GROWING PAINS
April is a time for blossoms: Spring buds, hope swells and the Easter season blooms.
This year, things are different.
“We're not doing Easter,” said Amy Smith, whose father, Gary, owns Brenckle's Farms & Greenhouses. “It's just too risky.”
Brenckle's closed for the season Nov. 1 and usually reopens in time for Easter. This year, it plans to open in mid-April or May 1 at the latest.
But because of the effect the coronavirus pandemic has on community events, the family-run company isn't dealing in Easter orders this year.
Schnur's Greenhouse is taking a similar hit.
“We are open, as far as people calling for Easter,” said Jim Schnur, greenhouse owner. “We still have a few churches that are taking the flowers.”
Schnur said many churches that historically order Easter flowers — tulips, hyacinths, daffodils — aren't ordering any or are finding new ways to use them.
He said some Catholic churches, for example, will be streaming Easter Mass with altars full of flowers. Other churches have parishioners buying plants directly instead of getting them through their church.
Overall, sales are down.
“(It's) definitely not where it should be,” Schnur said.
Like Schnur's, Brenckle's has many plants — especially flowers — ripe for the picking.“They look beautiful,” Smith said. “We're just waiting for an opportunity to get them out.”The flowers Brenckle's does have are mostly annuals and tropicals. The company's eight workers have been busy on both the farm and preparing Brenckle's retail location.As they become available, plants will be listed on Brenckle's website for customers to view.“We're making a list now,” Smith said. “We're trying to get the prices together.”As the season progresses, Smith said customers should stay tuned to Brenckle's website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram accounts.Schnur said he always has encouraged customers to post pictures of their purchases and the success they have had planting.Now, his workers will be using more online marketing to reach customers, particularly the ones who like to experience a greenhouse in person. Browsing is a large part of plant shopping for many people.“It's going to be a little harder for people to shop like that,” Schnur said. “We're going to have to post a lot of pictures of things.”Social distancing regulations made Schnur's and Brenckle's investigate different ways to reach customers. Social media has been particularly accessible.
“Just a few months ago, everybody was saying it's all too much,” Schnur said. “It's the way to be, now.”Purchase retrieval is another area where greenhouses need to be creative.“We're working on curb-side and delivery,” Smith said.Schnur said his customers will be encouraged to call in or order online. Workers will have purchases ready for pickup.GardeningSchnur and Smith said they have noticed more interest from customers when it comes to food plants.“I think a lot of people will want to grow their own gardens,” Smith said. “Do canning.”Brenckle's already received calls from people asking about herb and vegetable plant availability, according to Smith. Schnur said the number of vegetable plants he plans to provide this year is on par with last year's production.
“We're still going to plant everything that we usually do,” Schnur said.That's already rang true for Schnur's Easter production. The greenhouse's eight workers usually pot about 2,000 Easter flowers.The only thing different about this year is how those flowers are being distributed. Schnur said he has had several people buy flowers for their elderly neighbors to help them through the times.Schnur believes flowers can be a nice gift for anyone, any time of year.“It does make a big difference,” Schnur said. “It gives people something through the summer.”As the weather gets warmer and people are able to work outside, Smith and Schnur plan to be there for their communities.“We're just trying to do the best we can,” Smith said. “We're going to keep everyone updated.”
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