WHEN IS IT TIME TO REMEMBER?

When someone or something special goes out of our life we usually have a period of ranting and raving and grief and mourning.  Of course, none of these outbursts do any particular good except to wear us out so we can settle down, face the situation, then move forward: to what, to where?  There may be no solution right away.

LINDER'S IS CLOSING!  "They can't do that."  "Where will I get my Christmas greens?"  "Where will I purchase my pansies?"  "They had such beautiful poinsettias"; "I don't know where I'll get my roses."  See the pattern?  I've gone through all of them 'cause Linder's has been a part of my life ever since I moved to Minnesota.  I'm sure many of you feel the same.

Now it is time to reminisce - to recall the good times, the happy memories.  Over the years several of my friends worked in the greenhouses or on the retail floor.  Other friends have volunteered on special promotion days.  I remember a couple who were always there volunteering on that "Opening Spring Day" event held each year - was it the first of May?  They knew all about roses, would help you select just the right one for that special location or to satisfy your special desire.

Linder's was always community minded.  They provided tours of their growing areas and facilities.  When Lake Owasso Garden Club had flower shows the company would loan the club a trellis, containers or plants to use in their staging of the show.  The women at the Information Desk were always ready to answer any weird questions or help identify a strange plant.  Service to the customer was a key for all of the staff.  These are the little things that many of us will remember the most.

My infatuation with cactus started at Linder's.  I was fascinated by the tables of all the different shapes and types of these prickly creatures.  Each visit I'd add another "baby" to my collection.  They didn't all live - at first I knew nothing about caring for them.  Some I have now I've had for fifteen years, some have gone to the fair or flower shows and have blue ribbons to show for their durability.  Some got so large I 've had to eliminate them.

There was the summer the Minnesota Rose Society had their Rose Show in the Rose Tent at Linder's.  The two days of the show the temperature was in the high 90s.  In that tent even with the big fans, it must have been 115 degrees or more.  By the time we finished judging we were dripping perspiration onto the arrangements, most of the specimen roses were limp or dying.

One day while browsing I heard a man lamenting the price of Hosta.  Seems he didn't feel he could afford all he wanted.  I had huge clumps of Hosta I wanted to get rid of - I offered them to him if he wanted to come dig them.  He was delighted.  He got all he wanted and was able to purchase some specialty plants, I got a space to put the shrubs I wanted, Linder's got the money for the shrubs I purchased and for the special Hosta he wanted, so we all won.

Christmas at Linder's!  Trees dripping with shimmering garlands and sparkling ornaments, boxes of twinkling lights, tables, tables, tables of beautiful poinsettias.  When was the year they started the lighting of the roof lights?   Children, adults too, never wanted to miss this spectacular beginning of the holiday season.  Shopping in the store before Christmas was wonderful - sights, sounds, scents, gifts for every person, every age.  But the sale day after Christmas was just plain fun.  That was when one could get that special doodad or fancy gift item you wanted but no one had given to you.

Whether it is that lovely Mandevilla, the enormous urn of flowering geraniums, the stacks of bulbs from which to choose, remembering my favorite garden center will be a bittersweet experience.  What about you - will you reminisce about your good times at Linder's?