Flowers Country-Style

Buying direct from the grower means knowing who to turn to if you have a problem. And being successful at farm-direct sales of any product involves being reliable, responsible and available to the customer.

Lynn Ivey, the owner of Ivey's Country Store in Macon, Georgia, grows pretty near everything he sells in his nursery, from bedding plants and roses to ornamental shrubs and perennials. He offers free advice, based on his 40 years of horticultural experience, to any customer that asks, even a month after the original purchase.

``I like somebody to come in and brag about our plants. I want to please; I want to do a good job,'' Ivey told the Macon Telegraph. He attends horticultural seminars regularly and keeps current by reading many professional journals.

Ivey's retail store is outfitted country-style with a porch, hanging flower baskets and informal flower gardens. His product line is grown in five greenhouses behind the store. Customers can receive his bi-monthly newsletter of garden tips and advice, or they can call him directly if they have questions.