Some hang up their footy boots, others put away their pens but for Helen Hammond, it’s a case of parting with her faithful wicker basket and yellow watering can.
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Since 1985 Helen has been visiting offices in the Muswellbrook district to check on her plants, give them a polish and a clip, some water and TLC.
Now she is calling it a day preparing to focus on her own garden, home and family and the hardest aspect of this decision, she says, is saying goodbye to her customers.
“I didn’t have an office and other work colleagues, it was just me and my watering can so I enjoyed the conversation with my customers,” Helen said.
Over the years she has been called a few nicknames, the most popular being the ‘plant lady’ which is exactly what the Muswellbrook Chronicle’s staff called her.
“It’s sad that she is leaving but she’ll still come in and say hello from time to time,” Kerrie said.
Helen readily admits she enjoys a chat but says that’s part of the job.
Helen was always destined to work in the plant industry.
As a highschool student she picked up a part time job at Rainbows Nursery at McCully’s Gap and continued working there from 1973 to 1990.
Now for some secret green finger tips: keep an eye on the light, water and temperature of your indoor plant and it should survive.
Best indoor varieties are Madonna Lillies, Philodendrons and selected palms and if you do buy a colourful, flowering plant treat it like a bunch of flowers.
“If you get a couple of months out of it, you’ve done well because the more colour a plant has, the more light it needs and they won’t get that inside a home,” Helen said.
She has sold the business to Kim and Phil, nursery friends from Kempsey so the business will continue, no need for your indoor plants to panic, the end is not near.
