Thanks to Teza's garden. There were references in a post that he wrote the other day that made me realize how much the small local garden centers contribute to the community.
And just to clarify, this post was written in Blogger, both old and new editor. In preview it looks wonderful, and as you can see, there is no paragraph spacing at all. And nothing that I can do will fix it.
So the next posts should all be written in Windows Live Writer, and look much better.
Where do you buy your perennials, bedding plants, shrubs and trees? Do you think about where your gardening dollars go?
Do you shop the big box stores with their limited varieties, and cheaper prices? Or do you support you local independent grower, garden center?
Maybe you can get it cheaper at the big box store, but there is a vast difference in quality that many gardeners are not aware of. If you don't purchase your plant material from the big box in the first few days you risk getting a plant that is neglected, dried out, and deteriorating. It may simply never recover. Money wasted.
There are limits to the varieties they will stock, most likely only the best sellers. They are there for the quick sale, with information, and support is either non existent, or not always correct. Try out your local garden center, besides hiring knowledgeable and passionate plant people, they might be more willing to bring in special varieties that you can't get at the big box. They can suggest companion plants, or something for problem areas, maybe a rare, and unusual plant that will inspire you.
Your local garden center is a community of like minded gardeners who care deeply about the quality, and source of their plant material. They are not there to make a quick buck, and then move onto the next seasons big seller.
They know, and appreciate their customers, and realize that it is important for them to return again, and again.
The big box stores tend to care little if you are dissatisfied. Show your support by shopping with your gardening dollars at your local nursery.
And watch them grow.
Your local garden center is a community of like minded gardeners who care deeply about the quality, and source of their plant material. They are not there to make a quick buck, and then move onto the next seasons big seller.
They know, and appreciate their customers, and realize that it is important for them to return again, and again.
The big box stores tend to care little if you are dissatisfied. Show your support by shopping with your gardening dollars at your local nursery.
And watch them grow.
And not to mention how thankful my local nursery folk are that I have put all of their children through college too.
ReplyDeleteI use a combination of a couple of small-ish local garden centres and a very good local nursery. I've long tried to avoid the garden centre chains for all the same reasons as you have given ...and I mostly manage it! :)
ReplyDeleteYup, I'm with you on this. I have favourite garden centres over most of mainland Nova Scotia that I visit. I shun the bigbox centres unless I'm in rescue mode or looking for something that I've not been able to find elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteHowever--and this can be a can of worms--I also don't believe in blindly supporting local businesses when they gouge their clients and treat them like second rate citizens. (I'm speaking about one particular, longtime business that I no longer support, mention, link to, or even visit). Companies have an obligation to provide good quality product and stand by their products with service and support.
Although for many people it's all about saving a few pennies here or there, I'm not averse to paying MORE for a product from a small company because I feel I'm also paying for information and knowledge from that company, and we're building a relationship. But again, if I feel I'm being sold second rate products--not just me, but clientele in general--I will not support a company, especially if I've had a conversation or two with them about such things. Happily, that's only happened in two cases in my part of the province.
Beautiful puffballs of colour. Just what I needed to see this morning.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm glad to hear the tactics are helping with Bootsie.
Wonderful post, I feel the same way about my beloved local garden centre. They are a wealth of information, and have incredibly helpful & friendly staff. I did make some purchases at CT this year, my local one has an exceptional garden section, but 90% of my garden shopping time & $ goes to the specialty store, it's such a joy to have in the community. :) Rebecca
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Also, our big box store often stocks plants that will not grow here in our desert climate. So, unsuspecting customers snatch them up only to see them die out in the garden soon after.
I get most of my plants from Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill when I buy. Also a few from Plant Delights in Garner. Daylilies, roses and iris I mail-order from businesses that are small family businesses. I love historic iris and the smaller businesses are typically who offer those.
ReplyDeleteJen:
ReplyDeleteYay! The more these messages get read, the better chance that the little guys/gals out there have of surviving in a tank full of shark and pirannah! Thanks for spreading the message!
Wow, what wonderful pictures Jen!
ReplyDeleteI buy a lot of things from the local nurseries. I know they depend on us and I want them to stay open so the big box stores do not reap that benefit. If it were only the big box stores we would have to settle for what they had to offer. That would be a sad state of affairs.
I do grab up that clearance item once in a while I must admit truthfully.
Lori, many a paycheque of mine has made it's way back to the garden centre, and I am sure they appreciate your putting their kids through college...really, they do!
ReplyDeleteNutty Gnome, I really wrote this post to bring some attention to the fact that we need to support our small local garden centres, and I am glad to hear that many others feel that way also.
Jodi! You say it much better than I can. I totally agree with you. By all means show your support by shopping where you are appreciated.
Carolynn, we actually got to sleep in until 5:00 am this morning! But the day before it was 2:20 am.
Rebecca, they need all the support they can get now, it is a very tough struggle for smaller stores out there.
Noelle, that is sad, but if only people asked questions, talk about zone denial. Been there, done that.....
Sweet Bay, I think that any small business that offers a great product, and friendly customer service should benefit from our shopping dollars. Keep it up.
Teza, love that analogy, sharks and piranna's, so true. And yes, we should remember to mention it more often.
Lona, that is exactly what I was driving at in my post. But somehow got off track, after fighting with Blogger so much over the layout of the post. Well said.
Jen
We are lucky enough to have several local garden centers and they have such a great selection and terrific advice for local gardeners. One of them also creates beautiful tableaux that you would never see at big box stores.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jen! Lovely images too. :)
You are preaching to the choir on this one, Jen. We have been spending our dollars at the local nurseries almost exclusively for the last several years. There are some things that I can only get at the big box, like mulch and hardscape, but plants are the specialty of our beloved Mouse Creek. it's like going to the farmer's market for produce. We want these businesses to stay open.
ReplyDeleteFrances
I have two words for your blog...Oh MY!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!
Blessings,
Pat
Oh Jen!!!! I needed a dose of your wonderful photography this evening! I'm looking at all the posts you've published since I was last here and loving every single one! However, I gotta say that these hydrangea photos have me almost swooning. WOW!
ReplyDeletePersonal service from a local garden store, LGS ,or any locally owned store is way better than anything offered by those big box stores.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about buying from the local nurseries. I identify the plants with the nurseries. If I find a nursery that sells good quality plants that won't die on me, I go back there again and again.
ReplyDeleteJen, your macross are very beautiful. About blogger editors, I post the pictures using new ed and select XL size, remember to hit return for a few lines in between before the next photo. Then revert back to old ed. Here it is easier to see preview mode. If the alignment is out, try to do some editing in HTML mode instead of 'compose mode', e.g. type in a few words to start the sentence, then revert back to compose mode to continue. I hope this helps.
Love the Phlox photo smack dab in the middle of those two awesome Hydrangeas! Well as a former owner of a small local greenhouse..I did appreciate all my customers..I enjoyed growing good plants at a reasonable price..unfortunately in todays economy less and less Mom and Pop businesses will survive..costs are getting way out of wack..who knows how long they can survive. The Big Boxes will survive..they move volume and don't rely on just plant sales..they can sell their plants at a much smaller profit margin and still survive..because they only use plants as leaders ..by that I mean just getting the customers inside the store..to buy patio sets or build a garden shed..or a new deck. It may seem like progress..but in my opinion it is not. I will get off my soap box now. The next time you drive by a small country greenhouse..stop..because it might be your last chance:(
ReplyDeleteI don't garden much, but I do make sure I go to our tiny local one-woman flower store when I do!
ReplyDeleteYou have posted very pretty shots of flowers on your blog that made my day. Keep on posting some more blog like this.
ReplyDelete