Let's talk about the wild ride the nursery industry has been on since the era of Covid began. Like many aspects of life, our beloved green spaces and stock availability have faced their fair share of challenges. But hey, amidst the chaos, there's always room for growth and joy, right?
Cast your mind back to 2020 – what a year. It was a record-breaking period for us and many other nurseries and garden centers. We couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful for the abundance of greenery and plant goodness that graced our shelves. While other industries grappled with uncertainty, our gardens flourished.
However, as Covid continued to unfold, a surge in DIY yard projects (thanks, stimulus checks and extra time on our hands!) led to a scarcity of plants. Add to that the logistical hurdles faced by growers in securing labor from Mexico, and we had a recipe for some real plant-hunting adventures.
Since then, it’s been fascinating to witness the nursery industry's resilience and adaptability in the face of recent challenges. In 2021, we experienced tight inventory, making it difficult to reorder many popular items that flew off our shelves. Surprisingly, even staples like rhododendrons ended up on our waitlist, which is quite unusual given their typically abundant availability.
Fast forward to 2024, and things are looking up. Inventory is bouncing back, and we're thrilled to announce that most of the orders we placed last fall will soon blossom into a cornucopia of colors, textures, and lush greens. We can't wait for you to explore all the new additions waiting to grace your gardens this season. Psst... don't miss out on the excitement – stay in the loop by subscribing to our email list!
But wait, there’s more! Here’s what’s new this season:
Drumroll, please… Behold the newest addition to our nursery landscape – the shiny, new SHED! Picture this: as you pull into our driveway, your eyes will be greeted by the sight of this long-awaited marvel sitting proudly atop the hill.
That’s right, the long awaited building is here - one that we’ve been dreaming of and discussing since we took over the nursery 11 years ago (can you believe it’s been that long?!).
It's been a journey – for 46 years the behind the scenes of our business (the stuff you don’t see like the bill paying, marketing, ordering inventory, etc) has happened somewhere in the Hopper house. From Linda’s office and Dave's famous "red box" to our current custom desks in our living room, our family business and family life have existed in the same space.
This new hub of activity will not only house our business operations - workbench for Dave and all of his tools, storage for equipment for the nursery, office spaces, an employee breakroom, and a bathroom - but its loft space will also provide a future haven for our growing family.
This shop is a game-changer for us, promising to bring a new level of balance between our family life and business endeavors. We're thrilled about the prospect of having dedicated space where we can unwind and enjoy precious moments together as a family. It's incredibly gratifying to see our family business evolve and flourish alongside us, and we're excited for this new chapter that awaits both our family and our beloved nursery.
And last but certainly not least, meet the newest member of our family – Sunny!
Back in October our girl Lenabear got sick and we had to say goodbye. Winter just hasn't been the same without her warm greetings at the door, complete with a sock or shoe in her mouth and the comforting click of her toenails on our wood floors. We've been reminiscing through old pictures and videos, remembering what a sweet girl she was to both of our babies when we brought them home from the hospital and as they’ve grown up. It was absolutely heartbreaking to say goodbye.
Sweet Lenabear left big shoes to fill <3
Sunny has bounded into our lives, bringing with her a whole lot of joy and wagging tails to fill the big hole in our hearts with more 4-legged joy and love. We can't wait for you to witness her charm as she settles into her role as the official nursery dog.
So there you have it – the latest scoop from our neck of the woods. We're beyond excited for what the future holds and can't wait to share it all with you. Swing by the nursery soon to see the shed, to meet Sunny and to catch up … oh! and to grab some plants while you’re at it :)
The Hoppers and the Natural Plus Nursery Staff