I don't visit our local nursery that often (Well, I guess I frequent there enough times because some of the employees recognize me when I walk in), but I was driving by yesterday and noticed that they're closing (the owner is retiring). I remember going in there when I was a little girl (I'm almost thirty now).

I went in to see what they had and apparently they announced the closure about a month ago, so they had only a few items left.

I purchased a Sansevieria trifasciata for $5. It's really only a cutting because there's one long leaf and a baby in this huge pot. I've always wanted one of the taller varieties and I guess what better plant than one from this nursery. It will grow big and old with me and I can look at it, remembering the nursery and its employees. I feel bad for the employees to be honest; when I asked what was going to happen to them, the gentleman at the desk replied, "I don't know."



I went back and purchased a 'Mother of Millions' or 'Mother of Thousands' (I'm not sure) Kalanchoe for $1.50.

I am so sorry your nursery is closing!

That is sad! I'm glad you were able to get a couple of plants from there before it closed, so you'll always have a comforting reminder.

I am more than twice your age , so I have seen a lot of small plant retailers go out of business since the plant boom in the 1960's. The primary reason for this is the emergence of Big Box stores that sell at discount at prices that small retailers cannot match. But many small retailers shot themselves in the foot by not providing thorough and professional plant care information. Many folks bought plants (and still do), received poor advice and then blamed themselves when the plant died. They concluded they have black thumbs and never bought plants again. Ultimately, that hurt the small local retailers.

All very sad.

I can see that. When Lowes puts a plant on clearance for $.50 or $1.00 and the local nursery charges $6-7 for the same plant (mind you, some clearance plants are in lesser health than others so this may not be the best comparison), folks are less inclined to return to the nursery to look at/purchse plants.

Sadly, I can also see that with regards to the poor input on plant care. There was a few times when I'd inquire about what a houseplant was (they'd occasionally get something new that I hadn't seen before) and they didn't know what it was. Or, sometimes they'd offer advice on how to care for a plant I was purchasing (not that I asked, but they were just being helpful) and I knew that the advice was a bit "off."

I guess overall though, it's never something you want to see... a local business closing and people losing their jobs.

This is truly a cause for mourning! So sorry! That excited feeling when you pull in to a great owner-operated (o-o) store, when you can see there's tons of great plants, spilled out into the landscape and decorative pots that aren't even for sale, and you know they're going to have something interesting you don't have yet, just can't be matched by any BBS.

When o-o stores try to compete with the exact same items at higher prices, it's rarely going to work. Pls don't misunderstand me, I've been "preaching" the dangers of BBS's for decades and pleading with people to shop at o-o stores, at least look there first, but, as said, there has to be a reason, an added value for the higher price.

Why more of them haven't concentrated mostly on plants that can't be found at BBS's is a huge mystery. Few are going to buy the exact same thing at a higher price, regardless of the level of service, but many will spend more for something different. When I lived in OH, (and both before & after BBSs were a major source for plants,) I loved visiting the diff o-o stores because they were all different, with different plants. And at most of them, the owner was there, working, answering questions, as in love with plants as anybody who might shop there. There were few houseplants/tropicals-only stores by the time I left OH almost 10 yrs ago.

Another issue o-o stores of all types have is often hours of operation. If they're only open when people with jobs are at work, that's rarely going to work either. It's hard to keep a business open if you can only sell things to the unemployed/retired/self-employed/home-makers/on disability. If you've got a habit to support, you can't take off work to shop! LOL!

If it helps any, I live where there are no small plant retailers. Even the big box stores seldom have anything interesting. However, I have quite the extensive collection of house plants. Largest private collection of house plants in Wisconsin. 99% bought off eBay, Yes, you need to be a wise buyer, able to read between the lines so to speak. Keep an eye on the S&H, of course. But, it has worked out quite well for me. Gene

Gene,
I think you might just have enabled me. I like to look around on eBay.

I also live where the closest o-o store is almost 2 hours away, now that the ONE that was here in town closed a few yrs ago. It was *very* small but worth visiting. I always found something I wanted & she special-ordered a tray of something for me once. I never forgot that & always checked there first before buying any plants anywhere else.

Aside from that, I've gotten most of my cool new plants since living in this area by trading and for-postage offers.

Hi Mac..., I am sorry your store is closing.

We have quite a few o-o small to medium size nurseries in and around Brigham City. One of those is called Secrist Gardens. Nedra and DonRay are the owners and the business is at their home. They sell mainly perennials most of which are overwintered at Bear Lake, Idaho. Nedra is to the point of quitting and enjoying her great grandchildren. She is 80 and DonRay is 83. He says no and they just keep on going. They are amazingly hard workers and extremely knowledgeable. People come from miles away to buy her plants. After fathers day in June, they pack everything up and move to their house in Bear Lake Idaho and continue to sell, and grow for next year. In early spring they bring the plants here from Bear Lake. They seriously have a Garden of Eden in a dessert on the east side of Bear Lake.

Nedra was a school teacher and started the business after retirement. Now she has a book out for our hot dry summer and very cold winter weather. The book is called Powerful Perennials and is sold on e-bay. She is now working on a companion book.
I know she would love to just stop the business and write and enjoy her family. That would be a sad day for Brigham City and surrounding areas. But I know that is her wish.

I can tell y'all all you want to know about running a small..........well tiny, nursery. A few of you have bought from me and better understand my business model.

@purpleinopp, I don't think I have ever grown, much less sold a single variety of plant that is offered in our big box stores. That's truly the only way I sell anything at all. I simply spend the necessary time searching out those hard-to-find plants or seldom-seen varieties, and stick to those.

Someone--please tell me what o-o stores mean, or are???

G

Ken...you would love Tony Avent's Plant Delights nursery. He has the same philosophy as you. Open to the public few weekends / year for sale ....and the gardens ( Jupiter Level) filled with all kinds of wonder ....unbelievable. Catalogue is great too.

@gitagal
owner operators

I will check him out, @missingrosie.

You can google him to learn about his programs
But don't skip over the actual gardens .should be info about those Juniper Level Botanical Gardens

Thanks, Keith! It is hard to keep up with all the random acronyms.
Gita

Sorry, my bad. I used the phrase several times, and used the abbreviation after the 1st time. I edited my original post to include a reference to the abbreviation next to the first use of the term.

Purple.... I read your profile....We are both of similar likes, goals, and successes.

I have an extensive list of FLORIST--garden--grower--Greenhouse jobs. What a source of knowledge!
Now I have been working at a Home depot for 18 years. Mostly in the Garden Dept.

Love gardening!!! I have amassed a lot of knowledge re all things to do with gardening.
much of it through DG in the Mid Atlantic Forum. We hold Swaps--we share plants and root
cuttings to pass on as well as grow from seeds, propagate, etc....
At work--I share it--I educate customers, I love to see them come around..."see the light".

I credit many people on DG and, more receently, ATP for sharing all they know with anyone willing to listen.

Gita