AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
For those of us who love to garden, Spring couldn’t come soon enough. We’d been itching to get outside and spruce up our porches, lawns and gardens with plants and flowers. Was it any wonder that warm sunny weather on the day before Easter inspired us to head for local garden centers.
Truth be told, I’d already looked for some heirloom seeds I wanted to try this year in the garden sections of several stores but hadn’t been able to find them. Thus, I headed for AA Co. Farm, Lawn & Garden Center in Pasadena – long my favorite source for seeds, bulbs, transplants, flowerpots, soil amendments and other products. I had no idea I’d find the garden center parking lot packed with cars.
Entering the garden, I immediately spotted customers pulling wagonloads of plants. (Little wagons were handily placed for shoppers’ use just outside the garden fences.) Customers were later seen at the checkout window of the garden center’s picturesque red garden shed (seen in the opening photo).
There were multitudes of plants to choose from and, as you might imagine, Easter flowers ready for gifting were flying off the shelves. The outdoor checkout window was consistently busy.
Inside Anne Arundel Co. Farm Lawn and Garden Center there were so many clients that owner Cory Stephens was working the counter along with employee Kelly Neet.
At the opposite end of the counter from Stephens, we briefly spoke with Neet and asked her if the center was always so busy.
“In the Spring, it’s just crazy here. It’s so busy and we love it,” Neet said. “When the sun is out, like today, everyone feels that little inspiration to get out there and garden. You might have noticed that we’re also having lots of families with kids coming in to see the peeps.”
Families with children also seemed to enjoy the garden center’s outdoor Rocking Bird and Vintage Car and Truck Model display.
Our time at the garden center just flew by so we got down to business and looked for our much sought after packets of garden seeds among the Livingston displays. Along with others, I found packets for Mustard Greens, Pak Choi (a leaf type Chinese cabbage), Cress and hard-to-find Impatiens and promptly purchased them from Neet.
Back outside, I checked out a nice selection of herbs, an extensive range of vegetable transplants and a number of old-fashioned but popular plants like rhubarb. I also found, behind the red shed, various sized plastic flowerpots for a very reasonable price.
Before leaving, I caught up with Cory Stephens and observed that the garden center was as busy as I’ve ever seen it.
“We’re happy to see a little sunshine,” Stephens said. “We’ve had a cold start this spring. It was so cold and wet throughout March that people were slow getting started with planting and weren’t coming in. The bad weather also made it hard for us to get our ducks in a row so we were a little bit behind the 8-ball. But today has been great.”
Stephens also had some interesting news to share.
“We’re entered in a best-garden center competition for Fox Business News,” he said. “Our presentation was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. When something turns out greater than you imagined it, it’s wonderful so we’re excited. Fox will announce the finalists on October 13th after which the voting will begin.”
We’ll keep you updated.
A reminder: Children’s Business Fair of Severna Park this Saturday, April 11th
The Maryland Curiosity Lab and the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce for Commerce are partnering for the 4th Annual Children’s Business Fair at Park Plaza this Saturday, April 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm. The Fair will be hosting 64 child-run businesses. There will be music by Bach to Rock and other surprises. The Fair is free for anyone to attend.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
