Every year my mom gets a couple of mandevilla that she puts in pots near a trellis. She didn’t get any this year, though, because they’ve been too expensive.
When I saw in the Lowe’s circular that they have them on sale this weekend for $6.98, I called Mom to see if she still wanted a couple as I was planning to do some shopping in that area today. (The nearest Lowe’s is about 30 miles away.) She said she wanted two.
I’ve never seen a Lowe’s garden center that was more unorganized. Annuals and perennials mixed. Shade and sun plants mixed. It was a mess. While Younger Son was roaming, I finally found an employee and asked if he knew where the mandevillas where. It went something like this.
Me: Excuse me. Can you tell me where the mandevillas are?
Employee: Umm. Can you tell me what they look like?
Me: It’s an annual around here. Big green leaves, medium pink flower. Vines. Sometimes called Brazilian Jasmine but it’ll probably be labeled “Mandevilla.”
Employee: We’ve got a vine plant over here…
Me: That’s clematis.
Employee: There’s one with big green leaves a row over…
Me: That’s hosta.
Employee: *laughing* Looks like you know more about these plants than I do.
Me: *thinking that wouldn’t be too difficult*
Younger Son: Mom! I found them! They’re over here by the hydrangeas.
I thanked the employee for his help and headed over to Younger Son. Sure enough, he’d found them – right next to the hydrangeas. Because that’s exactly where they belong. The two have so much in common, after all. *eye roll* /sarcasm
Once upon a time, my local Lowe’s used to hire employees who actually knew something about the area in which they worked. Not so much any more. *sigh*
