Back in May I put up a post about my Oakleaf Hydrangea that I’d bought the previous year at my favorite nursery. After reading the post, my Aunt Kathy responded with a note that they’d been closed down. ‘GASP’ Noooo – I had to check this out. Besides, it was Mothers Day weekend and I had told the boys NOT to have a florist deliver the usual bunch of roses. Not that I don’t like them – I do. But the cost is OMG! So it was a lovely day and I was out looking for flowers to plant and enjoy for a bit longer than a week.
I cruised over to the old spot where Sherwood Forest used to be. I had known that the lot was sold to a church and the main entrance that we’d been used to was closed off. The entrance to use was on Lamson Ave. and is the old ‘back-door’ gate used for the sod and mulch trucks. The sign was gone, but the gate was open. I went in and things didn’t look as they had. Many of the landscape trees were missing and it looked like that church had swallowed up a bit more of the old lot. Although, the trucks were there, the loaders, piles of mulch for sale. In front of the landscaping plants was a big section of lovely flowers. I parked and walked around. I knew all was well when, off in the distance, helping another customer, was the distinct voice of Ed. He’s been selling me plants for nearly 20 years! (wow-that felt old just typing it) The once vast fleet of radio flyer wagons has been reduced to a half dozen, and the staff seemed to be trimmed to two that day.
I picked out some lovely landscape roses that I’d not seen anywhere else – which is usually the case with this nursery. The price was great too – as usual.
As I paid, another familiar face wearing his signature Warren Zevon glasses, said it’d been bought out by a landscaping company by the name of Hildreth Sod and the plans were to get it back up to operation asap. There have been issues with growers that have gone out of business or changed hands, as they have, so just getting stock takes time. I tend to believe that. Even a rose from J&P can be in short supply (they’ve been out of Simplicity White for like 2 seasons now). It takes 3–5 years to grow one big enough to sell…which is about how long this recession has been. So, I’ll be patient and will continue to buy from my local guys and hope you will too. Over the years I can safely say that I’ve not had anything I bought from them not perform. Buying from the Big Box Stores is convenient, but let’s just say, it’s a lottery. So, like the rest of us weathering the economic hurricane, my favorite plant purveyors are still hanging on – by their fingernails, but hanging on.
If you need their number, it’s the same, 352-683-2976. Pay them a visit sometime and hopefully they’ll regain their foothold.
A 2qt glass pitcher.
…and later that week. Make the simple syrup by heating the water and sugar to dissolve. Let it cool to room temp and add to the pitcher.
I had just a shot of my store bought variety leftover to compare mine to, and I actually like mine better. The DIY version has a much more fresh and clean lemony taste…not so much ‘lemon Pledge’. Since it’s made with relatively good vodka, I know I won’t be left with a massive headache in the morning! I checked a site devoted to this summer sipping syrup (
Michelle Beal