June 2020
Bringing out the Best in Us All By Teresa McPherson

Let’s forget about the doom and gloom that’s dominating the headlines lately, and instead look at some of the good news — the garden centers, greenhouses and individuals who are reaching out and giving back to the communities where they are located. These people who are making a difference.

Did you hear about Armstrong Garden Centers and Dümmen Orange pairing up to give away more than 400 orchids and 100 hanging baskets? They handed out the flowers to medical personnel at Primary Care Associates Medical Group in Vista, California, and at Villa Monticello Assisted Living Memory Care Facility for Seniors in Escondido, California.

We shared a post on our Facebook page about an IGC in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that went above and beyond when delivering an order to an elderly customer.

The woman’s daughter tweeted that her mom called her about the delivery she received from Castle Garden Center, which included not only her flower order but also groceries and a bag of hot meals. “My mom was speechless and asked why,” Maureen Johnson wrote. “They said, ‘When you called, you mentioned you had promised your daughter not to go out, so we were worried you had no food and brought some.’”

Johnson said the garden center refused to take payment for the food.

Northern San Diego county-based Olive Hill Greenhouses is reportedly continuing a long history of supporting local organizations by donating thousands of plants to first responders and those on the front line fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The multi-generation family-owned company teamed up with one of their customers in southern California, Plantscapers Inc. in Irvine and Palm Desert, to provide beautiful flowering plants to hospitals, first responders, and nonprofits across the region, including Newport Beach Police Department, Kaiser Permanente, and other local nonprofits.

What is your business doing to pass on the good? I’d love to hear about it — and give you a shout out on our social media platforms. Send me a note to [email protected] to let me know!

Teresa McPherson

Teresa McPherson is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].