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FORUM 



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VJelcome, 



New Members. 



BAKER VALLEY NURSERY 



PO Box 158 



WentvkOrth. NH 03282 



BRIAR PATCH GREENHOUSE 



PO Box 525. Boland Road 



Milton. NH 03851 



THE CHESAPEAKE COMPANY 



123 Ashland Road 



Manchester, NH 03104 



COTTON STONE FARM 



RFD Box 25 



Orford, NH 03777 



THE GREEN THUMB 



OF NORTH HAVTRHILL 



PO Box 147 



North Haverhill. NH 03774 



HOME QUARTERS WAREHOUSE 



300 Keller Street 



Manchester. NH 03103 



SALMON FALLS NURSERY 



300 Rte 236 



Berwick, ME 03901 



SQUIRES GARDEN CENTER 



PO Box 268 



Winnesquam, NH 03289 



STUARTS GREENHOUSE 



136 Milton Road 



Rochester, NH 03868 



and 

 New Advertiser 



LAN NURSERIES 



259 College Street 



Magog, Quebec |1X 2K4 



Michaud Twilight 

 Meeting 



On the evening of June 16, a per- 

 fect spring evening, over 30 NHPGA 

 members and friends visited 

 Michauds .Nurseries & Greenhouses 

 on Route 85 in Exeter. 



Kent gave guests a tour of two 

 memorial gardens (to his father and 

 to a cousin), the plastic recycling 

 depot, the new irrigation system 

 (the well — its site decided by a wil- 

 low dowsing rod — produces 70 gal- 

 lons a minute), the orderly blocks 

 of potted perennials. Respect for 

 the land emerged as a major theme 

 as Kent discussed his use of the re- 

 maining woods as a place to grow 

 shade plants and Michaud's special- 

 ization in native and wildlife-sus- 

 taining material. 



The display garden's pool and 

 waterfall were still under construc- 

 tion, but refreshments were served 

 in the gazebo nearby. Conversation 

 continued until dusk. 



Our thanks to Kent and Caroline 

 and the staff at Michaud's for the 

 fine hospitality. **■ 



Florists Unite! 



Valerie Dawes 



THE PROBLEM 



The floral market is becoming satu- 

 rated and many fine florists are los- 

 ing their foothold in the industry. 

 Rorists are losing business due to: 



1) Mass-selling at supermarkets, de- 

 partment stores, one-stop home 

 improvement centers, and craft 

 chains 



2) Smaller out-of-the-home florists, 

 and free-lancers 



3) Roadside vendors 



4) Schools, Scouting organizations, 

 and non-profit groups 



5) Landscapers and plantscapers 

 crossing into the gray area of 

 'floral needs" 



The above groups see the op- 

 portunity to sell a product and 

 make a profit. Most are able to 

 charge a lower price either because 

 of more buying power, lower profit 

 margin, or low overhead. 



Who are we to deny them busi- 

 ness and censor the lines of prod- 

 uct they sell? 



How can the dignity of the floral 

 industry be saved? How can florists 

 stay in business? The line between 

 a florist and a person who sells 

 flowers or floral product is becom- 

 ing very muddy. 



CATCH -22 



Some wholesalers, growers, and 

 other suppliers are selling to "un- 

 conventional" buyers to maintain 

 their volume of business. Some flo- 

 rists are buying direct from "uncon- 

 ventional" sources to get a wider 

 range of product or a better price. 



The bottom line is: everyone 

 needs to maintain their volume of 

 business, and to continue to buy 

 quality product at the best price. 



Who will benefit if the florist 

 succeeds? 



1) Wire services and affiliations 



2) Cut flower suppliers and whole 

 salers 



3) Local growers 



4) Large greenhouses and plant 

 suppliers 



5) Large cut flower growers and 

 farms 



As the florists falter, the above 

 mentioned can — and are — finding al- 

 ternative buyers for their product 

 and services. Should florists con- 

 vince them of the need to encour- 

 age a healthy retail florist industry? 



THE SOLUTIONS 



There is a need for some type of 

 Board of New Hampshire (or North- 

 ern New England) Florists to work 

 closely with other florists, show oth- 

 ers the need to promote the indus- 

 try, and give suggestions on how to 

 survive the "New Competition." 



What is the successful florist do- 

 ing right? 



The Planlsman 

 4 



