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On 9/6/04 11:55, in article ,
"Frogleg" wrote:

On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 15:56:14 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

It doesn't become me very well as a Nurseryman's wife to criticise some
garden centres - not all by any means - but the prices they charge, the lack
of advice they give and the 'care' given to the plants which are bought in
and sold off just like any supermarket product, fills us with real horror
and even amazement. One gc is selling Pelargoniums for over £4.00 when we
are charging £1.80 for the same size! But the customer isn't paying for the
plant but for acres and acres of expensive glass housing few plants (and all
of those bog standard) but hundreds of other products, such as candles,
soap, writing paper, cards, sweets, jam, garden furniture, barbecues, water
feechas etc.

I suppose this is an international disease. What you describe is
*exactly* what has happened to a local garden center. When I first
went there, they raised nearly all their own plants, the staff was
knowledgable and helpful, and they didn't require ID for checks
(cheques) because "gardeners don't pass bad checks." :-) And they
sold plants, seeds, and garden supplies. Now they sell the kitch you
mention, the quality of plants has declined, the (inflation-adjusted)
prices increased, and they have expanded with several huge stores in
nearby towns. They have taken a good name and past reputation and
turned them into a shoddy franchise.

A nursery in Jersey was just as you describe and then did just what you
describe. They avoided going broke by the skin of their teeth but it really
was a close call. When I took my husband there on one of our visits he
nearly fainted at their prices. Jersey is a finance centre and some of the
residents are rich but even so.........one friend of ours combines a long
week end trip to England with a visit to us and takes home a (large) car
load of plants and still reckons he gets the best of the deal. ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds after garden to email me)