Perkins Plants,a greenhouse in Bemidji, opened for its final season this week.
Dorothy Carpenter, who has operated the business at 1327 Roosevelt Road SE for 34 years, said she will miss her many loyal customers. But “it’s time,” she added. “It’s just been long enough. I’m getting tired.”
Newlyweds Orville and Margaret Perkins moved to Bemidji and started the business in 1941, later passing it on to their niece and nephew. When Dorothy and her husband Steve Carpenter became the third owners of the greenhouse in 1990, they got permission to keep the Perkins name.
“Apparently it was the first greenhouse in Bemidji,” Dorothy said. “So it had some history. I have some customers who say, ‘Why don’t you just change it to Dorothy’s Place?'”
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