With precautions, business is blooming at local greenhouses

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

“Flowers grow out of dark moments.”

Those words are credited to popular artist, designer and educator Corita Kent, who was born in Iowa in 1918, died in 1986 at the age of 67 — and who couldn’t possibly have foreseen the current COVID-19 situation.

Nevertheless, for anyone visiting a local greenhouse in the spring of 2020, those words ring true.

“We are super excited to see our returning customers as well as new faces,” said Kylie Knecht, owner of Bluhm’s Greenhouse. “We’ve been working so hard this spring to make sure we can provide quality products for everyone, especially with everything that’s going on with COVID-19.”

Both Bluhm’s and Otto’s Oasis in Charles City are filled with colorful blossoms — optical feasts for green-thumbed horticulturists and landscapers — and both businesses have made arrangements and taken precautions so their customers and employees can stay safe from the virus.

“We’re trying to follow all the precautions that they’ve suggested with distancing,” said Jeff Otto at Otto’s Oasis. “We’re doing all we can to help protect our employees and our customers, and we’re limiting how many people can come into the greenhouse at the same time.”

The rules are posted on a sign in front of Otto’s greenhouse: No more than two per group, practice six-foot social distancing, follow the arrows on the walking paths, do not enter if you are sick, no public restrooms.

Otto’s has been a hometown, family-owned business since the early 1900s. Jeff and Lori Otto purchased it in February of 2007.

“We grow everything ourselves, and things are looking good,” Otto said. “We have a lot of nice product available.”

Otto’s has lines and arrows on the floor, pointing the way so people aren’t bumping into each other, and a plexiglass screen at the register. The business can do curbside pickup, and Otto said they were following all protocols.

The showroom and gift shop areas are currently not open, just the greenhouse area. Customers can request items from the gift shop, and an employee will retrieve it for them.

This is the second year for Knecht to run Bluhm’s Greenhouse, an enterprise that has been in her family for more than three generations. Knecht said that the greenhouses at Bluhm’s are spacious enough that customers should have no problem keeping an acceptable distance apart.

“Our greenhouses are so big, with ventilation, that it really allows for everyone to practice social distancing inside,” she said. “There’s really no reason why anyone would need to be within six feet of each other.”

Like Otto’s, Bluhm’s has also been offering curbside pickup, and Knecht said that customers can rely on Bluhm’s Greenhouse Facebook page for those types of orders and deliveries. That’s where Bluhm’s posts all the information, guidelines, photographs and more — and people can message them on there.

“The COVID-19 virus makes it that much more important that we have items that can get people outside, to practice social distancing and still enjoy what spring can bring,” Knecht said. “We are asking that people limit their group size to two or less, with the understanding that a lot of older people would like the help of another with them.”

Otto said he can take orders by phone, emails, text messages, or any other way a customer wants to make contact.

“We’ll work with people however we can, however they’re comfortable,” he said, and added the business has had a large number of deliveries already this spring. “We’re just excited to brighten someone’s day, that’s why we’re in this business.”

Knecht said she offers delivery for any purchase of $25 and above.

“We are offering free delivery in town for those who don’t feel comfortable coming out here. We totally understand that,” she said.

Otto said that he’s started to see some of the usual customers come in, as well as a lot of out-of-town clients.

“Going into a greenhouse helps build your spirits,” he said. “You see all the fresh new spring items and you feel revived with that.”

Otto said that he believes a lot of people are home, looking at their yards, “anxious to get outside and get to work.” He also said his business has already seen a good amount of landscaping requests and that he has seen increased sales of people buying gifts for others.

“We’ve seen an uptick in people sending things to other people who maybe can’t get out,” Otto said. “Just sending some flowers or a potted plant can brighten somebody’s day so much. It’s a sign of spring and a sign of renewed life.”

Knecht said she is thrilled to see familiar customers walking in the door.

“We’re still here,” she said. “We’re excited to see everyone, but we also want to keep everyone safe and healthy — that’s our main priority.”

Both Knecht and Otto stressed the importance of shopping locally, and said that it becomes even more important during the dark days of COVID-19.

“I hope that people realize that they can help all the local businesses during this time, not just the greenhouses,” Otto said. “Let’s keep it local, and keep the money here in town.”