Bradley Business

The Mid Ulster Garden Centre was far more than I expected. I suppose when Peter spoke of the family business I imagined a couple of greenhouses and a wee shop with a few pots, seeds and the till. I was fairly impressed with the Bradley operation.

There is a main shop with 4 areas containing house wares, potted plants, seeds, and gardening books. Within the shop is a café with an excellent selection of sandwiches and beverages. One exit from the shop leads out to a partially enclosed plant display. These plants are the eye-catchers, parading carnations, geraniums, roses and showy grasses. The other departments contain trees, grass, shrubs, azaleas and hydrangeas, decorative statutes and rocks. Peter hovers around the Water area- selling Koi, water plants, and pump systems. If your intent is not to purchase any living things, there is a wide selection of garden and patio furniture and BBQ equipment. In the event of loosing your place in the maze of vegetation, trendy signs designed by Michael direct you in the right direction.

The Centre employs a diverse group of people for a wide range of job descriptions. At half eight, gardeners, chefs, waitresses, sales clerks, cashiers, cleaners, secretaries and baristas arrive wearing black shirts with the trademark green logo.

I worked with two Polish gardeners, Adyta and Evelyna, tending plants and arranging displays. As a new employee I inadvertently became a target for wandering customers searching for a special addition to their lawn. Thanks to my gruelling Botany education and tips from my Grandma Fitkin, I was able to navigate around the array of foliage directing customers to various selections. The alternative was to hunt down Adyta for her expert counsel.

When the customers caught my accent the questions turned from, “we’re looking for this one” to “whereabouts you from?” Depending on the customer I got a variety of subsequent questions. The older ladies would quietly ask, “so how does this Garden Centre compare to the ones back home?” The old men would compare weather, Middle aged women inquired, “Did I have any family here”, and the younger crowd always asked, “whatever possessed me to come to Maghera?” My answers were always the same: “Very tidy and well stocked”, “Yes, its very wet and much cooler here”, “No family that I’m aware of”, “I came to visit a friend who studied at my University”.

Due to Peter’s workaholic tendencies, hanging around the Centre is the best way to catch a glimpse of him. I usually joined him for a grilled sandwich and cuppa at half 12 to hear about his sales and bizarre customers. Then at six I drove down the road with Peter, Michael and Jim from 35 Station Road to 60B for dinner.