ROMULUS (WWJ) - Among the businesses hard-hit during the governor's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order in Michigan are landscapers and greenhouses.
Chris Schwartz, who manages Schwartz Greenhouse in Romulus, says they've taken a financial hit by being closed this month amid the pandemic.
Schwartz said it's their busy season, and they are hopeful they can open their greenhouse to the public on May 1 — which is when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive order is set to expire.
"We've lost April. You know, May and June are around the corner — so it's pretty imperative," he told WWJ Newsradio 950's Beth Fisher. "Every industry is a little different, but our season is so short, and the economic damage of not being able to open May 1st would put some severe strain on the industry for sure."
What are these businesses doing in the meantime?
"A lot of us have implemented some sort of curbside pickup, be it phone-in orders, contact list type things" Schwartz said.
While some in the industry — and some who protested in Lansing last week — argue that Whitmer's order it too restrictive, Schwartz, personally, is not complaining.
"We don't wanna go that route," he said. "Obviously we understand everybody's got tough decisions to make. My wife's a nurse practitioner and my sister-in-law's a nurse at Beaumont...so, first we want to thank you guys for all you're doing. And we understand the gravity of the situation."
Under the latest version of the "Stay Home" order, large stores with more than 50,000 square feet were ordered to "close areas dedicated to carpeting, flooring, furniture, garden centers, plant nurseries, or paint."
As for when garden centers and greenhouses can reopen, Whitmer hasn't yet set a date.
Speaking at a news conference Monday, the governor implied that a final decision on lifting restrictions hasn't been made.
"What happens depends on how these next ten days go," Whitmer said. "To those of you who are hopeful we'll be able to start loosening some restrictions — stay home now to better make the odds that we're able to to that in ten days."
"To those of you who want to get back to work as soon as possible...stay home," she added. "To those of you who made plans for June, July or August and want to see them through...stay home."
It's notable that Whitmer's executive action concerning garden centers differs from similar orders in Ohio, Illinois, New York and North Carolina, where the retail sale of plants has been deemed essential infrastructure.
