D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May
2009
Diggin' It
Dunn's Nursery and Garden Center cultivates customers with quality plants and sound advice. Plus: Deming's silver screens, scuba switcheroo, home-buying help, consignment shopping and more business news.
Kristi Dunn doesn't want to sell you bougainvillea.
"Yes, I know it's popular and it's beautiful, but it won't do well here over the long haul and I want people to be successful in their gardening," she says. "You're not gong to be a happy gardener when you have to replace the same things over and over again because it died over the winter or burned up under the Southwest sun."
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Kristi and Rick Dunn stand amid some
of their wares at Dunn's Nursery and Garden Center on Pinos Altos Road
in Silver City. The business sells trees and plants of all sorts as well
as the soils, tools and advice to cultivate successful gardeners. (Photo
by Donna Clayton) |
Helping customers learn about gardening — whether growing a successful patch of vegetables, creating a small orchard or beautifying their home with attractive landscaping — is nothing short of a mission for Dunn. It's the foundation of Dunn's Nursery and Garden Center, the business she owns and runs with her husband, Rick Dunn.
"I take a very proprietary interest in my community," she says. "I want people to be successful in their gardens, not turned off by a preventable failure."
Knowing and understanding the local climate and growing conditions, guiding Southwest gardening "newbies" or even "old hands" toward the kinds of plants, trees and bushes that will thrive in the area is a way to, well, cultivate a crop of successful, happy customers, she says — not to mention a lasting business.
The Dunns moved to Silver City three years ago from Mesa, Ariz. For Rick, a Silver City native, the move was a return to his roots.
Kristi, originally from Washington State, says the couple were excited about Silver City's growing vitality and eager to open their own business.
"We looked at Silver Heights Nursery when they were up for sale," she says. "Then this location (on Pinos Altos Road) came up for sale and we decided to do our own thing here."
Having worked in the plant and gardening industry for 15 years, some of it managing a wholesale business, Dunn says she was particularly keen to have her own business. Dunn's celebrates its third year in business this July.
The business boasts a staff of seven, including both of the Dunns, each employee with his or her own special area of expertise — from ponds and garden-design advice to fungus and bug problems. All staff members can give gardeners planting advice, she says.
As if on cue, a staffer enters Dunn's office — a humble backroom space with a simple table and a few chairs — with a potted flowering plant in hand. His customer is planting a border and needs to know how wide and tall this type of plant will get, he says.
Kristi Dunn rattles off the plant's anticipated dimensions and how far apart they must be planted to allow space for growth.
"See? Everybody here wants to learn," she says about her staff with a smile.
Dunn says her customer base is a good mix of locals and folks from farther afield — some hailing from Lordsburg, Deming and even El Paso and Las Cruces.
"That's a real feather in our cap," she says. "With all the shopping and big store options people have down in Las Cruces, the fact that I have customers coming up here is testimony to our products and our service. We have customers who regularly come in from Santa Fe to buy our pottery! How cool is that?"
Many are repeat customers, Dunn says, but she adds, "I am seeing new people every day. And that's especially exciting, considering the size of the town."
Some of her customers are people who've been gardening all their lives, she says. "You know, their parents or grandparents put a shovel in their hand when they were just a child and taught them how to plant things," Dunn says. "And we get first-timers, too — people who always wanted to garden and are ready to try."
She describes working with a young woman who has picked up a gardening trowel for the first time and is planting a rooftop garden at her apartment. "She's so excited!" Dunn says, her face lit up.
Dunn's Nursery sells a mix of products, from purely decorative — like chiseled stone fountains and metal-art lawn ornament critters — to all manner of plants, trees and shrubs. Now that the weather is reliably staying warm, the yard is filled with ready-to-plant fruit trees and the greenhouse is chock full of flats of vegetable plants.
"Oh, it's that time of the year," Dunn says with a laugh. "The sap is rising and things are budding and you can see the happy twitches in the customers' eyes. It's hard to hold them back!"
And business has been busting out all over, she adds — a positive outgrowth of the country's tough economic times. "People are looking to grow their own vegetables. They're thinking about sustainability and self-sufficiency," she says. Sales of seeds and bags of soil at Dunns were up 150-200 percent in March. She jokes that an extra glass of wine caused her to order 200 more fruit trees than she had the previous year — and that it's a good thing she did.
"Most of them are already sold!" she exclaims.
Dunn says she has dealt with certain growers and companies for years. She prizes the high-quality products and service of West Texas Plants out of Terralingua, Texas, for example.
"We've been carrying their stone bird feeders and hand-carved rock fountains and benches," Dunn says. "This year we added some of their metal-art items and plants, with water-wise planting and xeriscape in mind, of course. Their stuff is just great."
Also high on her list are products from Hines and Monrovia. "They really set the standards for the industry."
Dunn's fruit trees come from Dave Wilson Nurseries. "Their products are top-notch and they have a great, helpful Web site (www.davewilson.com) for people wanting to build their own little orchard."
She is particularly excited about the "fruit salad" trees Dunn's is selling. These specially grafted trees produce three fruits — nectarines, plums and peaches or apricots.
Dunn's carries a full palette of flowering and vegetable plants and all the appropriate fertilizers and pest-control products — including "natural options" — that it takes to grow them.
"We aim for low-water and animal-resistant plantings, of course," Dunn says. "And then there's the 'fun stuff' — the colorful clogs and gardening gloves, our glorious wind chimes and our pottery."
Some of the dramatic wind chimes are composed of metal tubes that are more than 10 feet in length, producing deep, resonant tones. And the pottery items Dunn's sells, she says, are especially heavily glazed, made to be outside and withstand changes in temperature.
"There's nothing sadder than having your beautifully planted pot crack when it goes through its first winter," she says.
Dunn says one area of potential growth for her already thriving business is installations. Currently Dunn's Nursery has Snedeker, a local landscaping company, handle tree plantings and such for its customers.
She'd also like to expand on Dunn's pond-product offerings. A local pond club meets at the store, and Dunn points out that many people new to living in the high desert are keen to have a water oasis as part of their landscaping.
Right now, though, she's focused on providing reliable plants and service while keeping prices as low as possible for high-quality goods.
"Gardening is just such a satisfying activity," she says. "It doesn't matter if it's wonderful vegetables or beautiful flowers. If you can help someone have a good experience growing something, a rewarding experience, it's just so satisfying. And it grows from there."
Get the PopcornDunn's Nursery and Garden Center, 2115 N. Pinos Altos Road, Silver City. Open Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. 388-2883. dunnsnurseryandgardencenter.com
The new Star Maxx Theatre unveils its silver-screen operations in Deming this month, slated for a Grand Opening May 22 with music by Brandon Perrault. A source at the Deming Chamber of Commerce says details were still up in the air at press time, but confirms that the theater will be located on Country Club Road, boasts between four and six screens, and adds, "There were a bowling alley and a sports bar in the original plans." Residents of Deming, prepare to be entertained!
Coming Up for Air
There are changes on the local scuba diving scene, with one new scuba business opening up and another changing storefront operations and moving the home base from Las Cruces to T or C. Dona Ana Divers is a new business serving the local diving public from its location at 901 S. Main St. Suite 4, between Wyatt and El Paseo. The shop bills itself as "Las Cruces' only full service dive center." Product lines include AquaLung, SeaLife and Slingshot brands and the shop offers instruction, equipment and equipment service, as well as dive site trips. 647-3483.
He Said," November 2008), has "temporarily" relocated out of the city to the Truth or Consequences home of its owners, Richard "Punk" Potter and Siri Rustebakke. In an open letter, Potter says the move was "due to the current economic condition." These changes occurred just after the New Year and were announced formally in Potter's letter at the end of March. To stay in compliance and keep their dealerships, the business owners requested and received approval from all of their current vendors to relocate the physical location of Dive Quest Scuba to 1302 Iron St. in Truth or Consequences until further notice. Potter's mother, Luetisha Potter, will maintain store hours at Potter and Rustebakke's home at 2005 Del Mar Ave. in Las Cruces, where the company's office, rental equipment and such continue to be housed, for the convenience of Dive Quest customers. Potter says that he and Rustebakke will be on-site in Las Cruces on weekends and that the couple will create a traveling display of products still available through Las Cruces. Anticipating that the economy will improve in the next months or up to a year or so, Potter says he plans to open a full-service Las Cruces storefront once again. Las Cruces: 525-3483. T or C: 894-7897.Beauty Bulletins
Cheri Crane's Datura Therapeutic Day Spa has opened its doors at 108 E. Broadway, on the corner of Broadway and Bullard Streets in Silver City, in the space that used to house the Twisted Vine. 534-0033.
After snipping for other salons for 10 years, Cathy Calabrese has opened her own shop, Calabrese Hair Studio at 1626 S. Main St. in Las Cruces. The business offers men's and women's haircuts, color and facial waxing. 640-3728.
On and Off Switches
Builder's Source has completed work on its 10,000-square foot showroom and rolled out the red carpet at 760 W. Palm Ave. in Las Cruces. Products range from standard appliances to high-end, fancy-schmancy fridges and stoves. 526-5200, www.builderssource.com
Meanwhile, Pat Goff's Appliance and TV Warehouse is remodeling for an inventory downgrade. The business has closed its Las Cruces store at 1333 E. Amador Ave., and will be shut for perhaps four months according to general manager Jim Jenkins, and reopening as a discount appliance outlet specializing in "scratch-n-dent" items. Eight of the store's nine employees were laid off as a result of the temporary closure and one employee was transferred to Goff's El Paso warehouse. Jenkins said the struggling economy was the catalyst behind the decision to restructure the business.
Winners
George and Melinda Austin, owners of Silver Imaging, won major awards at the Professional Photographers of New Mexico annual photo convention and workshop, held in Albuquerque. The judging happened in January and the Silver Imaging husband-wife team recently was notified that works they submitted to the competition were prize winners. Stop in the studio and photo lab at 215 W. College Ave. in Silver City to congratulate the Austins and see some of their prize-winning works on display. 534-4432, silverportraitstudio.com
Las Cruces-based Zia Engineering & Environmental Consultants has been awarded a contract by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to conduct archeological data recovery investigations within the Spaceport's boundaries.
On the Move
Las Cruces' new Verizon store may move into Arroyo Plaza on Lohman Avenue by the end of this month, according to the plaza's owner, Dave Hooker. Currently Verizon has outlets on East Lohman Avenue, on North Main Street and at the Mesilla Valley Mall.
New in Town
New Mexico Professional Painters is Reyne R. Maynes' new Bayard-based commercial and residential painting business. 313-1233.
Donna Sebastian has opened Sebastian Designs, offering garment construction and alterations. 3812 Tom Lyons Dr., Silver City. 313-0336.
Carson Insurance Agency is the new identity of the former Peters Insurance. Robert Carson is the Silver City company's new owner. 601 E. 19th St., 538-3787, 590-7990.
Jennifer Sigman has opened Elevation Imports, a retailer of fair trade imports and gift items, at The Hub plaza. After being part-time residents for 15 years, Sigman and her husband moved to Silver City full time, most recently from Denver, in March. Sigman says that when she and her husband have traveled, they have bought directly from struggling communities with residents creating attractive items, making the goods "source verified" for fair trade quality. "I think visiting my store is not only a wonderful, colorful experience but also educational," she adds. "When you buy fair trade items like this, you not only make a donation to a project or person or community in need, buy you also have a gift to give." (303) 912-9469, www.elevationimports.com
Bettie McCauley and associates are ready to rock you — literally. McCauley has opened Burro Mountain Services at 10156 Hwy. 180 in Silver City, offering stone masonry. 574-7867.
Sam Bighley has opened The Wood Shop, a new cabinet and furniture building business, at 1420 Kidder Road in Silver City. 313-2717.
Need your Fat Boy fixed? Grog's is ready to do the job. Tris Windle, who goes by the nickname "Grog," owns the Las Cruces shop that used to be Roadrunner Cycles at 5130 Bataan Memorial East. The shop works on Harley-Davidson and metric bikes and ATVs, offering custom fabrication, engine rebuilding and other services. 373-9386, 639-4764.
Home-Buying Help
With the tough economy affecting the housing market, lenders and real estate brokerages are developing new programs and adding financial services to their mix to help people buy homes.
Alan Archer now offers independent mortgages through his Silver City-based company, Home Loan New Mexico. 388-2875 Ext. 02, www.myhomeloannewmexico.com
And Clayton Homes (no relationship to this reporter) is taking steps to try to ease new homebuyers' concerns by offering help if they unexpectedly lose their jobs. "We're making this commitment: If someone buys a home and then loses their job because of the economic downturn, we will make payments on their home for three months," says Kevin Clayton, president and CEO. "It won't cost the buyer a dime." The company, with a sales office on Hwy. 180 in Arenas Valley, says the program is "good for the home buyer, good for the housing industry and good for the ailing economy." www.claytonhomes.com
Gallery Comings and Goings
Glenn and Sally Cutter have renamed and reopened their business at 2640 El Paseo Road in Las Cruces as the Cutter Gallery. The couple sold the jewelry portion of Glenn Cutter Jewelers and Fine Arts to colleague Steve Boudreau in 2005. Boudreau will retain the Glenn Cutter Jeweler name for the business he opened last month at 2001 E. Lohman in the Arroyo Plaza. The Cutters' Cutter Gallery will sell estate, antique, Native American and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces as well as international antiques and home accessories and fine art.
The William Bonney Gallery and La Tienda Gift Shop in Mesilla are closing. Owners Charles and Diane Rogers announced last month that the gallery and retail store will be consolidated with their other stores, including the Billy the Kid Gift Shop.
Kim Hopwood reports that the storefront on Memory Lane at Rose Valley RV in Silver City is going to be an upscale consignment shop, focusing on women's and junior's clothing. "We will be sharing space with the RV headquarters building and hope to grow out of that space," Hopwood says, describing the resale items as "the good stuff in the back of the closet, good quality goods, but the wrong size or color. You don't want to put it in a garage sale or get rid of it, so you can make a few bucks on it, and then you can shop for those items that do work for you and get it at a bargain." People with items they'd like to consign should call for a review appointment. In addition to resale, the business will offer some new garments. 388-4245.