Growing a green thumb Gardeners say the hobby is a popular one during the pandemic Story by Ali Braboy
“It worked out really well from that end,” Tinker said. Customers did come to the greenhouse to Many people went back to the basics in purchase as well. The business opens in early 2020 by taking up gardening while they were forced to stop other activities. That led April and typically runs until the middle or end of June. Tinker attributes the rush for supto a rush to snatch up the dwindling supplies of gardening tools, seeds, and plants at plies to many people being at home and wanting to do activities. local stores. In addition to many older adults, Tinker “The demand was so crazy. We were empty by Memorial Day weekend,” said Tad said, “There were a lot of new younger faces, Tinker, owner of Seatonville Greenhouses in so it seems like there’s a new generation of people getting interested in gardening again.” Seatonville. He expects 2021 to be equally busy because The business, which has been in operation of the popularity of gardening right now. for more than 60 years, has unique annuals, “All inside indicators are saying it’s going to perennials, shrubs, and hanging baskets, as be very much the same way,” Tinker said. well as vegetables and geraniums. Tinker Lorraine Farley, a member of the Mendota recalled wondering in March 2020 if they’d Garden Club, said she finds gardening relaxing be able to open, so he put together an online store for curbside pickup orders. Some days there were 15 to 20 orders for curbside pickup. See Garden page 8
Seatonville Greenhouses (pictured) has unique annuals, perennials, shrubs, and hanging baskets, as well as vegetables and geraniums. SUBMITTED PHOTO
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