STL Shop Local 365+: Garden Heights Nursery

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Garden Heights Nursery

Yes, in spite of all,

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits.
-John Keats

Some of you may have read we are trying to get grass to grow in our front yard. Mr. Rudd did a great job getting it started, now we have to keep it going. He said a sprinkler would be a necessity.

Where to find one? I know where I would have gone last year but what about this year?

Garden Heights Nursery is a few blocks from our house.

You probably have a similar local nursery in your neighborhood.

I think these garden shops are lovely. In the midst of busy city commerce they provide a place of beauty.

Of course, they have all manner of plants,

and seeds

and pots to put them in

and cans for watering them.

Or if you want to decorate your patio, how about wind chimes and bird feeders

or Chinese lanterns?

But my mind wanders with the prettiness of it all, will they have water sprinklers?

As I'm driving to Garden Heights I'm thinking I could probably get a less expensive one somewhere else.

But then I think of all this nursery has given our neighborhood. They are

a source of endless information and expertise about all things botanically related and always ready with a list of trustworthy references. They offer an overwhelming variety of healthy plants, and a place of sheer beauty to enjoy each time I drive by.

I'm convinced. If they have sprinklers, it will be worth the few extra dollars.

I ask the helper behind the desk and am directed to the most vibrant array of sprinklers I've ever seen: yellow, purple, red, green, orange. How will I decide? I was expecting one choice: plain aluminum.

I decided on purple and I love it.

As I was checking out a man behind me said "That is a great sprinkler, it will never wear out! I've had mine for years!" Aw! High quality and purple, bonuses I hadn't considered.

So the big question has it helped the grass grow?

Yes, it has!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever;

its loveliness increases.

John Keats

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A New Year, A New Look

It has been a year... a year of shopping, learning, meeting, and discovering; a year of new people, places, and routines; a year of sheer delight that I could never have anticipated when the adventure began March 1st, 2011. I've found it IS possible to shop economically and conveniently at smaller locally owned shops. What started as curiosity has concluded with deeper understanding and a commitment to a way of life. The independence of self-owned businesses seems to foster happier more creative people,which makes a better world for all of us. So let's continue, I can't think of a single reason to go back to the box stores, boring chains and internet.

About Jo

Hi, my name is Jo-Ellen McDonald. I like small stores, I truly do, though for years I've rarely shopped in them. I don't know why, really. I guess I was thinking it is more convenient and less expensive to shop in the big mega stores, and that someone else supported those little stores I liked so much.

Or was I thinking at all? Probably I was just doing what everyone else does.

This year I'm living differently. For 365 days I'm going to shop for goods and services only at local, independently owned businesses. I just want to try it. Will it be outrageously expensive? Or demand so much time as to be impossible to maintain? I don't know. But I want to try, because a lot of those little stores that I liked so much are gone, and I think that is pretty sad.

Some days there will simply be a quick journal entry, other days will feature a particular small business.

So come along with me and let's see what there is to learn this year. About the joys and struggles of small business owners. About whether or not there is a local place to buy computer ink cartridges or a broom. About how maybe we have saved a little in time and money but have lost too much in humanity and community.

STL Shop Local 365+