On a recent garden center tour around metro-Chicago, our
editors saw several retailers capitalizing on a popular spring trend: mixed
containers.
Yes, I said mixed containers in the middle of winter. But,
with the threat of snow around every corner, these are not combinations of
colorful bedding plants or delicate vegetative material. The containers we saw
were colorful, hardy, season-appropriate "plantings" that can
easily fill the winter void on your customers' patios and entryways.
Like many garden centers this time of year, Gethsemane
Garden Center, Chicago, Ill., has a nice selection of evergreen cuttings, holly
berries and assorted seasonal items on display with their Christmas trees. What
they've done differently, though, is "planted" the greenery
with winter cabbages, asters and other cold-hardy flowers to create some great
winter containers.
Pasquesi Home and Gardens, Barrington, Ill., has taken this
concept a step further by offering instruction and coaching to customers about
designing their own winter containers. Pasquesi reports that successful
execution of the concept has taken several years of education and promotion,
but the return is well worth the effort, with pre-made arrangements retailing
for approximately $150.00 for the above-pictured item, approximately $70.00 for
do-it-yourself customers.
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