Name My Greenhouse!

Ok ya'll, put your thinking caps on. I'm asking for suggestions on what I should call my new greenhouse business.

I've bought a 20x40 commercial greenhouse and plan to be open for business next spring.

As everyone knows,my heart is in heirloom veggies and I plan to center everything around this theme. I do plan to offer baskets and containers of non edibles too,but I figured that just veggies would have too narrow of an audience.

Here's what I want from you..

Think up something creative and catchy and I'll send the winner a surprise. I'll take suggestions as long as people continue to post and multiple suggestions are welcome.

I know with all of the great people here,I can come up with the best name ever. Think hard...this will be on my sign and business cards. I don't care if this goes all summer...keep posting and I'll choose a name after replies quit for a week.

Remember...a surprise goes to the one that I choose!

thinking caps on!!!! I neamed my puter EDDY-cuz hes my best friend!
oh this will be fun-pad n pencil in my pocket.
Now back to locating my camera!!! put it up where dayme couldnt get it-wish i remembered where exactly that was!!!!!

Mel's-Heirlooms

Mellooms,Blooms Before Time,Yesterdays Blooms......

Heirloom House or Heirloom Hall?

Melody's Memories
'Heirloom Veggies and Flowers'?

Thyme Gone By
Remembering Heirlooms

Hmm, will have to think about it. :)

How exciting, Melody!

Since your name already connotates serenity, beauty and music, I'd capitalize on that somehow ~ like Melody's Heirlooms or just Melody Heirlooms. Or Melodic Heirlooms (well, that kind of sounds clunky, huh?). Some others:
Melody Heirlooms and Gardens
Melody Heirloom Nursery
Melody Garden Center
Melody Greenhouse
Melody Heirloom House (? kinda' clunky?)
Melody Gardens ~ I like that one a lot. ;-)
Melody Garden ~ I like this one even better, probably my fave. Using the singular makes it a little less clunky, I think.
Or any of the above using "Melody's" instead of "Melody".

Are there any major landmarks or special, pretty things near where it will be? Something that the people can associate it with? For instance, we have a creek that runs through our place named Camp Creek, so when I open my nursery this fall or next spring it'll be Camp Creek Nursery & Water Gardens.

BTW, you probably have already done this, but I thought I'd add ~ I plan on doing the same thing and thought it would be a good idea to get a job in a local nursery for some hands-on experience with the customers. I can't tell you how much I gained from that! I don't think I would have lost my butt if I had opened without doing that, but I wouldn't have done as well.

Good luck!

What about Melodic Heirlooms Greenhouse.....Or even Melodic Gardens? Or Melodious Gardens.
This is actually HoniBees son, I am a Horticulture Technician, thought I would try. :)



This message was edited Friday, May 24th 7:35 PM

A Melody of Heirlooms

Gardens of Yesteryear
Old Time Gardens
Memory Gardens
Melody's Memory Gardens
Preservation Gardens
Homestead Gardens


I don't know, but I'll think on it some more.

I kind of like this name and slogan myself:

Homestead Gardens

'Gardening for the past, the present, and the future'

I can't think of a name. I barely managed to name my three kids. I will be thinking though. Mel, I think that is absolutely wonderful that you have bought the greenhouse. What fun!!! how is that darling doggie of yours doing? Folks, she has the most wonderful dog. I wanted to bring it back to Nashville but couldn't quite figure how to steal it. That doggie does the most darling things. One is that it pounces and jumps around in the tall grasses in the field looking for moles or whatever might be there. It does it for hours and it is the cutest sight I have seen in a long time. If you haven't read all about that miracle dog maybe someone can remember where that thread is telling the story.

Antique Tomatoes

Melody's Past and Present Garden Center
Melody's Past and Present Nursery

I like Calalily's idea. Short and to the point.
Antique plants.
Heritage plants.
Historical plants (or tomatoes or whatever)

Mel's Heavenly Heirloom Gardens

I think I stink with picking names but I thought I would throw one out :)

Wow! What great names ya'll.

This is giving me lots to think about. A little more information about what I've got planned... I'll be selling heirloom starts of tomatoes,peppers,eggplant...all sorts of historical and OP plants.I'll be educating people about their importance...(and yes,Brook,I've got other motives too)I'll give a big basket of the person's choice to anyone who brings in a seed or plant that I've never heard of too..heh,heh,heh!

I'm planning on incorporating my collection of heirloom recipes somehow.I've got literally hundreds. And maybe some of the history of the area.So this is going to be more than just a place to buy plants.I've got the perfect spot and have knowlege of lots of traditions in this area. I can make corn husk dolls and know several other 'old timey' crafts.

This business isn't about making money...In fact,Keith is hoping we can write it off for a few years.(and get my garden stuff)He does the same thing in the music business.Gets his guitars at cost,or less, and we're not out big bucks.

I understand that the public is pretty much clueless when it comes to plants and most are probably destined to die,but if one person in 20 gets the 'bug'...I've succeeded.

There will be the 'normal' stuff like petunias and ferns too,but mostly my efforts will be getting people to come to_me_ to talk about historical foodways of the area.I've gone chasing all over to talk to individuals about their seeds...and I'll still do this,but maybe I can get some more people out there in the hunt too.

Keep 'em coming folks....I've got two or three that sound interesting,but would like to hear some more!

The Good Thymes Garden
(Plants from then for now)

Oh, I love Cala's and Aimee's suggestions! Too cool! And way catchy!

Melody, I like the way you'll sell plants and give away knowledge! With all your heirloom knowledge, I'll bet you could write booklets about each heirloom giving it's history, growing requirements, anecdotes and recipes. You could do short, one-page ones on basic gardening and basic requirements or more in-depth ones either on each specific heirloom or an amalgamation of them all. You could give away the basic ones or charge 50 cents or a buck each for the more in-depth ones to cover your time and printing costs. I'd buy them!

Full Circle Plants and Things

Do you have Donato's Pizza in your town yet? McDonald's bought the chain a few years ago and planned to go national with them (they were started in Columbus). Anyway, they have big posters showing a lot of heirloom peppers and tomatoes. Everytime I have gone in there, I hear people talking about all the different kinds, and how they have never seen anything like them! Maybe focus the name on some aspect of an heirloom you plan to feature. Did you ever hear of the book "Blue Potatoes and Square Tomatoes" or something like that?

Call your greenhouse "Rattlensnake Melons" or "Hill Country Forever" (assuming you live in the Hill Country of KY).

Best of luck! I would love to come down and visit next year when you are open. I volunteer at an herb garden where we have an "heirloom garden"; many volunteers have gotten very interested in them and have a little off-shoot group of heirloom enthusiasts. So plan on a group of Gantzers next year! I will keep my eye out for the name when you pick one and pass it along!
Kathy

Cool ideas, lupinelover.

"Heirlooms with Melody"

Antiquities did I spell that right(antiquity)

the Garden of Thyme
The Greenhouse Effec
Heirlooms Harvest

Mel, I want you to come to Nashville and load up with lots of my old-fashioned plants. I have a cottage garden and try to load it full with old fashioned plants. I think you could go with a theme like "Grandma's Garden" and have lots of old fashioned plants of all kinds. I think that old fashioned gardens such as cottage gardens are really getting popular these days as folks tend to get into nostalgia and more peaceful memories when the world situations are disturbing. You can even sell old fashioned garden ornaments and such. Flea markets and garage sales are full of things that could be recycled and sold as added interest items, decoration, and also for profit. I have never seen a nursery like I am describing but i think it would be a real hit, especially in a town that already appreciates old quilts, gardens, etc.

Heirlooms Past and Present by Melody.
Try playing old music in the background this would also be very different but catchy and relaxing. Just a thought. Bobbie

How's about:

YESTERDAY'S GARDENS
Heirloom plants by Melody

'Harmonious Haven ' - Our plants are carried by a tune.

The 3M Company: "Melody's Melodious Memories" Jo

I like the music in the background idea.We've got lots of local blurgrass bands that I could feature.They all have cd's in this day and time.(actually,I'm an old rock-n-roll baby,but can appreciate anything of historical significance)

I'll be offering produce in season and lupinelover...you're about 6 1/2 hours from me.I've been through Grove City more times than I can count. I'm in _extreme_ west KY...west of the Lakes.We're pretty much flat to slightly rolling here.

I've seen the posters that you mention...they have squash too.
I've got good quality pictures of the varieties that I grow and plan to use them somehow.

Keep the ideas coming...ya'll are giving me lots of things to think about that I've not considered.

Hi,
"The Way We Were"
Heirloon vegetables

OOOPS
Mispelled Heirloom
Cordially
Dorise

Elena gave me an idea: "Old Fashioned Plants"! It's catchy and it says it all! If you want, you could even expand it to "Melody's Old Fashioned Plants". If you pick that one, send the goodies to her ~ she said it first. ;-)

Oh, definitely have music! I plan on it ~ speakers picked up at garage sales hidden in the corners of the buildings and inside bird houses outside in the demonstration gardens connected to a multi-CD changer so I can set it to "random" and it'll be good for hours. Grocery stores do it because it creates a peaceful, contemplative feeling lulling people into forgetting the time so they stay longer and spend more.

Another idea is to have wagons for "shopping carts". They make some that are a little wider than the kid kind. Then your customers can have hands-free shopping and they don't have to stop when their arms are full!

Wingnut, you are right on about the wagons! One local nursery has them, and they are the best! They are bigger than the "little red wagons", just the right size to hold a flat cross-wise. I hope you have them at your place!

Melody: take note! It could tie in with your heirloom theme very well.

6 1/2 hours? Wow! KY is just south of us: 100 miles. You must be way down there!

Some great ideas here! How 'bout:
Heirlooms 'R Us? (just kidding! Unless you LIKE it!!!) ;)

I was thinking more along the lines of...

Heirlooms Abound,
A Garden of Melody's

I especially like the "tag" line. That way when you open the 2nd location that specializes in shrubs & trees you could carry it along...

The Ancient Oak,
A Garden of Melody's

(I'm thinking ahead, anyone with that much passion is going to do GREAT!)

Sue

lupinelover,I'm just about as far as you can go in the state of KY without running into the Mississippi River!

LOVE the wagon idea!!!

You bet I will, Lupinelover! I'll be doing everything I can to make sure the customers have a "pleasant shopping experience" so they are happy and come back! ;-) I had hoped to get it open this year, but with rebuilding a mile of ranch fence, Dad having a herniated disk and being in the hospital and recently purchasing a Bobcat for DH's business, we don't have time or $$ ~ but this fall or next spring will be it!

Melody, I forgot to mention that you can use your pictures of your squash and such to sell the seeds if you want (check with your state ag dept. for legalities of this ~ here you gotta' have licenses). I've got a supplier of blank seed envelopes ~ white ones, same style as seeds you buy in the store come in. Ever buy from Pinetree Garden? I think they use the same supplier, basic envelope. They'll fit through my HP printer with every 20th one or so printing funny. And if you print on the back, too, you can fit a surprising amount of info on them. If you're interested, e-me and I'll give you the info and mail you a few so you can try them out before buying a bunch (1,000 is their minimum order).

You could also use the pics on signs and you know how important signs are! But all the ones I've priced are so expensive unles you get basic black/white or hand write them ~ even then the materials to do that (plastic signs and china markers) aren't all that cheap either if you need very many (and they're not what I would call pretty. LOL!). And you can't do photos! :-( Here's a solution I'm gonna' try: using the 'puter to make 8 1/2" x 11" signs with pictures and info to post above each group of plants and laminating them. I just got a laminating machine at Office Depot (about a hundred bucks for a mid-grade one). The laminating should keep them looking nice if I put the signs where they don't get a direct shot of water. I'll be testing this theory out soon ~ REALLY hope it works. I'll let you know if it works and how well it does.

maybe this will help for decor for your greenhouse

http://home.attbi.com/~mikajz

Mel's plants of the pioneers.
Ye Olde Garden Gift Shoppe

This message was edited Thursday, May 30th 12:59 PM

melody's gardens & greenhouse
where the past and present meet

I like that Dave719...says it all....Jo

Just learned there is an Olde Thyme Gardens in a small town near here.