Convenient haven for urban gardeners

It has ornamental plants, herbs and spices, gardening books,

and even a gazette to nurture the growth of gardening

converts

AT LAST a garden shop that

specializes in urban gardening and

everything it calls for--ornamental

plants for indoors and outdoors,

herbs and spices, gardening books,

tools, potting mix, insect repellant,

fertilizers, and organic items for

back-to-nature devotees!

GreenHearts surprised us with its

assortment of organic items we

seldom find at other stores. It has

compost maker, special fertilizer for

herbs and spices,

environment-friendly insecticide, and many more.

Thanks to Malaya travel writer Rod Dula, a kindred spirit in

gardening who led us to this interesting plant shop at the corner

of Mother Ignacia and Scout Reyes. He discovered the shop

when it opened last May, and has since been a regular customer

and friend of owner Claire Lopez.

''The plant shop is dedicated to city folks,'' Claire tells us.

''Among them are people harassed by house chores, corporate

stress, telephones ringing, bills, traffic, emotional problems, and

more,'' she explains. ''We want to show them how to slow down

and shed off their stress by discovering the relaxing effect of

gardening.''

She talks from experience, having spent 14 years in the hectic

world of advertising. She'd been copywriter and then creative

director until she resigned from J. Walter Thompson.

''I need to slow down now that I have a growing family.'' And

that, she surely couldn't do shuttling every day between an

office in Makati and a home in Quezon City. She finally decided

to give up her career early this year.

Claire is married to jingles writer Ardie Lopez whose digital

recording studio, Sound Idea, is close to home, like Claire's

garden shop. They have two kids, 6-year-old Alexi and

9-month-old Roman.

For a store that opened only last May, GreenHearts has already

built a steady clientele, and new ones are coming in.

Drop-ins

And they're not only neighbors and friends who love to garden.

''Some of my customers are lawyers, doctors, people from banks,

a few entertainers, and entrepreneurs who drop by for various

reasons--the lawyer has just come from a hearing, the doctor

from surgery, the bank people out on their lunch break, and

entrepreneurs from business transactions.''

The shop is conveniently located. Apart from being right there

on a busy corner street, it's a block away from St. Mary's

College and Capitol Medical Center. Moreover, it's a short drive

from ABS-CBN, and it's in the midst of a neighborhood noted

for pretty gardens.

''At first I thought only folks with lots of time in their hands

come to garden shops. Now I know that people you didn't think

have the time to garden are the very ones who prove that they

need it most,'' she observes.

Some of the more saleable items are handpainted pots that fit

tabletops and shelves, seeds and planting materials, tools and

accessories. The decorative pots are designed and handpainted

by Claire herself.

Also available are fern chips, peat bricks, perlite, coco fibers and

coco chips.

Unexpected

Among the unexpected items are citronella candles for garden

parties, cutflower extenders, cell plug mix, and a sundry

collection of decors and curios.

''I love to read gardening books and I recommend them to my

customers.'' She sells some of the cheapest gardening books in

town that are not found in commercial bookstores.

We are not surprised to learn that Claire also designs and

copywrites her store's fliers. She has a degree in journalism from

UP and remember, she worked in advertising.

Writing like a seasoned copywriter, she describes her garden

shop as ''a place to relax, an escape from the crush of the

outside world... it's for people to slow down and find soothing

mood...''

The fliers are printed on recycled paper with the opening

phrases: ''Amidst the routine of city life... may happiness grow

where you least expect it... GreenHearts, we make gardening a

blessing.''

The center spread has garden verses. ''May magic bloom in your

garden! May time slow down and soothe your spirit.''

On the back page is her poem: ''...in the midst of it all, the sight

of one little flower, leaves gently swaying in the breeze, can

ease the tension, relieve some of the stress. How about the

scent of roses? Or a trellis lush with vines? Birdhouses in the

garden. A shaded bench. A tiny flowerpot on a sunny

windowsill to soothe the soul.''

There's more on the October issue of the gazette that has the

makings of a potential garden magazine dedicated to urban

gardeners. ''May you always find precious time to smell the

flowers,'' Claire writes.

Featured in the gazette are her brief articles: "House Plants Help

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution." "Plant Spotlight-Bamboo Palm."

"Trick or Treat Planters." "Ask Mrs. Green," a column.

Claire encourages gardeners to send garden tips and queries,

which she promises to print in the gazette.

Those who are interested to write and get copies of the gazette

can write to her e-mail address greenhearts@excite.com or call

411-6868 and 374-3074.