Recession be darned, the gardening business isn't hurting at all as the planting season approaches.
If anything, George Lunan says business is better this year than last.
He owns and runs Marlin Orchards & Garden Centre with his wife Diane on County Road 2 east of the city.
"It's been pretty much the same as any other year," Lunan said. "There have been no big disappointments yet. We're likely above last year in terms of general sales."
Lunan said a very good growing season and the recession are actually contributing to their strong business.
"People are staying closer to home this year instead of travelling to save money," he said. "They're improving their gardens."
Although business is good at Marlin, which has 30,000 square feet of greenhouses and an apple orchard popular in the fall, Lunan cautioned it is still early in the growing season to know how it will shape up in general.
Over at Harvest Garden Centre's satellite location on Vincent Massey Drive, they've only been fully operational for about a week, but employee Colleen Finnerty said they are "doing great" selling annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.
"People are getting in the spirit of the season," Finnerty said. "Planting season doesn't really start until May 24, but people are in a very good mood about it."
Long-time Harvest employee Sara McRae commented that the recession doesn't seem to affect business at all because Cornwall was hit with tough economic times long before the current recession.
Tracy Finnott of MacIntosh Gardening Products and Plantscape on Highway 138 said the business is just opening for the season, but customers are showing up in good numbers to take advantage of the now fully stocked shrubs, perennials and annuals.
"Things are looking pretty good from what I can tell," Finnott said. "We realize it's tough for our customers because there's not as much money to spend."
The store is promoting its grand opening with gift certificates to help customers get their gardens started.
So far sales have focused on top soil, garden stones, gravel, peat moss and mulch as green thumbs prepare to plant in a few weeks.
Cornwall isn't the only locale where garden centre business is booming.
Homeowners eager to create a backyard barbecue oasis are lining up at Ottawa's garden centres, where business is booming, despite all the economic doom and gloom.
"We should really have two cash registers today," said Pat Raven, who works at the South Keys Wal-Mart Garden Centre, as customers lined up 12-deep Monday to buy dirt, flowers, trees and rakes.
