In 1997 I knew I had to have a larger
greenhouse if I intended to stick with what
I enjoyed. I decided that if I
was going to go into this on a larger scale, I had
to make a decision to do it or not.
So after a lot of research, praying and excited
nervousness, I jumped in with both feet and in the fall of 1997 I
purchased a new Stuppy 27 X 60 poly greenhouse.
By the spring of 1998 it was up and running
and thus started something that has continued
to grow since.
I also always wanted to grow and offer poinsettias
here in Deer Lodge. But since I wasn't ready to give them a
try from scratch, the first couple of years I ordered in
poinsettias from growers who were established in this area and
then sold them to area floral shops and to whoever I could.
I also brought in Christmas trees,
wreaths and started selling a line of Christmas lights -
which I then began
selling on the web as
well (Click
to visit). Since this was a new
venture I had to learn all I could about getting
this set up. I was a bit
surprised by how many orders I received that first year and
so The Potting Bench on line also began.
Since that time I've continued to expand my product
offerings by adding trees and shrubs, more perennials, more
annuals, hard goods, yard and garden accents and more.
In the fall of 2003 I was able to add another
30 X 60 greenhouse to the other one, and the original 13 X 16
greenhouse and vegetable garden was removed to make room for
outdoor plant growing and display areas.
It's been extremely encouraging and exciting to
watch what started out basically as a hobby for myself 'grow,'
expand and prosper.
The season of 2006 now includes offering
perennial plant products for sale on the web. I've
been wanting to do this for some time
and
this is the year this happens.
My goal is to offer an excellent plant product
at a fair price for the beginning or more experienced gardener.
I don't believe one is ever an expert at gardening,
because you can always learn or experience something new
while out digging in the dirt. Even after these few short
years I've been providing and selling
the best product I can, I continue to get excited at what I'm able
to grow in the mountainous area of southwest Montana.
It's been challenging at times, but without some of
those challenging disappointments you can't fully appreciate
overcoming those shortcomings at some point. A gardener
never gives up, even if one thinks it's too difficult.
Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the beholder
puts the beauty
in the eye of others. That's what really keeps me going.
The
excitement I provide for others.
