~ “Come on, Sweetie, let’s get going.”
My husband calls delicately, knowing that if the tone is wrong, he may lose me. It was as if he was talking me down from the ledge of the Space Needle.
“Come on, we don’t need anymore plants, you have enough.”
He was right. I do have plenty of plants but, I didn’t have that one.
Hi. My name is Janit, and I’m a plant-aholic.
I got my miniature tree order the other day from my grower down in Oregon. I occasionally and purposefully order plants that I don’t know – which is dangerous because I can’t advise my customers about how they grow up and what their individual needs are, until I grow them myself for awhile. (Insert subliminal plot here. ;o) UPDATE: Many years later, I CAN tell my customer how almost any tree that we offer for sale through our Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center store grows up.
But, really, I’m like that creature on Lord of the Rings. You remember Gollum? The sleezy, slimy, little guy that covets the ring throughout the series except my treasure isn’t a ring, it’s a plant. Lol!
“My precious, mmmyyyy preeeeecciiiioooouuuussssss. Eees MINE! MINE!! AAALLLL MINE!!”
I’m not alone though. When a new customer orders trees from me I always get an email or a phone call. What really surprises me is that THEY are actually surprised that the miniature trees are so nice! (Which always leads me to wonder what the other online nurseries are shipping if they aren’t shipping their best?? Cue: TwoGreenThumbs.com again!)
So, I thought to share the enthusiasm – and to illustrate to the husband that I’m not the only one with a penchant for miniature plants. Here are the latest phone messages I received last month – transcribed how they sound:
“Good mooorrrrnnning, this is message for Janit, this is Diane B______. I received the shipment of the miniature plants on Monday…. They are absolutely GORGEOUS! I love them. Thank you very, VERY much!!”
[Diane ordered: White Bud Mugo Pine, Gemstone Hinoki Cypress, Variegated English Boxwood, Verdoni Dwarf Hinoki and the White Pygmy Sawara Cypress – see what’s in stock today, our inventory always changes!]
“Janit! It’s Heather V____, I just got my plants, and – I have to tell you, I had to call ya – I couldn’t just send you an email. I am SO impressed and SO ecstatic with these little guys I mean they are AMAZING! I mean I am, I am just IN LOVE with them. Thank you SO much! I am going to take pictures once I get them in the ground. I probably won’t be able to get them in until tomorrow morning. So, I’ll take some pictures and I’ll email them to ya. I just had to call ya and tell you I love them, THEY ARE AWESOME!”
[Heather ordered: White Bud Mugo, Pusch Norway Spruce, Gemstone Hinoki Cypress and the Jamy Balsam Fir – see what’s in stock today, our inventory always changes!]
Did you catch that little stutter in there in the first sentence? That cracked me up completely! It sounds like she really couldn’t get the words out fast enough. Music to my ears!
So, I played these messages for my husband just so he knows… to keep it delicate when I’m approaching the plant section at just about any store. :o)
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;o)
I…WANT THESE….SO BADLY!!!
Lol!! ;o) Checkout my online store – https://www.shop.twogreenthumbs.com and look under the plants. I’m putting more up this week too…. but I may have to keep a Butter Ball for myself to feed my addiction! Lol…
Hi Janit; I have found it difficult to find zone information about succulents and also dwarf conifers. On this side of the US there is more and more interest in trough and similar container gardening but that can add another variable to the affair. I’m not sure we have done a good enough job explaining how to carry a container over from year to year when growing in zones 3 and 4 but perhaps warmer zones too. There’s a lot of time and $ involved in even a small container and success and smiles is what we like to see in customers. I have not gotten into any of these yet but I enjoy seeing what you and others have done.
George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Hi George,
Good to hear from you! I love the American Horticulture’s A to Z for zone information. Because I sell throughout the States, it gives me reliable cold and the heat zone information on just about any conifer I carry. Here’s a blog from last fall that I wrote for over wintering containers: https://minigardener.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/winterizing-your-miniature-garden-and-containers/ – not sure if I can tell you anything new – the info came from my brother, a landscaper north of Toronto with, I think, a colder climate than yours. I would be most interested in any opinions, tips and tricks you have on this subject to help my customers stay happy too! ~ Janit
I had to read the beginning of this to my husband. I was laughing so hard, it was a replay of our trip to the local nursery who sells miniature plants. Thanks for all the great work you do Janit. I’m so hooked I have a hard time going to sleep sometimes with all the ideas whirling around.
Hi Lori! Very good to hear from you! I knew if I felt that way, there would be other who do too – it was a fun blog to write. It’s a deadly combination because there is always room for another miniature plant! Thanks for your note, Your fellow MG, Janit