March 2019 - 42

Dirty Secrets
But, at what point does your work
become stale, uninspired and just
another combination in the crowd? Is it
after the third year? Fifth year?
Design work can become a habitual
pattern the same as reaching for chips
at 10 p.m. You won't notice any effect
from the chips the first time, second
time or even maybe after the fifth time.
But, there's that one magical moment
when you look in the mirror and the
math suddenly adds up.
You can't simply think your way to
a better habit; you're not likely to get
" unstuck " that way. You need to shake
things up with action!
As I write this article in January, I
need to get a client's home ready for a
magazine photo shoot on three days'
notice. Because of our El Niño winter in
the Pacific Northwest, we're already in
Sharon Hadden
TOUR BONUS!
Three 'GRAB & GO'
Container-Making Demos
by Sharon Hadden.
1 per day, at store stops.
THREE DAYS OF NEW IDEAS FOR
YOUR STORE! JUNE 23-26
You're invited to join us in Music City for this year's 16th annual
GCA Summer Tour - your trusted resource for retail education
and inspiration! From trendy, urban garden centers and
boutiques to country-rustic nurseries, the offerings of Nashville
are sure to inspire! What's more, our host hotel is within
steps of the fun and excitement of Music Row, famous for
its many restaurants and bars, including Blake Shelton's
Ole Red, Jason Aldean's Kitchen & Rooftop Bar and
Florida Georgia Line's restaurant, FGL House.
We'll see you there!
Have a look at just a few of our store visits:
Gardens of Babylon, Nashville, TN
Check out this urban garden boutique
with a fun, funky, eclectic atmosphere that
specializes in products for small-space
gardeners, sustainable-minded customers.
Moore & Moore Garden Center, Nashville, TN
This independent retailer is recognized for its relaxed
parklike setting with sweeping pathways, creative
use of space and inspiring merchandise displays that
speak to modern gardening lifestyles.
Martin's Home & Garden, Murfreesboro, TN
The greenhouse department is the heart and soul of
this local indie operation - it generates one-third of the
garden center's revenue. Be sure to check out the new
permanent pergola and raised beds.
JVI Secret Gardens, Nashville, TN
The soothing sounds of trickling water greet customers
as soon as they enter JVI Secret Gardens, as ponds
stocked with koi, waterfalls and other water gardening
features are huge focuses for the garden retailer.
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boutiques to country-rustic nurseries, the offerings of Nashville
are sure to inspire! What's more, our host hotel is within
steps of the fun and excitement of Music Row, famous for
its many restaurants and bars, including Blake Shelton's
Instead of always reaching for tried-and-true
combos, get inspired with new varieties.
pre-spring mode so my creativity muscles
need a run, yoga and weight lifting to pull
this together with style fast.
One of my favorite authors, Marianne
Williamson writes " It's easier to act your
way to a new way of thinking than it is to
think your way to a new way of acting. "
I use this idea a ton in its distilled
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800.721.0024
form; it's simply " fake it until you make
it. " But, this idea is so much more than
that in today's fast-paced retail world.
Instead of pondering and making
lists, or scrolling " Pinstagram " for ideas
and inspiration, I propose the idea that
you just shake it up by making a fast
decision. (Note that this does not mean
an uninformed decision.)
This means playfully re-wire your
decision pattern when it comes to plant
pairings. It means being open to happy
accidents. Then stand back and watch
how that ripple begins to effect other
parts of your work. Make radical change
of some sort just to rattle your own cage.
What I'm after is to create momentum.
I want to learn to run faster, stretch
my muscles more efficiently and get
better results.
That's important to building a reserve
of ideas in your design files. You can
always go back to having chips at 10 p.m.
But my hunch is that once you start to
see the momentum take place, you don't
want the chips to undo all the work
you've put in so far.
Christina Salwitz, the Personal Garden
Coach, is a container designer, public
speaker, horticultural guidance counselor,
service provider for The Garden Center
Group and photojournalist based in Renton,
Washington. She can be reached at:
personalgardencoach@comcast.net.
42 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | MARCH 2019
Circle 130
http://www.GardenCentersofAmerica.com
March 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2019
