Or they're trying to cope with the fact that trees and shrubs are stiffing at garden centers these days, with the big interest being in annual and vegetable starts.

This says annual bedding plant sales went flat in 2012, with edibles still being the thing. Here I've noticed that at plant foundation sales and other group events where multiple different vendors show up with all manner of enticements the people that have shoppers all over them are the ones that have tomato starts.

Here is a link that might be useful: What's The Situation?

This post was edited by bboy on Tue, Nov 19, 13 at 13:30

Here in Madison there are a lot of plants being sold in front of hardware stores and other retail stores including grocery stores. Typically there will be a tent or some sort of temporary enclosure out in the parking lot. We still have several lawn and garden centers, but it is a tough and competitive business to be in. We lost Johannsens a few months ago-the land was sold to become a used car lot. If wholesale plant nurseries want to sell directly to the customer, that might generate some new sales, but it will always be more expensive to do business that way. With plants, shipping costs are significant.

As far as I know, Monrovia Nursery is still operating under Chapter 7 (?) bankruptcy. The decision to go into a form of retail sales may well be a part of the bankruptcy court's directives.

An interesting development in shipping costs is the fact that some nurseries are beginning to use USPS. The postal service is offering much better tracking service than in the past and impressively fast service. I've received plants from the West Coast, 3000+ miles, in 8 days via ordinary parcel post. Priority Mail would have been even quicker. The Postal Service's rates are far less expensive than UPS or Fedex.

That's good news, to be able to buy direct. If piggybacking means minimal shipping cost, then they will probably see a lot of sales.

What is the relationship between the lower USPS rates and it continuing to operate with annual losses in the billions of dollars?

bboy: The deficits of the USPS have several causes, among which are the funding requirements for present and future retirees imposed by Congress, an excess number of post offices, the steep decline in volume of first class mail, and 6 day per week delivery. Addressing any of these issues is very difficult. For example, the outcry when there's the slightest hint of a local post office being closed quickly makes its way to Washington where the closure is vetoed.

My understanding is that the USPS sees the profitable package delivery business as an important part of its future. The recent deal with Amazon is an example. For many years UPS and Fedex have enjoyed a virtual monopoly in this area. Now the USPS feels it can successfully compete with them by offering cheaper and better service. One West Coast nursery owner told me that they have experienced far fewer problems with damaged and delayed shipments since they switched to the USPS.

Many, many parts of the country have seen most of their local independent nurseries fail in the last several years. What's left is the big box stores with their narrow selections of indifferently cared for plants. At the same time mail order nurseries have seen ever escalating shipping costs from UPS and Fedex. A less expensive alternative for shipping could well be a savior for a lot of independent growers.

Would you rather pick out a shrub when you can see it or get whatever they ship?