Covering Ground

  

    1.800.672.4964      

 

www.groundcovertogo.com

 

   September 30, 2011     

 

 Availability 

    

    Perennial Pipeline  

 

Contact Us 

 

 

1.800.672.4964

 

www.groundcovertogo.com 

 

 

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Pup of the Week

Steve
 

Steve is very sweet and loving to people and other dogs. Loves his walks and is curious about every-thing. He had a rough start; his previous owner tied him to a pole with another dog and they were brought to the Downey shelter. He is doing very well in his foster home and is just about house-broken. Steve is very smart and learns quickly. He would love to be in a home with someone who can give him the love and attention he deserves and that has been lacking in his life, ideally someone who is home a lot. Steve will be a wonderful and devoted companion dog for the right person.

 

You can find out more about Steve and our other dogs by giving us a call at 310-860-0171 or sending

us an e-mail or visiting Bill Foundation

Thought For The Day 

 

Vince Lombardi 

 

 

We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.

 

Vince Lombardi 
 

 


 

Starter Plug of the Week

 

Pennisetum 'Feathertop'
Pennisetum villosum  'Feathertop'

NEW!  Feathery, ivory-white plumes and green foliage clumps with attractive sprawling habit.

 25 Trays Avail Now
 
38/Tray @ $1.13 each

 

 

 

Musical Moment 

 

"WHEN IT DON"T COME EASY" (PATTY GRIFFIN)
After a hard day  at the salt mines, the nursery, or the landscape site, maybe you can identify with this appropriately named piece by the talented singer, song writer, Patty Griffin.  This striking red head got her start in the bars and coffee houses of New England.

 

 

Perennial
 Pipeline
 

 

 

Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'
Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'

 

Lobelia 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
Lobelia 'Fried Green Tomatoes'

 

Carex Ice Ballet
Carex 'Ice Dance'

 

 

These plants are delivered on company trucks within a 300 mile radius of Baltimore, or palletized freight for larger orders or greater distances. 

 

 

The Difference Between Impossible & Inconvenient 

 

Not gonna take it anymore 


I find it somewhat ironic that last Friday as I was putting together my newsletter rant about disclaimers and warranties and being responsible, I was simultaneously waging a five hour battle with a freight company that had been entrusted to deliver plants for us. By the end of the day I was probably beginning to resemble the chap in the photo above.

 

I just had a hunch that we needed to check on a sizable order that was headed to a very good customer in southern California, that was originally supposed to have been delivered the day before. I was already a little fractious (Southern for upset) that the delivery was running 24 hours late.  A good thing we checked.  Sure enough, we were informed that the delivery was again running a little behind and would not arrive at the terminal in time to be delivered Friday. So now I was told that this shipment which had originally been scheduled for Thursday delivery, "could not be delivered until Monday". Sorry, that one doesn't float!

 

Last week I mentioned that we pledge to our customers that the delivery process is "Our Responsibility & Not Your Headache".  Well, here is where we have to either put up or shut up.

 

It took the better part of the next five hours and more than a few phone calls, to convince the carrier that they were in the delivery business and that it was a bit absurd (and embarrassing) for them to suggest that they could not find a way to deliver to a customer who was barely a half hour from their terminal. 

 

Just think about it.  We are talking about a major carrier, with a fleet of thousands of trucks, that can deliver from Georgia to southern California in a scant three days (when they get it right), yet can't deliver to a point that is 25 miles away from their terminal when it's after 5 o'clock on Friday!  Isn't it AMAZING what people consider not possible these days!

 

When they didn't get it (the urgency in my request) after a couple of rounds, I had to resort to Plan B.  I simply informed them that if the plants were not delivered that day, that they would not only be forfeiting the $892.00 freight that they were expecting to be paid, but that they would also be the proud owners of about $7,000 worth of less-than-fresh plants that THEY, not my customer, would be purchasing.

 

At this juncture, I think they reassessed the situation and decided that my demand, while a bit inconvenient, was certainly not impossible.  As a result, a plan was immediately put into place to ensure that the plants did indeed make it to their destination that day. 

 

So at 8 PM Eastern that evening, a good five hours after the drama started, I was able to remove my "Crusader For Sanity In Business Practices" cape, return to my street clothes, and head home where I put on my headphones and cranked up our song of the week, "It Don't Come Easy", while I rested up for another day.

 

Yahoo

 

 

 

 
Fun & Games
Jumble Word

WIN AN I-PAD!!!

 iPad

All who participate

will receive a coupon for

$10 OFF their next groundcover order

 for $100 or more AND

 be entered in a drawing

for an I-PAD (to be held

 just in time for Christmas)! 

 

A new puzzle will appear every week and you will receive a $10 Coupon AND be entered in the drawing with Each Order!

 

Submit Your Answer for Jumble Word Here

 

 

 

Feature Plants

Sedum 'Lemon Ball'
Sedum 'Lemon Ball' in Green Roof module

Pictured here is a Green Roof module that we planted with Starter Plugs of Sedum 'Lemon Ball' less than two weeks ago.  These 50 Cell Plugs are available NOW at only .56 per plug!! 

 

Black Mondo
Black Mondo Quart

Although the computer managed to compress this photo, making it appear like an image in one of those distorted mirrors at the county fair, we have a beautiful crop of Black Mondo Quarts!  We are shipping a nice quantity of these to a large landscape contractor & we will let YOU ride his coattails & offer you the SAME DISCOUNT on any purchase of Black Mondo in Quarts or Pints! 

DEDUCT 8 %!! 

Minimum Only One Tray!

Sedum 'Lemon Ball' and Black Mondo

Sedum 'Lemon Ball' and Black Mondo

My photography doesn't do it justice here, but this is a striking contrast in color and texture.