Firmly planted with old roots
The story of planting the Garden Shoppe
HARRISON KEELY Sentinel Writer

Courtesy of Cathryn Low

It took less than three weeks for Louise Lorentzen and her family to transform a town eyesore into a fruitful and ripe business. The fact is, Lorentzen knows that such a statement is far from the truth. Like anything one learns from gardening, a business, like a garden, must begin with a planted seed, it must be given a great amount of care, and, perhaps the greatest factor of all: it takes time to grow.

Lorentzen, who moved from noisy Charlottesville, Virginia to the quiet valley of Tusquittee in 2005, originally made the journey to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law, Paul Lorentzen and Cathryn Low, and her youngest daughter, Michelle Persons.

Once settled into her new home, Lorentzen yearned to start a new business. An experienced business owner, she once operated two pre-schools in Ohio and even sold handmade florals and wreaths for ten years in craft festivals across the country. However, she's always had a passion for gardening.

Three years earlier, her son and daughter-in-law had purchased a rundown home on the corner of Main Street and Tusquittee Road, across from the Moss Memorial Library, from Kathleen Lands, who had previously rented it out for $75 a month.

Above: A look two years ago at the neglected house that became a home for the store.

Low described the building, which dated back to the 1920's, as "a terrible eyesore.... The house and property had been extremely neglected for over 20 years."

As time went by, the Lorentzen family decided that the house would make a suitable place for Louise's dream of a gardening business to blossom to reality. They had no idea it would take almost two years to complete.

Beginning in October 2005, Lorentzen devoted all of her time to the house, business plan and inventory. Her son and daughter-in-law, who operate an advertising and design business in Decatur, Georgia, were eager to contribute to the project by spending nearly every weekend from January 2006 until now renovating the building and property.

Laboring 20 hours every week for 74 weekends, the two were determined to see the renovation through and the business open.

Courtesy of Cathryn Low Laboring 20 hours every weekend for 74 weekends, Cathryn Low and Paul Lorentzen repaired a "terrible eyesore."

"People in the community of Hayesville were very supportive," said Low. "Sandy Jackson, in particular, helped us emotionally survive the workload."

It seemed there was no end to problems with the nearly-century-old building. The porch was falling off, the entrance and steps were not suited for a retail store, the land and building needed irrigation improvements for plant watering, indoor flooring was rotten down to the joists, the back porch had caved in to the dirt beneath, the bathroom and kitchen needed to be torn out and completely remodeled, surviving wood floors had to be uncovered and refinished and the majority of window glass had to be replaced and the windows refinished.

A great deal of rebuilding and enhancements were required to transmute the decrepit structure into a seedbed of business. Lorentzen's son designed the store's front landscaping and carefully installed an elaborate automatic watering system. He also fulfilled the need to extend the front porch and steps to wrap around the building, leading customers to an outdoor nursery. In addition, the land was reworked to create level areas on both sides of the building.

Just like the greenery sold at the shop, the store itself is hardly static, and growth is inevitable. The family is already planning a second phase of improvements, due for completion in spring 2008.

Plans include adding a more formal garden area with retaining wall examples and a water garden on the left side of the store. The back area will be reworked for parking and a stronger back door entrance and in addition to a larger collection of flora, a wide selection of native plants will be on display.

However, Low insists that the Garden Shoppe is different than any other in a variety of ways. "It's based on education and community service," she said. "Louise, a master gardener, will give free classes throughout the years and will be very involved in helping people with their gardening needs." Low said that the plants and gift items offered at the store are exceptional.

"The Shoppe has the touch of small town personal quality, knowledge and care. Louise also offers homemade tea when you walk in, and soon there will be homemade breads and pastries available for purchase." Low said that Lorentzen has long been known on Saturdays at the downtown farmer's market for her homemade goodies.

The more love poured into a garden, the more likely every fruit yielded will prove a bountiful blessing. In the case of Lorentzen's dream, she can already taste the benefit.

To comment on this article,

e-mail Harrison at hkeely@gmail.

com.

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