Spring opening for variety

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 13

Spring opening for variety

“We have all been working hard for the past few months for the opening ’of the Oderings northern nursery by the beginning of spring,” said the manager of the Philpotts Road nursery, Mr Brent Gardiner.

“Our target was to be open for spring to make available for everyone the greatest variety of plants and gardening aids.

.. “At the moment, our em-. phasis is on bedding plants. "Our bedding display has been so busy that it needs constant hourly restocking with fresh plants from our

growing area at the Barrington Street nursery, which is stretched to capacity to cope with this sudden increase in demand.

“The head propagator, Ray Lawson, and his team have also been flat out building up the stocks of nursery fresh shrubs and pot plants to provide us

with a continuous supply. “We have made provision for plenty of off-street parking, with a capacity for 100 vehicles, which means that people can park closer to the nursery, and do not have too far to walk back to their cars with purchases. “We have everything here that you would expect to get from a large garden centre.

“Within the next two months, we will have completed the big customers’ recreation garden, where people, can pause to have their lunch.

“There will be a large playground for children while their parents shop; and we have also just completed a decorative kidneyshaped pool with a Japan-ese-style bridge. “This large, uncrowded rural site provides a wonderfully relaxed rural atmosphere. Parts of the area are bordered by poplars,

and we will be planting more trees to keep out more wind.

“The nursery is being run on a seven-day basis, and beside the wide range of plants, we also have bulk supplies of landscape materials, including stone chip, screened soil, potting soil, super screen, pulverised bark, bricks, paving blocks and concrete urns,” Mr Gardiner said.

The governing director, Mr Donald Odering, said the new site was opened for two reasons:

• To serve the public of Christchurch With the widest selection of quality products. “There are a large number of garden centres south of the city, but until now, the north has not been so well served,” Mr Odering said.

• To expand on its present 2.8-hectare nursery, at 92 Stourbridge Street, Spreydon, which is now fully built-up growing shrubs, house plants, bedding plants, cut flowers and other retail products.