On the Job: East Coast Garden

pots and we’re even going to do some off site gardening – i’m super excited so lets go.” track 1 east coast garden center is your one stop shop for everything gardening. started 26 years ago by the cordrey family – it’s set on 16 acres and has70 greenhouses. they offer their customers plants from all over the country including california – florida and south carolina. chris cordrey oversees everyday operations through out the company. “so what are we going to be doing today – we’re going to be having a lot of fun – so right now it’s our fall season n which is our second biggest season.” “ok well i don’t know too much about flowers but i’m sure you’re going to teach me a lot today – yeah exactly – well i have some gloves for you that way we can get started – keep my hands clean – that’s right – alright i’m excited so i guess we should get started – lets do it.” track 2 but before that – chris gave me a tour through their garden center – and explained each plant. “this looks like a cabbage – it is a cabbage – it is – its an ornamental cabbage – so can you eat it.” “i think you can eat it but don’t quote me on that – i wouldn’t recommend it – we wont try it today.” track 3 yeah we’ll stick to planting. “this is our tropical house – i can tell it’s hot in here.” track 4 and after showing me a few more plants – it was time to get to work. “you’re going to definitely see some bugs today – oh god – i hate bugs – you’ll be alright you’re tough – that’s what you think.” track 5 our first job of the day – creating flower containers. the garden center creates these for residential homes as well as companies. before putting one together – we had to learn the fundamentals first. the main event in the container is called a thriller – usually a bigger plant or even a tree. you then surround that with other smaller flowers called fillers. and the spiller is that last thing you add – creating a spill over affect. ok time to work but first – we need gloves! “we do about 4,000 containers in a season – ok i thought you were going to say a day – not a day – you scared me – but you do quite a bit in a day so it seems like that is a lot right there – that if we did it would take us about 20 minutes – ok – all of those for 20 minutes – yeah we can do them quick – what.” track 6 in order to make things go a little faster – chris says they work in an assembly line. “how many pounds are these bags – why don’t you give her like a half of the bag – let me see if i can pick one up – they’re pretty heavy – might be able to – ok that’s not that bad.” “here’s your size container – if you want to fill it up – so we want to fill it up to about there – so this potting mix that we use is not – is there a certain way to do this – yeah just hold it by there and then it’ll come out the bottom like that – how do these people do it by themselves.” track 7 just a little heavy time to put in our thriller. “ok you have to take it out of the pot right – yep – here if you want to hold it – kind of sometimes they’ve been in here.” track 8 but we were having a little trouble. “got it there we go – oh my gosh.” track 9 finally! next – we had to put in our filler flowers – then our spillers – and our container was done! “do you like it boss – i like it – ok – they look good -that’s what’s important.” track 10 next job – filling hanging baskets with some flowers. and chris let me design them “i kind of think i like the red because i think it offsets the green a little bit – i think the green and the yellow would be too much green.” “it’s fall so i feel like somebody would want to see like a fall-ish plant – right definitely.” track 11 i was sounding like an expert. “i kind of like these – the blues – yeah – ok lets do two blues then – you just have to promise you wont take my design job after this.” “lets get started.” “after i take a break for a second.” track 12 no time for being tired! “oh no i think i ripped it – don’t tell anybody.” track 13 whoops. after placing our plants in – it was complete! next up – we went off site to plant some flowers on one of their other properties – so we had to fill up the truck with a couple pots of flowers! when we arrived — we had to unload the truck – and then start digging holes! but to save time and energy — the garden center uses a special power tool to drill holes in the dirt. and of course i had to try! 21:54:16″is that good – yeah – ugh it’s heavy.”21:54:27 21:54:39″oh that didn’t dig anything.”21:54:43 track 14 maybe you should stick to planting – not digging. 21:49:48″alright that was pretty good – that was what like 20 seconds – that was pretty good.”21:49:54 track 15 but then chris’ team showed me how it was really done. 21:57:16″nat sounds.”21:57:25 track 16 ok – i have my game face on – i’m ready. 21:59:32″nat sounds.”21:59:42 track 17 well – almost. finally we were finished. “how did i do today after everything – you did great i’m sure you got a new perspective of planting flowers and doing containers but – i did – i think you’re a natural.” “you guys work so hard i don’t know about you but i’m sweating.” “i had so much fun and just to see what you do i mean so much more goes into it than you think.” “you’re welcome back anytime you want – thank you so i’m welcomed back but would you hire me – yeah we would definitely hire you.” track 18 michelle mackonochie 47 abc. next week on the job — michelle heads to fishers popcorn in ocean city — to learn to how perfectly craft their delicious caramel popcorn. coming up we’ll have a final look at your weather – we’ll