s origin is described in this page from a 1941 family history. See the accompanying PDF for more. Courtesy Bob Siebenthaler

No-nonsense mother Donna Buchanan (circled) took Chuck along when she played catcher in a women’s professional baseball team, the Rock-Ola Music Maids.

As a member of the Engineers Club of Dayton Foundation, Buchanan helped spearhead the educational documentary Ropewalk, featuring fellow Club member Bill Hagenbuch. Here they celebrate the film's 2008 Award of Excellence in History Outreach from the Ohio Association of  Historical Societies and Museums. Buchanan also championed the creation of DaytonInnovationLegacy.org.