Mothers Day 2012 Feature
We were selected by Florists' Review Magazine for an interview with Steve Mann of Pot of Green in Mother's Day March 2012 Issue on his Terrariums.
Steve Mann; Pot of Green Florist; Pawcatuck, Conn.
“We do pretty well with terrariums because we’re known for them. We’ve been in the business nearly 40 years, and my wife and I made a decision a long time ago that we were not going to drop out of that area of expertise because we felt that someday it would come back.
“I’ve had experience with many different plants, and I’ve found the best success with prayer plants (Marantas); small ferns; certain kinds of Philodendrons; Pileas, including aluminum plant, creeping Charlie, friendship plant and the new ‘Aquamarine’ variety; areca palms; and arrowhead vines. Fincus repens, which is a ground cover that comes variegated or green is another good one. I experiment as much as I can.”
|
|
Judy and Steve Mann live life among the flowers
By Bree Shirvell, May 7, 2012
Stonington-Mystic Patch
Pot of Green Florist takes shoppers back to a time when you could find old mom and pop flower shops on corners all over main streets throughout the country. The sweet aroma of fruit trees mingle with the smell of fresh herbs while colorful flowers set the background for the warm and homey Pawcatuck store.
Judy and Steve Mann, Mystic residents and owners of Pot of Green Florist remember visiting the Mystic Art Show years ago and saying to each other ‘let’s open something.’
The Manns have spent most of their lives living and working in the area, but it wasn’t until Steve retired in 1973 that they opened the first version of Pot of Green Florist.
“I was looking for another occupation,” Steve said, Judy adding, “It evolved, moved, always bettering.”
Thirty-eight plus years later, Steve has become a self-taught floral expert, familiar with varieties plants and flowers with his own potting soil and landscaping service. And Judy is another expert, creating flower arrangements for residents, businesses and events.
Together they’ve created a business that has survived several moves and the invention of the big chain phone and internet flower stores while establishing a local base of familiar and repeat customers.
“The same kids call every year for Mother’s Day,” Judy said. “Wanting the flowers they know I know the mom likes.”
“Judy does phenomenal designs,” Steve chimes from across the room.
The partnership the husband and wife team share is evident throughout the store, business and they way the two continually promote each other. They share the delivery duties of the store, and all of the flowers are hand-picked by Steve who will make special trips if a customer requests something particular.
From the moment anyone walks in whether the customer is an old friend or a stranger walking in for the first time the Manns greet them as if they know their whole life story and it isn’t long before they do. They send birthday flowers to their customers from them.
“It’s fun to make someone else happy, to walk in with a delivery and see a smile,” Judy said. “I get to be surprised everyday.”
The Manns have seen better days with business but are hoping it’s the service and the product that will bring in more customers.
“We have the body of knowledge, the product, service and the good will,” Steve said.
|
Above: This 14” color
pot includes a tropical flowering hibiscus, a grape tomato plant,
ruby red lettuce and acorn squash. The sky’s
the limit here at Pot of Green where you can combine veggies, annuals,
shrubs, and perennials in the same pots.
Above: From left to right: Hens, Chicks,
Seagreen Juniper Pom
Pom, Irish Moss, Variegated Sedum, Blue
Rug Juniper
and Hen and chicks in oval stonewear pot, planted
in Steve’s Designer Potting Soil.
|
Community Service
Here at the Cove
Vol. 1, Issue 1, Summer 2011
Submitted by Diana Bortolin
VOLUNTEERISM FLOURISHES BEYOND COVE BORDERS – ONE VOLUNTEER’S STORY
Three years ago during a class at the Mystic Y, someone mentioned, “Judy Mann needs someone to make dessert for Monday nights at the homeless shelter.” I didn’t know Judy (she and her husband own The Pot of Green florist) but since I’m always looking for an excuse to bake, I volunteered. Each week I baked cookies or brownies and dropped them at the Y on Monday morning where a main course was also waiting. Judy then delivered the home-baked goods.
After several months, Judy asked if Id’ be interested in coming to meet the grateful recipients one Monday. Since the fall of 2009, Bob and I go every Monday. Usually I make brownies (their preferred dessert); I also bring fruit to serve before the brownies. (Gotta make sure they’re getting what’s good for them before what’s NOT good for them!). I am always amazed by the excitement and gratitude over things we may take for granted – like fruit or brownies. I’ve learned that strawberries and cherries are easy to serve & appreciated by those who don’t often get fresh fruit.
Not too long ago, following a Bishops Cove Clubhouse party, we brought the leftover ham & cheese and tuna salad sandwiches to the shelter for dinner – they were quickly devoured. The three uneaten pizzas, also from the Clubhouse party, were a big hit. “Any more pizza?” was a frequent refrain. And that time my brownie didn’t even make it to the table; everybody was quite taken with the variety of desserts also leftover and kindly packaged by the clubhouse clean-up crew. “Ya gotta have one of those coconut banana thingies!” “Is it alright if I have another pineapple biscuit?” “What’s rugelach? Can I have another?” “Wow! What’s in this?” The same evening Bob and I delivered the clubhouse extras, a hairdresser friend of another volunteer came to give haircuts to anyone who wanted one. At least eight residents sported new, shorter and “cooler” cuts.
We also learned that Monday evening at the shelter was the best night fight for food, thanks to Judy Mann. Judy has organized us all and we bring what we can. Few people volunteer for the other nights so dinner is more likely to be something from the tiny pantry, usually peanut butter sandwiches, if bread has been donated. The shelter has a small, under-the-counter ancient refrigerator so we can’t plan on storing leftovers for another night. But we make do and the gratitude expressed by those who live there is heartwarming.
In the two years Bob and I have volunteered we have witnessed some residents successfully complete drug-rehabilitation programs and get an apartment; some find a job and begin a hopeful search for an apartment; still others are there because it is on the only life they know. While Veronica had asked me to write about my time with the Aquarium, I wanted to share our experience with the homeless shelter and make you aware of how much the residents enjoyed the food you allowed me to bring.
|
