Re: Garden.com

In a message dated 1/21/01 11:45:58 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
Arkrismer@aol.com writes:

<< Small businesses survive because they can offer that special touch and 
advice 
 which people need today. If you are small you have to sell service and 
 information, have plants labeled and have nice displays,
 
 Al Krismer >>

This is a no win dialogue as HD is not going away.  Do not expect an 
independent or family owned business to be open araound the clock.  There is 
a bright spot here and there.  We have, an easy drive, from me an annual 
grower in southern Vermont who does many of the rarer annuals and plants used 
as annuals.  I would call that a niche garden nursery.  My one trip there 
last year showed the place to be very, very busy.

Also within easy drives from us are several rare plant growers who attract 
gardeners from a great distance.  They provide the many cultivars not carried 
by the chain stores.  Again this is a niche that cannot be filled by HD or 
Walmart.  Blue Meadow in western Mass is one, Andrew's in the same area is 
another. On the same trip you can visit a grower of species iris.

If you want, and I do, a flat of lobelia 'Crystal Palace' each year, the 
chain stores are the best place providing you get there before the plants 
succumb to their lax care. 

I am very interested in this subject as we have a nursery/garden center in 
our family. Just as they became established they were surrounded by two 
Walmart's, an HD, some other big store that went out of business and a 
supermarket chain that handles plants.  The family store went into areas that 
the large stores cannot provide.  They have a floral business,  they handle 
high quality shrubs and deliver and plant them,  they have equipment for 
handling stone work and provide gorgeous stone work for suburban homes that 
have flat yards.  They are also capable of putting into place a full grown 
tree.

The floral business made a great success by having a van that can move on a 
minute's notice.  They deliver plants as well as arrangements and cut 
flowers. This would not be everyone's answer but niche services are what 
independent nurseries can do.  

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4 

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