A salty old dog already, eh?

Hey! What are you doing here?

I have to say I like your idea Ian. The more information the better. When I was going to college I worked for a nursery in the North End that was a semi-bad experience for me.

I still love the plant selection at that nursery to this day but.....some bad memories as well. I think you and I checked out some clumping bamboo there once. A network would be great, fine idea.

Ah that nursery. I'd not heard anything negative about them until now, but nothing really surprises me. It seems like well-managed businesses where everyone is treated with respect and professionalism are the exception rather than the rule in horticulture.

Yeah...

There was this man in Sherwood who emailed me about a drainage issue, knowing I was coming up to work west side of Portland last week. When I get there, I realize that he needs no French drain, but a catch basin by his driveway. He wants a guarantee that water won't come through the basement wall, and I tell him a guarantee is not possible. It's a drain line - not a water seal. So I'm just ready to call and cancel on him, when he calls and cancels, saying he wants a bunch more estimates.

Anyhow, first thing that comes to mind after he calls, is that I wish there was a website I could post his name and address to let other landscapers know he's already had an estimate, and what the guy was expecting.

As for the other website idea, it kind of reminds me of Grounds Trades forum, except that it's for design and landscape. But it is more geared to professionals - not so much for generic gardeners.

M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Are generic gardens those with signs and labels that read "Tall shrub, dwarf shrub, evergreen groundcover, medium tree..."?

bboy...

You mean like putting signs on their backs? The "gardeners" that is.

Mugshots!!!

"I'm sorry sir, since you've been such a pain in the rear, I'm going to have to ask you to stand against this wall for a photo that'll be posted on a website to warn innocent nursery workers about you. Then we'll decide if your a type 1, 2, or 3 and post your address on the site so garden professionals know just how many nursery offenders live within a 10 mile radius."

Dream sequence over, back to reality.

The point may be approaching when any garden related trade is gladly welcomed.

Nurseries don't need photos, just names. I say fair's fair and it's a great idea!

The problem is nobody has to spend their money with you, attracting the favor of their custom might be impacted adversely. Ornamental plants is a frivolous expenditure. With taxes, insurance and other obligations seeming unavoidable shoppers aren't likely to appreciate encountering an attitude from nurseries. There are methods being used to identify those who bounce checks etc.

When you open for business you have to deal with everybody who pops up and what they might be about, that's just the way it is. The alternative is you are mostly ignored and go out of business - a common experience. A big part of it is a lack of general interest in specialty or unfamiliar goods, for instance I drive by a small Greek "bistro" and a pizza joint next to each other as part of my regular travels. Saturday night the parking lot at the pizza place was bursting, next door there was not one car. Especially if you want to appeal to a niche market you have to shout you are there and may have to bend over backwards to serve those who do respond, rather than try to attach red flags to some of them.

All true: that's why you don't see me starting the web page I have described (not that I think it's a bad idea... it's just a bad idea for ME to do it!). I think nearly all customers who shop at nurseries are reasonable people - more so than some other venues. You could even say that gardening as a hobby attracts people who are more level headed than average. Though I have certainly met the odd few both online and at work. Well I won't speculate any further on that....

You certainly do have to be level headed to build patios and fences, and shear formal hedges.

Speaking as a customer ... great idea! Nothing is more annoying than waiting behind an unreasonable customer. They probably read the same book - "How To Get What You Want By Throwing A Fit In The Checkout Line".