Greenhouses excited to open this spring even with a few COVID-19 rules
May has always been a month of excitement for greenhouses, as they open their doors to the spring sunshine and welcome gardeners, plant enthusiasts, and tag-along guests alike — and despite the pandemic restrictions, this May will be no different.
Well, it may be a little different, as most greenhouses and garden centres have had to make some adjustments to remain in line with the ongoing public health orders regarding social distancing and group gatherings. Deemed to be allowable businesses at this time, greenhouses have made necessary changes to adhere to government safety regulations. These regulations include proper social distancing measures, enhanced sanitation practices between customers, and the closure of public washrooms.
Greenhouse facilities are also only allowed one customer per 1,000 square feet of retail space, to a maximum of 10 people at a time, and are keeping a close eye on staff if they are feeling ill.
These restrictions have changed the ways that greenhouses in Moose Jaw are used to seeing their opening weeks, but they remain excited to have their doors open in time for Mother’s Day, as is tradition.
has the rundown of what to expect when heading out to satisfy that green thumb.
Owner Leslie Cornell was excited to open her greenhouse and tree nursery on April 27 and laid out the new rules for the 2020 season at Cornell Design and Landscape. The greenhouse, located just 11 kilometres south of Moose Jaw on Highway 2, will be open from Monday to Saturday each week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning on May 4.
Customers are allowed to do their shopping in person, but Cornell can only have three people in the greenhouse at a time due to the social distancing rules. Because the tree nursery is larger in size, Cornell can allow seven customers in that space at a time.
There will be hand sanitizer available for use, and directional arrows in the greenhouses to help traffic. The greenhouse is asking that customers refrain from bringing family and friends with them to shop this year, to keep the wait times to get into the greenhouse short. “We’re just asking that people be considerate of the next person in line, because we may be lined up out into the parking lot,” said Cornell.
Cornell Design and Landscape also has an online store, where customers can look at their stock and purchase what they’d like, to be picked up on location at the greenhouse without all the trouble of standing in line. Cornell is also offering free delivery of orders worth over $50 to the local area, and will have 15 per cent off hanging baskets for Mother’s Day on May 10.
This year’s tree nursery order will also be a little different, said Cornell. Because it won’t be submitted until June, customers can put in their requests anytime before then, or come see the full tree nursery on location. Cornell promised that the selection of plants and gardening products will be the same as usual, with plenty of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and supplies like seeds and soil — and lots of tomatoes.
“Once we found out that tomatoes were the new toilet paper, we grew more,” said Cornell.
She has also had lots of interest about growing food and herbs at home directed her way already and is prepared to provide all the things new gardeners need to do so. “This is our new normal and if everybody can put on their happy face, we’ll get through it together by being apart,” said Cornell.
Cornell Design & Landscape can be found online at cornelltrees.com or contacted by phone at 1 (306) 693-8733, and they post regularly on their Facebook page.
Keon Garden Centre, at 1645 Stadacona St W.
Keon Garden Centre, nestled out on Thatcher Drive at 1645 Stadacona St W, opened its doors to customers on April 28.
The greenhouse is currently open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and owner Marci Duffey said those hours will be changing to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning May 5.
Right now, Keon’s is able to welcome 10 customers at a time thanks to their large greenhouse space. They are also able to take 10 customers at a time in the landscape nursery outside, which has a separate entrance and till for customers to pay.
Keon’s is requiring all customers to take a cart when they enter, to help with distancing measures, and have directional arrows on the floor to guide the flow of traffic. There is hand sanitizer available at the entrance and exit, and staff are sanitizing regularly.
“We’ve made sure that there’s the ability to properly social distance, no matter where you are shopping in our store,” said Duffey.
Keon’s also has an online store, where customers can do their spring shopping from home, and are also taking orders over the phone.
Both of these no-contact methods require customers to arrange a curb-side pickup time at the greenhouse after ordering, at one of the four safe locations just outside of Keon’s.
“Actually, that’s been used a lot, especially when we first opened. It’s been very, very busy,” said Duffey. “Those that don’t feel comfortable coming in can just order that way, and we’ll do the safe delivery right out to the gate for them.”
Duffey is already busy filling people’s carts with all of the usual supplies, such as flowers, shrubs, vegetables, seeds, and yard items. Everything that a gardener can expect to need is available this year, with the exception of some tropical plants that the greenhouse usually stocks. “Everything is coming in as we speak and we should be completely full by [May 5],” said Duffey.
For Mother’s Day on May 10, Keon’s will be posting photos of hanging baskets available for purchase, which can be picked up using the greenhouse’s no-contact method. For all other plant-based interests, Keon’s is prepared to help get people started on their spring and summer projects — especially with the increased interest in gardening while people are at home right now. “Gardening is something they can do with all this time they have, being stuck at home,” said Duffey. “[And] we are open, we have everything, and we’re keeping everybody as safe as we possibly can.”
Keon Garden Centre is online at keongardencentre.ca and can be contacted by phone at 1 (306) 693-6771. They also post regularly on their Facebook page.
Located at 1640 Ominica Street East, Windmill Greenhouses is also ready to welcome gardeners into their space beginning on May 1.
The greenhouse will be open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is limited to only three customers in the space at a time, said owner Sandy Couture. This means customers will have to be conscious of how long they peruse the plants while they’re shopping, unlike other years past.
“We have numbers that we have [to stick to], which is really too bad,” said Couture. “[We know] you want to enjoy it, but you have to know that there’s other people waiting until you’re finished so they can come in. It’s going to be hard on them.”
Windmill Greenhouses is also offering curbside pickup for customers who phone in to place an order. They will be providing hand sanitizer for use and cannot offer access to public restrooms.
Windmill Greenhouses won’t be hosting their usual Mother’s Day festivities on May 10, as there is no food or drink allowed on the premises, but they will be open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those who make it a tradition to visit.
Couture has been hard at work making sure that all of the usual plants are available again this year, including flowers, vegetables, herbs, seeds, and so on. The greenhouse gift shop will also be open, which offers pots, ornaments, and more.
“Everything is here still, our greenhouses are full and plants are growing,” said Couture. “We have a greenhouse that’s mainly all veggies and herbs [and] we have about 50 different kinds of tomatoes.”
Couture has heard plenty of concern from people about the state of their yards and is confident that there won’t be anything missing this year despite the different regulations.
She encourages customers to keep checking back, as the greenhouse and gift shop will be adding more plants and items as they mature throughout the season.
“If people are [worried], they won’t miss out if they’re not here the first day,” said Couture.
Windmill Greenhouses are also thinking of ways to give the greenhouse a more outdoor setting later in the season, to allow more customers at a time, and will be sharing those details as they are worked out later. Windmill Greenhouses can be contacted at 1 (306) 6921663, and post regularly on their Facebook page.
Cornell Design and Landscape
Keon Garden Centre
Windmill Greenhouses