Hi there everybody. I don’t know where I’ve been these past few weeks, but I have finally discovered the blog. I’m Martin Santos, but unless you work in the greenhouses or the Garden Center, you’ve never seen me. Even then, I’m usually just a pair of legs topped with arm loads of plants. I’m the guy Bill calls when a customer needs a bunch of stuff we don’t have on display at the Garden Center, or Tony calls to clear out a flat, unload a pallet — well, you name it.
So I was looking at this blog and I noticed the shots of the hydrangea Swan from the greenhouse. (Matter of fact, I remember your visit, Kay. I was the guy on the ladder adjusting the sprinkler system. Sorry about that!) I got a new digicam a few weeks back and brought it in to try it out. I thought my photos were pretty bad, but thanks to that "enhance" button on iPhoto and after seeing yours (just kidding Kay!), I’m ready to try a few out here. (Here’s one of a bunch of hydrangea Swans in the greenhouse — they look great when they’re all together.) Actually, what I really thought was that it might by helpful for the ladies in customer service to see what’s looking really good right now. I know they recommend stuff to customers over the phone, and I’ve got some plants that really should be recommended!
First off, this illicium is FANTASTIC. My shots really don’t do it justice, because it was up high on the cart and I could only get the ones I could 
reach, but these puppies were — still are! — COVERED in blooms. This cart was lined up at Packaging and Shipping, and you could see those red flowers the minute you walked in the warehouse, even before you could make out what the plant was.
Next, look at this andromeda. What got me about this was that when I took this picture at the end of August, it was about a million degrees outside, and the greenhouse was like a rain forest, but this little guy was just as cool as a cucumber. I really liked all of them together like that, with the silvery glow. I’m not a gardener yet (don’t even have a houseplant in my apartment!), but I like the looks of this.
I got these shots of the new Vigorosa rose right as they were putting them onto a flat from the field. They are small, just getting started, but 
already looking great, and plenty of them were blooming. The color’s not right on that flower — it should be darker pink — but you get the idea. Very cool.
And here is that new euphorbia, Tasmanian Tiger, waiting to be shipped. VERY COOL leaves, and the blooms are like camouflaged. I just thought it looked cool lined up ready to go!
Martin Santos