Just returned from a trip to Focus DIY store in Guisborough and took a stroll around their 'garden centre' area and was absolutely horrified to see rack upon rack of dying plants, trees and shrubs, they would be screaming if they weren't dying of dehydration and exhaustion! I've seen this there previously, looking dry but never on this scale.
Squeezed, unwatered onto racks and shelving too narrow and the same in the display quarters gasping of thirst and lack of care.
I could weep if wasn't so angry and dismayed - are we really so de-sensitised that we lack any appreciation for these wonderful living breathing, beautiful beings?
Yes, I know this is just one aspect of the tiny tip of the melting iceburg, of humanity's lack of appreciation and love for the earth and all she provides for us in order for us to live here and experience life and all its seasons.
Thank heavens that we are becoming more conscious of the bigger picture.
Well, I'm off now to go and calm down with a cup of tea and sit in my garden - it's not perfectly manicured etc by any means but most of all it has my love and care.
Plants, trees and shrubs dying of dehydration & exhaustion
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naturediva
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It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it then, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds. Black Elk
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Naturediva, may i just say, i found your posting very moving.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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naturediva
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Thank you Old Herbaceous
Another story from the same place - a few weeks ago my eye was caught by something in one of the plants on one of those trolly racks, a great work of art, truely beautiful, a bird had made its nest there, the nest was so cleverly designed and so perfect and softly lined with moss too, a sight to behold. It would have been wonderful if the birds could have had the safety and peace to use their homely creation.
Of course not practical because of humankind and sometime later the nest had been discarded and left as an empty shell to dry in the sun. Nature teaches us so much - if only we could see and hear its message more clearly.
Another story from the same place - a few weeks ago my eye was caught by something in one of the plants on one of those trolly racks, a great work of art, truely beautiful, a bird had made its nest there, the nest was so cleverly designed and so perfect and softly lined with moss too, a sight to behold. It would have been wonderful if the birds could have had the safety and peace to use their homely creation.
Of course not practical because of humankind and sometime later the nest had been discarded and left as an empty shell to dry in the sun. Nature teaches us so much - if only we could see and hear its message more clearly.
It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it then, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds. Black Elk
Hi Naturediva. Well said indeed. Another shop whose plants should be monitored by the "Cruelty to plants" people, is Wilkinsons. Apart from the outside displays, their plants see no natural light, and are often as you describe in Focus stores. They reduce them but they are often beyond revival by that stage. I have never seen any assistant anywhere near their plants, let alone watering them! I work at Morrisons and the plants and cut flowers are well watered and tended throughout the day, each day. I once mentioned the state of Wilkinsons' plants to an assistant, who told me they throw "loads" away because they die!! 
I said they wouldn't lose so many if they were watered and she said they didn't have time!! 
Cheers!.
I said they wouldn't lose so many if they were watered and she said they didn't have time!! Cheers!.Happy with my lot
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oldherbaceous
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They have eyes, but cannot see. 
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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FelixLeiter
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This is a particular hobby-horse of mine, the state that plants get into at DIY stores. Apart from the horribly dispiriting waste of living things, it's a waste of their money, surely, to chuck stuff out due to lack of care. The usual old saw is, of course, "we haven't time", but I know it is possible to make time because I have worked in a supermarket where they sold a few plants. I always made time to keep them in shape, taking just a few minutes to give the plants a drink when I wheeled them out to the front of the shop in the morning, and then again when wheeling them back in. Customers were quick to comment on their improved quality, and turned these comments into purchases.
On the other hand, and I have mentioned this on another thread, I have seen staff chucking water around but not actually watering anything, merely getting the leaves wet. This is of course when they're not stood standing about, which you see in too many outlets. Oh they have the time, all right, but it's mostly a case of can't be bothered. When I worked in retail, any standing about was absolutely forbidden (well, not in front of the customers, anyway!). But it's tragic that in few stores no-one seems to actually notice that the plants are dehydrated and dying. I think their souls must be as withered as the hapless plants.
But I must give one commendation, and that's to the Homebase in Brighton where I saw a member of staff taking diligent care in looking after their indoor plants, all of which were in the rudest of health as a consequence. I made pains to congratulate her on her efforts. She of course took great pride in her charges; it was a pleasure for her to keep them healthy.
On the other hand, and I have mentioned this on another thread, I have seen staff chucking water around but not actually watering anything, merely getting the leaves wet. This is of course when they're not stood standing about, which you see in too many outlets. Oh they have the time, all right, but it's mostly a case of can't be bothered. When I worked in retail, any standing about was absolutely forbidden (well, not in front of the customers, anyway!). But it's tragic that in few stores no-one seems to actually notice that the plants are dehydrated and dying. I think their souls must be as withered as the hapless plants.
But I must give one commendation, and that's to the Homebase in Brighton where I saw a member of staff taking diligent care in looking after their indoor plants, all of which were in the rudest of health as a consequence. I made pains to congratulate her on her efforts. She of course took great pride in her charges; it was a pleasure for her to keep them healthy.
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Primrose
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NatureDiva - good job I wasn't with you because you would probably have run for cover as I sought out the manager and asked him to get somebody to come along immediately and water their plants, to the background of a conversation which would probably have gone along the lines of "Why should I come and shop here if you don't take good care of your products? It's not very good customer service to let plants become half dead before a customer buys them, is it?" 
My husband discovered a long time ago that it's tactical to disappear to another part of the store when I start getting my dander up about something!. Yes, I agree Wilkinsons are terrible for all those cheap shrubs. . Last spring I bought a 99p blackcurrant stump there in its last gasps and despite treating it lovingly it died and disappeared. However this spring two tiny shoots have reappeared. but it will probably be years, if at all, that it develops into a plant which bears fruit. These "cheapos" are a waste of time and money.
My husband discovered a long time ago that it's tactical to disappear to another part of the store when I start getting my dander up about something!. Yes, I agree Wilkinsons are terrible for all those cheap shrubs. . Last spring I bought a 99p blackcurrant stump there in its last gasps and despite treating it lovingly it died and disappeared. However this spring two tiny shoots have reappeared. but it will probably be years, if at all, that it develops into a plant which bears fruit. These "cheapos" are a waste of time and money.
Elaine wrote:Another shop whose plants should be monitored by the "Cruelty to plants" people, is Wilkinsons.
Hi, Elaine
A couple of years ago I was stupid enough to buy an apple tree from this shop. It didn't have any growth showing, but I decided that it might be a bit early for that - or that on the other hand it might be dead
You've guessed - it was dead. None of the 'buds' opened, despite my TLC.
I decided that I would play the awkward customer, and took it back to demand a refund, only to be told that their returns policy didn't include plants!
While I was waiting for someone to get a supervisor, one of the assistants drew my attention to their returns policy on the wall - no mention of plants not being included. I stood my ground and did get a refund, but it taught me a lesson - only buy plants from places that know how to look after them.
Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Primrose wrote:These "cheapos" are a waste of time and money.
Not always ! There are occasions when I see plants that haven't been very well looked after in various places and I offer 20p or 50p for it (even if it's not actually marked as reduced). It's amazing how often they'll take it and I've had some lovely shrubs for my garden out of it. You do occasionally get one that doesn't pull through but plants are pretty resilient buggers and most of them have survived, even if it's taken a year or two for them to fully recover.