Every week during spring is like Christmas here. The children place their orders. Santa's elves fill the orders and ship them. Then the children play. Okay, they really aren't playing. They are using all their energy and power to put away all "the things." The only thing that keeps them going is displaying all the beautiful flowers for you to enjoy. They also love helping you be creative and helping fill your carts with all "the things." It's really a beautiful cycle.
Speaking of beautiful and a cycle, this is a favorite of mine. One is Halle, our new beautiful grandbaby and two, Kathy was a neighbor and her family is very dear to us. Outside of her amazing and beautiful heart, she happens to be one of our most loyal and supportive customers at the garden center. She tells me that flowers are her self-care. When someone tells you that, you know you are going to be fast friends.
The other day at work, she popped in the garden center but then surprised me by popping out back across the lake to my office. It was such a pleasant surprise and a much needed reprieve. Any day someone surprises me to say hi is a good day.
You may wonder what does a cycle have to do with this as well? It's the cycle of money. So when Covid arrived, we stopped taking cash along with everyone else. We became a cash-free business and society. You learn to roll with it, right?
As Kathy and I were chatting, she says to me, "I have a question. When are you going to start taking cash again?"
I was a bit perplexed for a minute forgetting that we even stopped. Processing this, I asked what the problem is by not taking cash.
"You make it really hard to hide the purchases. I can't just stop in and buy more plants without you know who checking the account and seeing that I came AGAIN and bought more plants."
For all of you sitting there saying out loud, "I know, right?" I hear you. But no, we aren't going back as of today. No, I don't think we can change our corporation name to something very important that would fly under the radar and not be noticed. I mean, I could check, but I don't think that is going to work.
Honesty is the best policy. Check-in on Facebook. Tag us with a picture on Instagram #fgsdurham. As I always say, sometimes you ask for forgiveness instead of permission! Carry them proudly and plant them joyfully! And eventually, they will and do get over it.
