Sally Fox, the president of the Vashon Garden Club and and occasional contributor to the Beachcomber, has been interviewing our local nursery owners for a story to appear in the March “Home & Garden” supplement. She was so distressed by what she heard from Kathy’s Corner that she came home and immediately sent out this email “S.O.S.” to fellow Island gardeners.

Friends, this long-time anchor of our gardening Island NEEDS OUR SUPPORT—AND PRONTO.

From Sally Fox, 2/20/2010:

“I am writing to friends, Garden Club members and island gardeners who may shop at Kathy’s Corner or know Kathy Wheaton (THE “Kathy”).  I spoke with her this morning while I was doing research for a Beachcomber article on our island nurseries.  I know that the recession has been hard on all of our nurseries—and I care about them all—but what I heard  from Kathy had me in tears.

I had to do something.  I am writing because I know some of you may want to help or can spread the word.

Last year was a very tough year for the nursery business.  The recession has been hard and margins are very slim. Kathy was just hanging on.  Then, this past  December during the cold snap, Kathy and her husband suffered some disasters: one  greenhouse came apart (killing most of Lloyd’s prize jade plants), a furnace failed in another greenhouse (killing the new starts), and one of her trucks died.  All of that was very very difficult and they weren’t sure how they would make it.

Then it got worse.  Two weeks later Kathy fell, shattering her arm (a complicated break at the shoulder).  The doctors have said it may be months before she is operational and she may never recover full use of her arm.  On top of needing cash to keep her business alive, Kathy will have huge medical bills, (fortunately she has insurance, but  she will still be responsible for 20%).  

Kathy isn’t asking for help—but she needs it. I want to make sure that she can stay in business. She has to find a way to get cash in these next VERY critical weeks. 

I wanted to do something.  So I took out my checkbook and decided I could gift her some money, buy a gift certificate, and tell my friends.  

And I was hoping that some of you would want to do the same.  Please spread the word.  On Monday, I am hoping to set up a bank account for donations, but you can always drop a check off at the nursery. [This "beneficial account for Kathy Wheaton" is being set up at Washington Mutual—now Chase Bank— and will be ready for donations on Wednesday, Feb 24.]

When I asked her how she keeps going when it is so difficult, she said: “Vashon people are amazing.  The customers are amazing.  Their desire to keep us here is what keeps me working.  It is what keeps me going.”