What Is It About Greenhouses, Anyway...?

Last month, we threw caution to the wind and ventured out to buy some plants. We feel plants need to be classified as "essential." We bought some plants and peat moss to prepare the ground for the vegetables we hope to grow this summer. With things the way they are, that survival mode kicks in and an overpowering urge to grow your own food, make your own clothes, and build your own shelter takes over.

We can't really build another house, we could try and make our own clothes (it would not be pretty...), but we can try and provide food for us--be self-sufficient in at least one thing.

We drove to our nursery of choice, Joe's Greenhouse on the Kaysville/Layton boarder in Utah. We love that place, and not just because the owner/operator is a friend I've known for almost thirty-five years. It's because it's not a mega-place that has everything for your yard like lawn gnomes and fountains. Nope--Joe's Greenhouse has plants and supplies you can use to keep those plants alive.

We walked in. My wife began looking for plants. I looked for something to photograph. Halfway through the second greenhouse I stopped and took in a deep breath, smelling that familiar aroma of clean dirt (yes, there is such a thing...) and new life.

I love that smell.

Which, is interesting because I do not love yard work.

That smell conjures memories going back to the late 1970s. My first job was at a greenhouse. Where Farmington Jr. High now stands Miller Floral once stood as a monument to local business. Decades ago a few of my friends and I were paid next to nothing to plant starts. We were paid by the flat--it was probably only pennies per flat, but we didn't care too much. It gave us money for stuff like playing pinball at Lagoon's Penny Arcade or buying candy at the Farmington A/G.

There's something about the smell of a greenhouse that stops me. 

Since that first job I worked a season on the Lagoon Garden's crew as well as helping out at the no-longer-there Pineae Greenhouse in Centerville. Over the years I've worked a lot of side gigs. I could think working at a greenhouse again. Joe's Greenhouse brings it all back and, at the same time, makes me think about doing it once more.

My First Garden In Like...Almost Forever

If you know me at all, you know I'm not a fan of yard work. I'm allergic to almost every plant out there. When I mow our lawn, I need to set aside at least a couple of hours afterward to try and cool down so I don't suffer too much. It's a struggle, but it's a necessary one.

One thing I haven't done in years, many many years, is plant a garden.

That changed last week. Last week we visited my friend's nursery business and we left with flowers, and vegetables plants. We ended up racing the sun to get them planted. The next couple of days, I would check my little plants to see how they were doing. A couple of the plants closest to the driveway needed more water than the rest.

I have to say, seeing those little plants alive after a week or so is exciting. Four of the six vegetable plants are tomato plants. The others are a squash and a pepper plant. Years ago we planted tomato plants and the results were mixed. We used to get bumper crops, but then each time we tried growing tomatoes, we couldn't get any to grow. The last time we tried, we planted cherry-type plants. I think the number of tomatoes we actually harvested could be counted on two hands.

I'm hoping this time is different. I can't recall if we used this particular area for tomatoes before. It's possible we did, but then again, the lack of yard work limits my memory. I do know if we are successful in raising actual fruit and vegetables, I'll be sure to include a post or two on this blog. And if we're unsuccessful, I'll probably write about that as well.

So, here's to all the backyard farmers out there. May your plants always be watered and may the snails ignore your garden.

Man...I Wish I Liked Yard Work

The way I see it, it's really Wayne Huber's fault. A friend since 1986, Wayne basically forced flowers and vegetables on us when we visited his business, Joe's Greenhouse, yesterday. "You need to take more," he said with that big Wayne Huber grin--if you know him, you've seen that grin.

Blast you, Wayne! (said with a raised and shaking fist...).

Because of early morning commitments we were unable to plant everything this morning, so tonight, around 9pm, I snapped a picture as we were winding up the evening planting.

Oh, how I would love to love yard work.

I know I've blogged about this before. Things would be so much better, not easier, but better, if I did. We have a strange lot. It's a third of an acre and because of the shape, our house had to have a small footprint. That means we've got a lot of land to oversee. And if what is growing is not planned and wanted, things you don't want growing take over. This spring's been tough for us as far as getting in the yard. Thanks to Joe's Greenhouse, we had to hustle to get the new vegetation in the ground before we ran out of daylight.

There's advantages to loving yard work. Other than the time, it can be an inexpensive hobby. Heck, I could spend hours upon hours just pulling weeds, but even without direct sunlight, it still gave me a headache to be out there for even an hour and a half. I had to take a couple of Advil and hop in a cold shower just to get through it.

At the other end of the yard, we have a flower garden. This morning as I came home from rehearsal, I saw an explosion of yellow. The daylilies were blooming. I suppose for some, seeing that beauty, helping it come about makes everything worth it. I wish I was one of those people. Maybe one day. Probably not, though. We'll most likely end up in a condo.

Why Do I Hate Yard Work...When I Enjoy Nurseries So Much?

My wife asked if I wanted to go to Joe's Greenhouse this morning after we had already spend a lot of time in the yard (she spending more time than me...). I said, "Sure." I really do like greenhouses and nurseries. I like the smell of a greenhouse, the flowers, the plants and the dirt. Plus, it's always fun to talk to my good friend Wayne who runs the place, even though it's called "Joe's Greenhouse" in honor of Wayne's father-in-law.

Maybe it's because I worked in a couple of nurseries in my life. My first job was in a greenhouse--Miller Floral in Farmington, Utah. That place has been gone for decades. Then I worked at Pineae Greenhouse on two separate occasions. I also worked a spring for Lagoon's garden's crew.

I brought along my camera and I think people thought I was crazy taking pictures of the plants and flowers. I even got a picture of a stack of empty pallets that Wayne asked me not to include on my blog, so you won't see it. But, why not take a quality camera into a greenhouse? The place is beautiful!

There's No Business Like Joe's Business...

...Like No Business I know.

It's that time of year, time to focus on life outside the house. Our place of choice, Joe's Greenhouse. 

Actually, it's now Wayne's Greenhouse.

Joe's is not the biggest, or the shiniest, but...really...do you really need the biggest? Or the shiniest? More often than not, no.

It's not too late--there's still plenty of plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit trees that need good homes. So just get on the old road linking Kaysville and Layton and you'll see it, right across the street from the Diary Queen. You can reach their website: HERE.

Joe's Greenhouse--they'll treat you right.

Joe's Greenhouse...

"We're going to plant our garden this weekend," a co-worker told me as we took a morning walk last week. "But I hate going to that one nursery--it's a nightmare!"

"Have you tried Joe's Greenhouse?" I asked. "We usually do." 

"I went to Joe's last year," said another co-worker. I love that place."

And so do I.

Due to our crazy spring this weekend was really the first weekend to buy any garden plants. We thought we might be too late and all the seedlings would be gone. We were wrong. Joe's had a lot of plants left.

If you're not familiar with Joe's Greenhouse, it's a nursery located on the old road between Kaysville and Layton, Utah. Joe no longer runs the place on a day-to-day basis. If you want the man in charge, you've got to talk to Wayne. He's the man.

I've known Wayne for more than 25 years. He's a good man. Due to the rainy day business at Joe's wasn't as busy as it normally is when we visit so Wayne and I had a chance to chat. I wish we could visit more often, but that's the nature of life, I guess. I do know that next spring I'll be back and hopefully Wayne will be there working and we'll get a chance to talk again. I look forward to it.