King James's Garden

"I Love Me Some Rutabagas!!! Who's With Me?!?!?"

You're probably wondering how LeBron James has anything to do with our garden. Normally...nothing. But hang with me and let me explain why it did last night.

After I left the gym, I stopped at my cultivating mecca...the Merrifield Garden Center. My mission was to seek advice on a fungicide application timeline for my lawn. When the heat and humidity hit in late June, I have big problems with brown patch. I've already put down lawn food and crabgrass control, but I need to attack the brown patch problem before it rears its ugly head. In full disclosure, I may or may not have been looking for some spinach plants as well.

As I stood in the fertilizer section looking at the wide variety of disease control products, an employee, Mike, came up to me. Normally, a staffer will ask if there's anything they can help with. Customers always have a serious dazed and confused look on their face, so typically the employee gets an earful. But last night, it was different.

Mike: "Are you a LeBron James fan?"
Me: (after looking at my attire to confirm I hadn't been kidnapped, stripped of my Mizzou workout clothes, and dressed in Cleveland Cavaliers threads) "Ummm, nope. Sorry."
Mike: "That's a shame because I have two tickets to the Wizrads/Cavs game tomorrow night. They're free and in a suite that the garden center owner has half of."
Me: "Really? Well, no thanks."
Employee Sweeping Floor Nearby: "I'll take them!!!"
Mike: "Nope. They're for customers only. Are you sure you don't want them?"
Me (seeing that I was the only customer around): "I'd hate for those tickets to go unused...especially if they're in a suite."
Mike: "Great."
Me: "Now when should I apply a fungus preventer to help solve my brown patch issue. I've already laid down the premium blend lawn food along with the corn gluten crabgrass preventer two weeks ago. I'm thinking late May just after a second application of the gluten? What do you think?"

The next 15 minutes we discussed the garden. But what's the lesson here? THAT IS SOME QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND APPRECIATION. Seriously? You're giving me suite tickets to see the best basketball player in the world? For free? No strings attached? Just because I happened to be standing there? This just doesn't happen in the real world.

My conspiracy theory is this: Merrifield Garden Center has some hidden, high-tech, biometric surveillance system identifying and recording all customer movement. I've been in that place enough that finally a sensor went off notifying the staff that: The big, goofy oaf has returned. He's spent enough coin in our establishment (enough probably to open another store) and maybe we should give him a little something in return.

I equate it to a casino in Vegas. I've been identified as a "whale" and thus comped a suite and free trip to the breakfast buffet. In return, I'll continue to shuttle all my money to them at the blackjack table.

Last night, they just guaranteed I will buy all my plants, potting mix, and first born at Merrifield Garden Center.

Pure. Genius.

In all seriousness, Merrifield has always been great and its employees extremely helpful. If you live in the DC metro area, the MGC is a must stop on your gardening/landscape adventures. Their website is also fantastic for gardening tips and ordering supplies. Merrifield Garden Center

Mike, thanks a ton. The tix were great. But the advice on the lawn care was even better. I always get the best from the Merrifield staff.