May 2020 - 13

DIRTY SECRETS
Why wouldn't you encourage customers to use red
lettuce as a gorgeous bedding plant alternative if they're
adventurous and want to use edibles in the landscape and
not just in a raised bed out of view of the neighbors? Chives
would be a fabulous flowering accompaniment - or even
violas that could be " candied " for cupcake décor or added
to salads.
Few of our customers ever see landscaping with edibles
plants as an option. Their first comments when these ideas
are discussed is often, " I had no idea you could plant THAT
there! " To which I can't help but reply, " They don't know
where they're at. " Which often results in a chortle and, " Oh,
yeah, that's true, huh? " So why not help them truly think
out of the box with your displays to show the true potential
for combinations in the landscape and containers that help
them springboard ideas of their own?
I have found over the years that far too many gorgeous
blueberry shrubs are relegated to some corner of the
nursery, where there's no way anyone would " see " them in
a new light. How about in a front and center display with
other shrubs that take the similar growing conditions like
azalea and pieris, for example? Then ask them to identify
the shrub in that group that features an edible component
plus stunning fall foliage and prepare for them to be
shocked that they can design with both plants and get tons
of berries, too!
Choosing Favorites
Say you ask the customer what their favorite colors are
and they answer with purple and pink. " Aces! Have we got
the pairing for you! How about purple tomatoes paired with
pink Swiss chard growing underneath, AND we can add
some incredible petunias and purple flowering basil? "
If your customer has a passion for a re-seeding wildflower
garden meadow for pollinators, how about a combo of
borage and fennel? Or maybe they want a hanging or wallmounted
basket, but they're intimidated about keeping
petunias and other demanding flowering plants alive; how
about a hanging basket of strawberries paired with rose
lobelia for spring? Plus, neat fact, it tricks the robins, so
they don't see the berries! The options are endless if you
think creatively!
Maybe your customer is obsessed with spicy foods and
they love growing peppers. How about suggesting peppers
for drying or roasting in fall for storage? Consider how you
can offer elegant combinations in containers featuring hot
chili peppers in ways they might never have considered
before, like pairing them with pretty succulents that also
love the heat.
Have Fun with It
At this point, the more wacky and creative the idea is,
the better. Consumers want to have fun that they can show
on their own Instagram. They want to experiment with the
weird, wonderful and unusual or out-of-the-ordinary that
the big box stores can't offer.
My friends Lloyd and Candy Traven of Peace Tree Farm
grow plants with expert skill and panache outside of
Philadelphia and they are top-notch in promoting this
category of plants. Under their organics section, you can
find amazing edibles that you won't see sold anywhere but
independent garden centers. From a wide variety of basils
LGRMAG.COM | 13
http://www.LGRMAG.COM
May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2020
