Entwined
Empty greenhouses
represent the sad story of the floral industry
in the United States.
There Goes Business Out the Door
Once a booming local industry,
the United States now imports about 60% of its flowers.
Where the Wind Blows
The 1990s the US Govt.
reduced tariffs on floral imports from South America
(after all we want them growing flowers
not cocaine.)
Without all those pesky
tariffs, environmental and labor laws,
a Columbian rose could be bought for 6 cents
compared to the 52 cent American rose.
Happy Endings: This manufacturing company is still in business.
I'm thinking this is a good excuse for me
to stick to chocolate for Valentine's Day.
"Hey Honey..."
My blog posts to my facebook page:
20 comments:
I like the way you think, Rebecca! :)
i did not know that about the imports... I do know that the big box stores have put all the nurseries out of business here. Home Depot, Walmart, Lowes and Kmart have killed our local nurseries. we bought almost everything in our jungle from Jones nursery and we loved it. they gave us personal service, like where to plant what and how tall it would get... and allowed me the privledge of taking all the photos i wanted to... Mr. Jones told me they could not keep their prices as low as the big chains stores. but that sad story is all over the usa for the same reason as the flowers... i believe we ought to put those tariffs back and keep the work at home
Wow - these are so cool, Rebecca! And yes, I miss grass, too!
Great photos, Rebecca. I'd go for the chocolate as well, flowers just get limp too quickly.
I wondered about this subject and didn't realize it was due to our tariffs being lifted.The very last daffodil farm in our county just went out of business and the land sold to development. I just read that in the paper this week and felt so sad. Very poignant images you have shared with us today. Lovely and sad. xo Karen
I didn't know about the imports either.
Very nice post and very informative.
We have a large greenhouse range that looks like a sister to this one. Tom The Backroads Traveller
It is sad about the family greenhouse business's-- back in the 70s I got a degree in greenhouse managment, floral design at my community college. By the mid 80s though the big stores were already buying flowers and plants in bulk from big commercial growers instead of their local business's we had a friend that used to grow seasonal plants for the local stores-but that ended for him around the same time.
These are near my home, I walk my dog by them frequently. There are two old houses on that property that are still occupied. The land was sold and these are supposed to be turned into houses/townhomes. I think the developer is working on getting approvals. Part of the land was donated to Chalfont to build a park, but I think they declined over concerns that the ground is polluted from the greenhouse chemicals. Way more info than you probably wanted.
Absolutely. It's funny we have a few of these places around here too, and many of the companies didn't fold up, they relocated to better places but the remains (as if the buildings and etc) stand until they disappear into the earth like aren't they worth saving?
Beautiful photos of such an interesting old place!
Sad state of our country. I admit that I bought myself flowers at the grocery store the other day.
I really did not know this and its tragic.
Beautiful post, Rebecca, indeed a sad story !
Love the rusty elements in your photos ... so beautifully captured !
Have a nice week,
Sylvia
Very sad story and such hauntingly beautiful photos. We still have a few nurseries around our area.
It's so sad that we import so much from other countries and so many of our people are out of work.....I never realized that we import so many of the flowers used here in the U.S. Thanks for the information...
Your images are haunting and beautiful. There was an empty greenhouse in my town and a local philanthropist purchased it and it is in the process of being rehabbed. A local group that promotes farm to table runs and manages it. They have monthly potlucks, sponsor classes and workshops to promote CSA's, eating local, food preservation adn growing gardens. It's become a real community asset. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I am in love with these photos!! I would prefer chocolate anyway.
It is a sad state of affairs that is happening everywhere.
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