We have been busy here. Lots of overtime put in to load the trucks. Being able to find drivers has been an ongoing issue this year. We have run ads, we use driver leasing companies, we have contracted with a trucking company to get power under our trailers and we are still barely able to get enough drivers.
You might say, “Pay the more to take the load.” However, it doesn’t really work that way. I personally talked to 7 or 8 companies and they said that they were looking for drivers too or that they didn’t want to haul plants. I talked to 2 of the biggest trucking companies in the country who have logistics division who do nothing but find trucks to haul freight for other people like us. One said that they always find a solution, but came back and said the they did not have a way to make it work with their union drivers. The other one talked to over 30 companies who all told him, “No.”
New trucking regulations and hours of service are hampering the trucking industry to move freight. The drivers who are still driving can pretty much pick and choose the loads and jobs they want. Unfortunately, we are seasonal and they is not too attractive to drivers. One plus is that we can get drivers home a few nights a week so the ones who want to be home a little more do like the work, but there don’t seem to be enough of them.
So far we have managed to keep up. There has been a couple of mishaps and we apologize it those affected your order delivery. We are working hard to get this resolved and will be on top of this for as long as it takes to keep things running smoothly.
On the plus side, the plants are looking great. We have a lot of availability again this week despite what we have shipped out. Our plantings are mostly on schedule. A few items are running behind and won’t be ready for another week. It’s funny. Some plants are behind while others are ahead of schedule. It’s been a weird year for growing.
Enough of all that. If you even read it a all. Here are the pictures.
Our gallons availability jumped this week with the additions of most of the tropical hibiscus and some mandevilla.
Our quart perennials continue to look excellent.
Premium annuals are prime. Imagine that.
Lots of vegetables and herbs are ready to plant. The Micro Tom tomatoes in 1 gallon pots already have micro tomatoes on the plants and the vines themselves don’t get much bigger.
Lots of color in our #6 pots.
This is a sample of the hanging baskets we have hanging around.
Confetti Gardens in baskets and decos are colorful. Several of the Confetti Trios have a more upright habit than trailing and therefore are not as wide but are much fuller on top. The bowls are looking great, particularly the succulent ovals.
We have a good availability of great looking basic and deluxe annuals in 1801’s, 1204’s and J6’s.
