Staff Writer
“I’m a farmer’s daughter, I have 12 brothers and sisters and my family always had vegetable gardens to supplement the potato crops as well as our own food,” said Kristine Bondeson, owner of Down to Earth Gardens and Greenhouses located on U.S. Route 161 in Caribou. Bondeson is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her Down To Earth business this season.
Aroostook Republican photos/Barb Scott
Wendy Cote, left and Down to Earth owner, Kristine Bondeson, are a successful flower arrangment designing duo.
The daughter of Arden and Edith Bull, Bondeson grew up on the Parsons Road in Washburn. “Along with the potato farming and vegetables, my mother also always had flower gardens so this is a very common theme for me,” she added. “When I lived in an apartment I did container gardening, when I was in college my room was full of plants and when I worked in an office, it was called Kristine’s greenhouse,” she laughed.
“Through the, ‘Bank of Carl,’ (Bondeson’s husband) I got my first greenhouse kit and was able to feed my passion,” remarked Bondeson, “I couldn’t have done all this without his trust and support. I’ll always remember the morning of the day we were going to be open. We walked into the greenhouse, which was literally jammed full with plants, the blossoms were so vivid and when I looked at Carl, he looked so scared and was as white as he was the day our son, Finn, was born. After seeing this I just said, ‘Don’t worry by the end of the day, this will be empty’ — and I was right.”
“After that, as they say, everything is history,” said a smiling Bondeson, But as in any business, nothing is a given, with the spring and summer weather in northern Maine more than a little, unpredictable the weather is a foremost concern. “Given that I am looking at only six to eight weeks to earn 52 weeks’ of income, this business is very dependent on the weather,” stated Bondeson.
Kristine and Carl Bondeson decided to treat themselves to a day and night away from Down to Earth in August, 2007, something that is rare, since she doesn’t like to be too far away from her plants. “We were on our way back from Quebec and had just crossed the border when we heard the news about the ‘micro burst’ that had occurred during a severe thunder shower,” said Bondeson, “I was so concerned that we would get home to find the greenhouse collapsed, the irrigation lines all tangled — a year’s business gone. But when we arrived, the greenhouse was still intact although all of the trees and shrubs that were outside were laying on their sides — it was an act of God that the wind hadn’t come from the opposite direction.”
Bondeson credits her husband for master minding the irrigation lines that she currently uses, “It saves a lot of time and the plants are fertilized and watered at the same time,” she said.
Bondeson said there are, of course, other variables that effect the success of her business, including the cost of oil and supplies. “At Down to Earth, we are looking for more innovated ways to be a green business. We are using more biodegradable containers for our plants such as birch or even ceramic which are more friendly.”
As one enters the first greenhouse, they are instantly overcome with the brilliance of color and the wide variety of healthy blossoming plants, just waiting to be replanted in someone’s garden or placed at a special location. “There is so much positive energy given off through flowers and plants,” said Bondeson, “I call it my cheap trip to Florida, when I walk across by dooryard in March and go into the greenhouse and see all my plants starting to grow.” All of the plants found at Down to Earth are started from seed, there are no ready done items.
The greenhouses, which are a showcase of flowering plants, herbs and nostalgia container arrangements aren’t the only items which can be purchased as Down to Earth also offers vegetable plants, decorative grasses, trees and shrubs. The most difficult thing customers are faced with is having to choose among all the possibilities.
The atmosphere at Down to Earth is one of calm overcome only by the urge to plant one of everything. This energy as mentioned before by Bondeson, is also favorite summer home to a number of hummingbirds who frequently visit the colorful blossoms. The greenhouses are very well maintained which, according to Bondeson is very important. “Greenhouses must be extra clean and hygienic and this includes keeping matter off the floor.”
Bondeson stated, “I’m here to give knowledge to my customers when I can, I encourage them to ask questions, I don’t always have all the answers, but through collective trials, others customers, my staff and myself we do our best. My customers know more about certain things than I do so together we sort things out. Talking plants and flowers usually leads to other topics and Bondeson commented that, “I was never into making pickles, although my mother was, but through relationships built with customers at the nursery, I’ve become very interested in pickling and we often share recipes.” Regarding the friendships that have bloomed via Down to Earth, Bondeson spoke fondly of a time when, due to a physical problem, she needed some extra assistance and how the ladies from the Caribou Homemaker Extension provided that extra help.”
I also have a great staff who works with me including Shirley Cote, who is a very intuitive color designer, she and I create arrangements that are so much alike, we sometimes can’t tell the difference. Susan Pottle also works alongside Bondeson as does her nephew Nick Bull.
Two others, very special to Bondeson who are on hand at the nursery location are of course, her husband Carl and her son Finn. “My customers make the business possible but the help and support I get from Carl and Finn is never-ending,” she stressed. “They help whenever I ask and they put up with the fact that my house isn’t always very tidy from May through October.”
“I have a good sense of humor, that comes from being a farmer’s daughter and wife,” laughed Bondeson. Any business never ceases to be a financial struggle, but I try to maintain. My customers are great and TD BankNorth has been very supportive, they’ve shown their trust in this business and allow me to maintain the small garden outside the Caribou branch,” added Bondeson.
“You have to love your plants,” states Bondeson, “talk to them, play music and they don’t like stress. If you’re plants don’t appear to be healthy, ask for help. You should buy healthy plants and make sure you repot or plant them in clean, rich soil, keep in mind that within three weeks the soil becomes drained of nutrients, resulting in a starvation diet for your plants.”
“I use Jack’s Classic, brand of fertilizer here at Down to Earth and for my own plants,” said Bondeson, But you have to have the right plant for the right place. Take into consideration where the building is located, what the lighting is, if the soil is wet or rocky and also how windy the location will be. I asked my customers these questions and can then advise what type of plant they might successfully grow. Of course I also ask what they like or dislike.”
A common mistake some gardeners make is planting too close to a building or too close together especially regarding trees and shrubs,” said Bondeson. “In this area we are a solid zone 3, and you must plant things that are hardy to a zone — here, it’s like Old Man Winter times three. Another factor with trees and shrubs are the concerns of wildlife. Bears don’t prune a tree properly,” she reminded, “they will just grab leftover apples and pull, tearing the branches. Moose and mice also do harm to certain plants.”
Down to Earth business hours are: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. from May through June. Beginning in July the hours are much the same with most inventory of perennials shrubs and trees available outside. (Bondeson usually has emptied the two greenhouses by July 4 and moves into the next phase of the season outside). From August 15 through Sept. 30 Down to Earth features fall Mums.
“My only regret is that my parents didn’t have a chance to see my passion for flowers turn into Down to Earth,” said Boneson, “but I know they are looking down on everything and that is another source of the positive energy that comes from these flowers.”
`Kristine Bondeson gets ready for the day, supervised by Flicka.
Flicka, Kristine Bondeson’s pal, has an official job at Down to Earth Gardens — he carries the flag out to the roadside sign every morning.
