Thanks for your post. It’s “show business”, so you need the players, producers and stage crews. I imagine Mr. Kelly got tired of a job that first inspired him, but then became diluted as it succeeded over time. Early days were probably fun. Now it’s big business—not the same. The Philly show (run by a city-related non-profit) has thousands of attendees who wander about eating pretzels and staring at displays. Not most visitors, but enough. They pay the same ticket price and—who knows?—perhaps one day they’ll become gardeners. Thus, it is stressful, hard work and thoroughly numbers-based. Hard to find a successor and last generation to generation—the classic ultimate business struggle.

Thanks again for a thoughtful post.

Our realtor has it listed on their website at the old price of $2.6MM, but we lowered it last December to $1.9MM. That’s it for price chopping. We’re very confident it will sell at this price. An absolute steal, so now is the time. If it doesn’t sell by late summer or early fall, we shall re-evaluate our entire situation, since the research garden is quite productive for us. It was the production, nursery, shipping, administration and continuous orderly display garden activities that were difficult to maintain in Kingston. As I’ve said elsewhere, we had no room for expansion.

Thanks very much for your interest.

Thanks for your perceptive remarks, particularly about “show stress”. After 21 years, Mr. Kelly has to be somewhat worn out. However, many folks attend these shows for the very stimulation you dislike—the “agora” of the marketplace. But I agree with you. Maybe it’s age—I don’t know. But downsizing is an art I cultivate. Small home, big garden.