Eastern Lake Nursery closing

I hate this. I love Eastern Lake Nursery. This shop really fit into Seagrove and will be missed. I hope they got one hell of a BP claim. I will be there tomorrow to buy some of my favorite things.

The nursery staff told us this weekend that they're closing for good in about a week. The proprieter told us that business was looking up this spiring, but when the Deepwater Horizon blew out, it was like someone turned off the lightswitch. What a loss to 30A and South Walton.

Besides being in a great location and having an extensive inventory, the staff is extremely knowledgable and has been very helpful to us. We'll miss them. They've been having a big sale for a week or so.

I agree and wish Randy Harrelson never sold out.The Gourd Garden was always a fun place to shop and get info.

I'm so sad to hear this...
they're good folks and I wish all of them well.

I'm so sorry. I love that place.

How sad. I love that place too.

Such nice and helpful folks - and they sold native plants.

They are working on opening up a new Lowe's this side of Destin Commons. They have lots of plants.

If you want local options, I've had good luck with the plants from Niceville Garden Center. And there's a place next to Fernleigh Antiques on PCB Parkway that had some nice-looking though somewhat limited stock.

Lowe's is fine I guess for bedding plants or flowers for pots and such. But most of their stuff is not native, and/or won't tolerate our growing conditions- I could see the same inventory at any Lowe's in the country. Plus their employees never seem to know much about how to grow their plants in NW coastal Florida.

I agree Jenny. I find it sad that another local, specialty shop is on its way out...I loved going there just to walk around. I always felt better afterwards...the energy was good.

I went to the nursery today and bought some things. Guess this is a sign of the times that they are going out of business. All the banks around here are out to screw us. Most of the banks got millions of dollars in either tarp or bail out money to help small business to weather these tough economic times. Yet, none have done this. It seems they have instead decided not to work with us.

They are working on opening up a new Lowe's this side of Destin Commons. They have lots of plants.

Sorry, that is one step up from Wal-mart.

I want the local shop with native plants and fun accessories who know me (and my brown thumb).

The only things that survive in my garden are heirlooms, palmettos, and plants they've sold me.

Blue Ming is the place I was thinking of in PCB. Right on US 98:

Panama City Beach ? New Plant Nursery?Blue Ming Garden | Jerryeyler's Weblog

Apparently there's a family (but not business connection) to Zen Garden Market, which also says they sell native plants:

http://www.zengardenmarket.com/

Lowe's is fine I guess for bedding plants or flowers for pots and such. But most of their stuff is not native, and/or won't tolerate our growing conditions- I could see the same inventory at any Lowe's in the country. Plus their employees never seem to know much about how to grow their plants in NW coastal Florida.

I learned that the hard way this spring... I thought I'd save some money by buying plants from another national big-box store (not Lowe's). The guy that helped me was really nice, but clearly had no idea what he was talking about. Everything I planted, based on his recommendations, was dead by summer.

Now, I am sure my lack of gardening skills is partially to blame... but I can say that my neighbor, a long time gardener, once I was finished putting everything in the ground, looked at every single plant, laughed at me and said "why would you pick those? None of those will grow well here... good luck!"

Money wasted, lesson learned. I should have gone to Eastern Lake Nursery, and I'm sad I won't have that chance next year.

I have purchased many unique gifts there through the years and will miss the convenience of their presence.

It was really nice to have them in the neighborhood. I'm really sorry to see them close. Friendly folks, helpful advice, native plants, handy source of pine straw, selection of gifts-pots-chemicals-tools. And, I'll miss the dove and the cat.

Let's hope the business owner has received some compensation from the BP fund. Of course that'd be small consolation for the nursery staff, who clearly loved their jobs and will presumably be unemployed after next week.

I learned that the hard way this spring... I thought I'd save some money by buying plants from another national big-box store (not Lowe's). The guy that helped me was really nice, but clearly had no idea what he was talking about. Everything I planted, based on his recommendations, was dead by summer.

Now, I am sure my lack of gardening skills is partially to blame... but I can say that my neighbor, a long time gardener, once I was finished putting everything in the ground, looked at every single plant, laughed at me and said "why would you pick those? None of those will grow well here... good luck!"

Money wasted, lesson learned. I should have gone to Eastern Lake Nursery, and I'm sad I won't have that chance next year.

The previous owners at our house put in a lawn, shrubs, trees, etc. All none-native. All now either dead, struggling, or high-maintenance.

Sorry to hear that. We always stopped in and tried to buy an object for our yard or a gift for someone else's yard. Never a plant.
(I remember looking for 'elephant ear' bulbs at the Lowe's near my home. The person working there told me there wasn't such a thing! I plant them occassionally and know that they start with bulbs. They had the plants. Just didn't know how they got started. I found some at Costco this year. Planted them near my deck. Toward the end of summer, couldn't get near our table and chairs! If I plant them again, I'll plant fewer.) Ellen

Saw that today.
So sad, especially since I have an unused $250 gift certificate. Was looking forward to getting a nice big pot for the front.
Anyone know how to contact the owners to see if they have any inventory left??

Saw that today.
So sad, especially since I have an unused $250 gift certificate. Was looking forward to getting a nice big pot for the front.
Anyone know how to contact the owners to see if they have any inventory left??

Try Eastern Supply Company - local landscaping company.

I have talked with several employees from Eastern Lake Nursery (have been a regular customer for years!) but the real issue is that the bank who now owns the property refused to work with the owner of the nursery. I am told the same bank also owns the old Collaboration's lot so I think this bank has bigger dreams in mind here. Now, you would think the bank would want some kind of income until a developer steps forward to buy both properties, wouldn't you? The bank already turned down one offer so what was the big deal in letting Eastern Lake stay for a while. I can see yet another big condo. in the future on both sides of 30-A but the real reason we moved here was because of those little galleries and shops like Eastern Lake Nursery which are now a part of So. Walton history! And some call this progress!!!!!

I have talked with several employees from Eastern Lake Nursery (have been a regular customer for years!) but the real issue is that the bank who now owns the property refused to work with the owner of the nursery. I am told the same bank also owns the old Collaboration's lot so I think this bank has bigger dreams in mind here. Now, you would think the bank would want some kind of income until a developer steps forward to buy both properties, wouldn't you? The bank already turned down one offer so what was the big deal in letting Eastern Lake stay for a while. I can see yet another big condo. in the future on both sides of 30-A but the real reason we moved here was because of those little galleries and shops like Eastern Lake Nursery which are now a part of So. Walton history! And some call this progress!!!!!

They probably are of the typical corporate mindset that it needs to be shaved bald before anyone would seriously consider buying it.

They probably are of the typical corporate mindset that it needs to be shaved bald before anyone would seriously consider buying it.

Same as the (now-empty) car wash lot next to Angelina's.

Going on three years ago now, the owner of a lot on my street cleared it to make it easier to sell. Hasn't sold yet. Imagine that.

Just blame it on Wal-Mart.