ALLENDALE -- Tomorrow is typically one of the busiest days of the year for West Michigan greenhouses, as Mother's Day shoppers flood the aisles. Countryside Greenhouse in Allendale expects to sell around 10,800 flower baskets on the Saturday before Mother's Day.
To put that in perspective, Countryside sells around 200,000 flower baskets in an entire year. "Depending on the weather, the biggest weekend of the year kinda bounces back and forth between Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekend," says Chris Buist, Facility Manager at Countryside Greenhouse.
"They're bright and cheery and you can put them outside and it looks nice. It's better than the dreary snow and it's time for some color," says Marilyn Schneider who drove all the way from Lansing to shop for flowers.
Many shoppers FOX 17 spoke with at Countryside are ready to plant right away, but gardeners say that might not be the best idea -- especially for tender vegetation. "It's a little earlier than when I would put my vegetables out with the exception of some of the cool crop items that will tolerate colder temperatures," said Buist. "We do have a lot of perennials and nursery stock that go along with the annuals that it's fine to get them outside right now."
Buist suggests planting more delicate plants and flowers on Memorial Day weekend. Until that weekend, frost and freezing temperatures are still a possibility across much of West Michigan.
