A Big Tree Nursery

All photos in this post by Beloved
 Fascinating visit recently to a tree nursery that knows its customer demographic precisely.  That sort of business savvy can be admired, though the aura of love about it was not the love of plants.    

Thirty acres of growing grounds.  The place was literally a mile long and packed with trees being grown for sale.  Some shrubs and other plants as well, but mostly specimen trees.  Big ones. 
With big prices!  Crane not included!

The target customers appeared to be either the homeowner who is moving into a new house with no landscaping, or redoing an existing landscape.  Customers who buy trees and shrubs to perform specific functions, such as providing shade, masking out neighbors, and meeting HOA guidelines.  People who don't care about plants as the fascinating living things we gardeners love to nurture.  People who think gardening is work.  People who see plants as outdoor furnishing.  People who don't want to fuss with a plant ever again once it is "installed".  Most people.       

I was considering planting two or three fairly already large screening shrubs where the Italian Cypress used to be, so I wanted to check the place out.   I was also curious about this place, as they advertise constantly.  We took a drive. 

 A mile long of trees 

 Sales people were there to greet customers, get an idea of what they want, and then they drive you around the 30 acres to show you the inventory.  

"I feel like I'm at a used car lot.", Beloved whispered to me.  

 They have perfected a system to make the decision to pay a whole lot of money for large trees and shrubs as easy as possible.  

 Interesting to me that basically trees of various species were mostly all the same price--the price was based on the size of the container they were in, rather than on the species of plant  Slow-growing Podocarpus henkelii was the same price as fast-from-seed Schinus molle.

 They make it easy for the customer.  Planting the trees is included in the price.   Except...delivery wasn't:  $199.  They guarantee their trees for an entire month, but you can buy an extended warranty for only...I stopped listening after that.   

 I thought they had their customer beautifully figured out:  people who know zero about plants, suddenly faced with buying some. What is your favorite place to vacation?  Love Hawaii?  Like "tropical"?  Here you go:

 Love visiting Palm Springs?  (Or hate watering?) You'll like Desert! 

 Basic functions were also categorized:

 All important for small-lot-big-house Southern California:

 I was amazed at the way this business understood their customers and how to sell to them, and I will say, the trees looked very well cared for (for what they were charging, they would have to be, though only a month guarantee doesn't inspire confidence, and we did have a wonderfully rainy winter.). 

We, however were not their target customer.  I know a little about plants, and don't need an instant landscape.  We ended up not buying a $600(!) six foot tall 20 gallon Podocarpus henkellii (plus $199 delivery fee, extended warranty, special fertilizer...) but rather a few weeks later a little $7.99 Iochroma that will be nine feet tall by...September or thereabouts.  Knowledge is a lovely thing.  

Did enjoy seeing all the trees, and meditating upon the business of selling plants.  So many nurseries are just getting by.

 

 Neener neener neener!

 Blogger in habitat

 

 Some decent plants, mostly all 10 gallon size.  Too big.   But there are plenty of customers around here who want an instant landscape.  

 Really big trees!

Big machine to move them, and plant them.  Dinosaur extra.

 Tree grower humor

 Big plant, big price...but big Agaves bloom, and then they are gone.

Such is the state of things these days.  Instant big trees, get rich quick, fast, fast, hurry, hurry.