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Theatre nurse now tends plants, not peopleThis article appeared in the April 2003 edition of Commercial Horticulture. Reproduced by permission. Ex-theatre nurse, Paula Mein of Fusion Plants, Middleton, is not the first from that profession to fall head over heels into plant production. This very keen gardener's venture started out when she spotted a large Burelli pot to complete her Christchurch garden. When she realised that the family budget wouldn't stretch that far, she began selling plants, mainly succulents she had grown as a hobby. Spurred by success she started buying in stock from a wholesale nursery expanding sales from one to three days a week. "She still hasn't got the pot and now we haven't even got a courtyard," says husband Nick. "We have a staging area for plants." Production outgrew the space so Paula recently leased a 1/4 acre nursery at Prebbleton (formerly Pemberton Perennials) just outside Christchurch to continue her wholesale/retail Fusion Plants venture. Why Fusion Plants? "It's a concept which embraces all types of foliage plants rather than just natives or just Mediterranean or succulents," she explains. She's busy propagating 'madly' and by next season plans to reduce the amount of bought-in stock and expand her range into native trees and shrubs and grasses, ornamentals and succulents suited to cooler areas. She is also an agent for native tree ferns and carries silver, black and weki species in specimen sizes and a large variety of ground species (crowns and shields). Paula is supplying landscapers too. "There's a lot of new subdivisions on this side of Christchurch, including Prebbleton," and she's dispensing garden advice. "People often have ideas but are uncertain how to implement them or are unaware what plants are suitable for their sites." Paula relishes the challenge of growing the business while also nurturing two daughters aged five and three - and that Burelli pot is creeping closer. |