Area nurseries offer local flavor

In an era of supercenter shopping smaller, locally owned and operated nurseries are still thriving. The spring planting frenzy brings out loyal customers and aspiring green thumbs alike to area garden retailers.

According to excerpts from the story:

Ludema’s Floral & Garden owner Dave Ludema wants his customers to know something about the plants he sells. He grows his own.

“I want to say, in the most respectful way, that we’re starting these from seeds. We’re starting these from cuttings,” said Ludema, whose Grand Rapids garden center is at 3408 Eastern Ave. SE. “We’re living with these things, and we understand the plants and how they perform very well.”

For locally owned firms such as Ludema’s, a successful season means carving out a niche as specialists in a highly competitive market where big-box retailers have the advantage of volume and regional or national profiles.

Read the story here.