Plants Add Happiness

<< PREV

Image 1 of 3

NEXT >>

Esther preparing for opening day with a flat of Ranunculus and Geraniums.

An Interview with Esther Randall

"I've never consciously thought about gardening. I've been doing it for so long that it is a part of who I am," Esther explains. "When I was 10 or so, my grandmother had us scout for tomato worms in her garden and then we had to squish them. I guess if I was going to be turned off from gardening it would have happened right then and there," laughs Esther.

Esther grew up in Lawton, Michigan. Her family had a vineyard and her grandmother and mother were avid gardeners and canned much of what they grew. "It was important then that we grow, harvest and preserve much of the food we produced. I grow flowers, mostly perennials now for enjoyment and still get excited about planting new varieties and seeing my perennials emerge each year."

Esther has worked at Wenke Greenhouses for 10 years. In spring and summer she assists customers in the retail store and keeps the store supplied with plants throughout the season. Come summer Esther starts ordering perennial seeds for the sowing team at the greenhouses to begin the growing process for the store and the wholesale operation for the next year. "My organizational and production planning skills from my time working for a local manufacturer are very transferable to what I do for Wenke's. It is exciting to order perennials for the store and try new perennials plus the standard favorites. I can combine my organization skills with my love of plants" states Esther.

"After working all day at the store or the greenhouse I still look forward to working in my gardens. Gardening is relaxing for me and I think kept gardens at a house reflect that someone cares about the property," Esther says. Esther, like her grandmother has found a way to connect with her grandchildren through gardening. "I've found that when I bring the grandkids out to the gardens and we start weeding, planting or deadheading, they start to relax and open up and talk about their day and what's on their minds. Gardening for us has turned into another way to encourage the grandkids to open up and share what they are thinking" Esther relays with the smile of a wise grandmother who has figured out how to combine two of her greatest loves.