Manager: Wendy Graveman
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The Purple Orchid, located at 4136 Dr. ML King Jr. Blvd, in the rear part of the Pinecone Home and Garden Center, is a magical cottage filled with exotic and unusual houseplants, pots, containers, gifts and, gentle music. The atmosphere here is peaceful with beautiful natural colors and textures.
Wendy Graveman, who manages The Purple Orchid, grows most of the houseplants. Located in Ft. Barnwell, the farm she and her husband Rob own has nine greenhouses where they begin growing the plants from seeds or cuttings until they are ready to sell—and of course, they specialize in raising beautiful orchids.
“It is a nurturing experience to care for plants. It is my passion,” says Wendy. “I love what I do, and I’ve been at it for 45 years. Plants in our homes have been said to improve air quality, aid in reducing stress, boost work performance, and create a decorative, natural atmosphere of love.”
The Purple Orchid is unique in that the plants themselves have been carefully selected, grown, and nurtured to thrive in different environments. Whether customers are brand new to houseplants or experienced growers, there are a variety of plants for everyone as far as style, lighting needs, and level of care. For those who are just starting out, there are plants that are very easy to grow, like pothos. They also have a wide variety of exotic house plants, succulents, and cactus, and they specialize in hard-to-find, rare varieties. For example, this week they have a Thai Constellation Monstera, which is a very beautiful, rare, specialized variegated plant that grows a huge leaf.
Wendy has a very broad base of knowledge on plant varieties and growing techniques. Combining that knowledge with her artistic ability and the high quality of her houseplants, it is easy for customers to find creative, unusual ways to decorate their living spaces or come across a special treasure for a loved one’s gift.
For Wendy, one of the most important aspects of being involved in a small business is the ability to build and nurture relationships with her customers. “People are important to me,” she says. “I love getting to know them and their stories. I make myself accessible to them to help if they have questions. But most of all I love the sense of community we have here in New Bern. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people and I love giving personal attention to them.”