A Tropical Small Business Saturday

A respite from our dreary weather.

I'll be willing to bet that you have a small business in or near your community that is a "Hidden Treasure" - people in the know know there is something special about the business.

No, no promotion here, and I'm not being paid for any plug.  I just like this business.  They've been around since 1975, and have survived several floods and (so far) the pandemic.

Spouse and I went to Tioga Gardens near Owego, New York, for Small Business Saturday. My regular readers know I am a sucker for plants, and I needed some supplies.  They were having a once a year "everything is on sale" promotion for Small Business Saturday.

But I also wanted a taste of the tropics.  Tioga Gardens has had a conservatory attached to their store for many years.  I know they have plants that are over 40 years old in there.  I'm not sure this is one of them, but you certainly can not grow Bread Fruit trees in our climate.

Nor banyon trees.

One more taste of the tropics.

If you are a real plant lover, you can take a virtual tour, courtesy of You Tube.

They have non plant items for sale, too.

And, of course, reminders of the pandemic.

I call this business a "hidden treasure" of the Southern Tier of New York.  I plan to post more pictures from my visit today on Friday for Skywatch Friday.

Do you have a small business in your area that you consider a hidden treasure?

Small Business Saturday in the Time of Coronavirus

Today is Small Business Saturday.  I traditionally write a Small Business Saturday blog post.  But today, my mind can't seem to get into the groove.

And times are hard, here in the Southern Tier of New York State, and elsewhere.

I looked at some of my previous posts, listing where I went to shop, and the voice in my head recited:

Out of business.  Out of business.  No, not going there - no reason to.  

Out of business.   

Yes, this jewelry store I mentioned in 2012 is a woman-owned business now but I stopped wearing jewelry about two weeks into being sent home to work. 

I didn't worry about Made in USA vs. Made Abroad but Sold by a Local Business, like I had some years. 

I did almost none of the traditional Black Friday or Small Business Saturday things.  I didn't get up at 5am.  I slept in.  I went walking.  I read.  I watched TV.  I got ready to put holiday decorations up. 

 I did feel a little guilty about shopping online at a couple of chain stores that have a brick and mortar presence here, but they offer curbside pickup and, I reason, they employ locals.  I'm sure going to like those slippers I treated myself to.

Via TV, I got my first look at our local indoor mall since March, which was also the last time I was in there.  Several small businesses are located in that mall.  I know someone who works in one of them.  Hate to say it, but too depressing.  

Our Mall, 2019

Santa is coming to the mall December 4 but it's going to be different (what isn't?) This year, for  social distancing reasons, Santa will sit behind "snow globe" decorations that "will allow children to interact with Santa through plexiglass." And, oh yes, you have to make an appointment.

I ended up going to the grand total of one small business today - a (what else?) nursery.  I bought a ZZ plant (something I've wanted to own for some time but never got around to it), a self watering pot (for the Vietnamese Coriander we took cuttings from - they have rooted nicely), some potting soil, and two small but fancy poinsettias.

Plants are my source of happiness.

So, this strange year, I am not going to guilt myself.  I'm alive.  I am not sick. I am who I am, and that is OK.