Re: Where have all the house plants gone?

**N* S* <s*@earthlink.net>**

Ah hah! The metro Detroit area is a mecca when it comes to house  
plants. English Gardens, one of
country's largest independent garden centers, with seven stores, has  
a  house plant section that is well
stocked year around.  Telly's Nursery in Troy specializes is cool  
plants and puts together huge containers that will knock your
socks off. Goldner Walsh in Pontiac is another treasure trove of  
greenery. And Planterra, an interior landscape design firm with  
clients nation wide, broke ground on a 23,000 botanical conservatory  
that will be open for retail early this summer.  SOoooooo, if you  
happen to be visiting the Detroit area, give me a hail and I will  
hook you up.
Nancy Szerlag

On Dec 26, 2008, at 8:39 AM, loisdan@juno.com wrote:

> Hope everyone had a great holiday!
>
> I've noticed a discouraging trend over the past two winters --- the  
> lack
> of availability of house plants in retail outlets. I'm wondering  
> whether
> this is a nationwide trend, or just happening around here.  
> Recently, it
> took me over six months to find two six-inch pots of ivy for my  
> mantle.
> Even with that, I had to take one variegated and one regular  
> because they
> didn't have two of the same.
>
> When Frank's and other small chains still existed, you could spend a
> pleasant hour choosing just the right African violet, Gloxinia, or  
> other
> flowering plant in mid-winter, inhaling the smells of the  
> greenhouse and
> dreaming of spring. Just a few years ago, Lowes had loads of African
> violets (regular and miniature), Gloxinias, Kalanchoes, and  
> Bromeliads in
> bloom, as well as a wide variety of foliage plants.
>
> For the past two winters, neither my local small nurseries, nor any of
> the box stores has had anything other than 10-inch palms, Poinsettias,
> Cyclamen, and a couple of obligatory orchids. Home Depot had three
> African violets, only one of which was in bloom, which I purchased  
> out of
> desperation.
>
> Our local ShopRite (supermarket) recently made a big to-do about
> enlarging and renovating its floral section. When it was done, I  
> saw only
> cut flowers and asked when they would be setting up the house  
> plants. The
> reply was that they will no longer be selling ANY house plants. This
> store, too, had been a reliable place to find a wide selection of  
> African
> violets and other common house plants, such as ferns, ivy, hanging
> baskets, etc.
>
> Regards,
> Lois
>
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Nancy Szerlag
Columnist for Detroit News
szerlag@earthlink.net
Check blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com

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