Eastern Lake Nursery closing

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!!!!!

banks=

It is particularly gloomy to see Eastern Lake Nursery so sterile after it, and the Gourd Garden before, were so festive and full of life for so long.

In response to a post up above, I can't foresee condos being built anywhere around here for years and years. I foresee fields of weeds...

It is particularly gloomy to see Eastern Lake Nursery so sterile after it, and the Gourd Garden before, were so festive and full of life for so long.

In response to a post up above, I can't foresee condos being built anywhere around here for years and years. I foresee fields of weeds...

Maybe we should invest in wildflowers and plant all the vacant lots; and have the local artists paint murals on all the empty buildings...

Maybe we should invest in wildflowers and plant all the vacant lots; and have the local artists paint murals on all the empty buildings...

I like it! random acts of positive vigilantism

It is particularly gloomy to see Eastern Lake Nursery so sterile after it, and the Gourd Garden before, were so festive and full of life for so long.

In response to a post up above, I can't foresee condos being built anywhere around here for years and years. I foresee fields of weeds...

Drove by today. Very sad. It was a real gem.

Maybe we should invest in wildflowers and plant all the vacant lots; and have the local artists paint murals on all the empty buildings...

The lot across the street where collaborations was has recently been shaved bald. It had one of the largest and healthiest patches of blue lupine I've ever seen.

Drove by today. Very sad. It was a real gem.




The lot across the street where collaborations was has recently been shaved bald. It had one of the largest and healthiest patches of blue lupine I've ever seen.

I know--it made me want to cry when I saw what had been done to it...what are people thinking?

Does anyone else remember the huge Century plant in front of Collaborations? I actually saw it bloom one year and you don't see that often since they only bloom once every 100 years! When they cleared the property it was uprooted and sitting on it's side and I wanted to cry. I also wanted to bring it home in the worst way but it was much too big. You almost needed a flat bed truck to move it. Sad and I still think of that big old Century plant that was here before any of us were.

yes, it is just one more example of us destroying so much of what makes this place special..

Just blame it on Wal-Mart.

Or maybe the owner who took out a massive loan to buy the property at the height of the real estate bubble. I don't see how anyone could have expected to finance that off such a low budget business.

I did enjoy shopping there for more unique plants, but I always felt I paid a premium for them.

The lot across the street where collaborations was has recently been shaved bald. It had one of the largest and healthiest patches of blue lupine I've ever seen.

With any luck, that blue lupine will come back. It sprang up AFTER the lot was cleared following demolition of Collaborations and the mini-store.

Does anyone else remember the huge Century plant in front of Collaborations? I actually saw it bloom one year and you don't see that often since they only bloom once every 100 years! When they cleared the property it was uprooted and sitting on it's side and I wanted to cry. I also wanted to bring it home in the worst way but it was much too big. You almost needed a flat bed truck to move it. Sad and I still think of that big old Century plant that was here before any of us were.

They actually bloom more frequently than that, you can usually catch about 7-8 during a human life time. There's a ton of them at Maclay Gardens in Tallahassee. Edward Ball's wife loved them and insisted on having one planted every year, due to the 100 year myth, so that eventually there would be a blooming plant every year. There's usually about 2-3 each year there.

With any luck, that blue lupine will come back. It sprang up AFTER the lot was cleared following demolition of Collaborations and the mini-store.

I think and I hope you are right about them coming back--but, why cut them in the first place? Surely no one can think that will help sell that property

i think and i hope you are right about them coming back--but, why cut them in the first place? Surely no one can think that will help sell that property

zactly.

I'm pretty sure blue lupine is a pioneer species that comes in around here when land has been disturbed/shaved and colonizes to hold the ground in place till other species farther along in succession can get a foothold. Meaning, they probably will come back.

I'm in favor of wildflower seeding. Perhaps someone ought to host a seedball making party....not me! I am too busy with the farm!

Will dearly miss Eastern Lake and the great people who've been so friendly and helpful all these years.

To heck with blue lupine. It will take care of itself. I say let's get rid of the banks that will not work with people. I know the bank that screwed this nursery. Would anyone here want to start naming the worst banks in town?

Eastern Lake Landscaping does the landscape maintenance for our neighborhood. I assume they are still in business.

Thanks to Randy at the Gourd Garden, the predecessor of Eastern Lake Nursery, we kept the native plant material when building our home in Seagrove. No need for irrigation because the plant materials were already irrigated without human intervention.

I will miss the advice from Eastern Lake Nursery because they have been a great source of info. We know that the big boxes don't have a fraction of that expertise.

Does anyone else remember the huge Century plant in front of Collaborations? I actually saw it bloom one year and you don't see that often since they only bloom once every 100 years! When they cleared the property it was uprooted and sitting on it's side and I wanted to cry. I also wanted to bring it home in the worst way but it was much too big. You almost needed a flat bed truck to move it. Sad and I still think of that big old Century plant that was here before any of us were.

I remember my first years here, with Bobby J at Collaborations, with his pond guy that could create the most intricate, lifelike pond settings imagineable; and Randy H at the Gourd Garden.....where I purchased so much of what became my "yard" in the Grove (where Randy/his mom were also neighbors). And I remember when Jason and Annalise married, and built their home in the Grove, which they opted to sell in order to purchase the Gourd Garden. All good folks, moving with the tides of Life.....blue skies, and happy thoughts to all.

I remember my first years here, with Bobby J at Collaborations, with his pond guy that could create the most intricate, lifelike pond settings imagineable; and Randy H at the Gourd Garden.....where I purchased so much of what became my "yard" in the Grove (where Randy/his mom were also neighbors). And I remember when Jason and Annalise married, and built their home in the Grove, which they opted to sell in order to purchase the Gourd Garden. All good folks, moving with the tides of Life.....blue skies, and happy thoughts to all.

I loved Collaborations too. I bought some funky furniture there for the house. We also loved buying wine next door (before Cocoon's took over - sorry for the dis ) and talking to the hilarious guy there whose name escapes me right now.

Sleep deprived due to exams. Memory goes bye-bye. Profs and students all get this way during exams.

I loved Collaborations too. I bought some funky furniture there for the house. We also loved buying wine next door (before Cocoon's took over - sorry for the dis ) and talking to the hilarious guy there whose name escapes me right now.

Sleep deprived due to exams. Memory goes bye-bye. Profs and students all get this way during exams.

You mean the liquor store operating on a license from Okaloosa?

You mean the liquor store operating on a license from Okaloosa?

No knowledge regarding that.

I loved Collaborations too. I bought some funky furniture there for the house. We also loved buying wine next door (before Cocoon's took over - sorry for the dis ) and talking to the hilarious guy there whose name escapes me right now.

Sleep deprived due to exams. Memory goes bye-bye. Profs and students all get this way during exams.

Thanks Beach Runner. It was sooooo much fun and proof that if you follow a dream it will work out. My folks thought I was crazy when Bev and I decided to do that place. I will say, it was a special time. Brian was the guy that owned the liquor store. I still talk with him from time to time. I do not recall his license being from Okaloosa county. I am pretty sure it was a Walton county issue. I think he sold it for like $60,000 when he started having financial trouble. He could have actually opened a bar and we talked about it many times. I think he sold it to the folks who opened up the liquor store in Grayton that is now closed as well. The good ol' days. I sure hate to see Eastern Lake nursery closing. It seems like another blow to the community. We really need these small businesses to help keep the eclectic vibe and funky feel along 30a.

Thanks Beach Runner. It was sooooo much fun and proof that if you follow a dream it will work out. My folks thought I was crazy when Bev and I decided to do that place. I will say, it was a special time. Brian was the guy that owned the liquor store. I still talk with him from time to time. I do not recall his license being from Okaloosa county. I am pretty sure it was a Walton county issue. I think he sold it for like $60,000 when he started having financial trouble. He could have actually opened a bar and we talked about it many times. I think he sold it to the folks who opened up the liquor store in Grayton that is now closed as well. The good ol' days. I sure hate to see Eastern Lake nursery closing. It seems like another blow to the community. We really need these small businesses to help keep the eclectic vibe and funky feel along 30a.

Austin has "Keep Austin Weird". I always thought we should have, "Keep SoWal Charming".

I was told the landscaping division will continue to stay in business.

I'm in favor of wildflower seeding. Perhaps someone ought to host a seedball making party....not me! I am too busy with the farm!

This is Papa Scooterbug's latest volunteer project - sorting wildflower seeds so they can sow native plants. (His food pantry experience did not go too well as he refused to let some biatchy lady who was terrorizing the other volunteers break the rules and get 6 points of cheese when she only had 5 points - it's genetic.)

There's a reason things grow native IMO and all of the irrigating and non-native species are draining the water supplies.

Sad to hear this. I sure don't want to see the day when all the local business owners work for Wal Mart or Lowes or Home Depot. Bp has turned out to be the final straw for so many local businesses. Hang in there Walton County!