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p8 weekender september 1985 sialyl iliifimplnm ot br si 1 1 n so fei c ft v mm r 7 i v7 rr3i september made to measure suits by cambridge save 20- jh special groupings from cambridge range a reg to 6107 now 469 range b rec 90 now 519 important notice single stock orders will receive an additional 10 offmtm prices expert alterations done on the premises aptnlwdri anti hw wbmanshop markham shopping centre markham 2943520 howard and peter are main attraction by steve houston staff reporter when people walk into markhams plant paradise to browse chances are theyll spend a lot more time in the spacious aisles and greenhouses than planned theyll probably spend some time with howard and peter the resident parrots they may bump into caesar and cleo the great danes of the greenhouses or they might watch a peacock fan his feathers in unconscious conceit theres never a slow moment here said the man behind plant paradise gary van dorp everyone is pretty happy with this set up tucked below irvings plumbing on woodbine just south of hwy 7 plant para dise offers plant lovers everything from annuals to orange trees theres nothing better than a colorful plant out front to catch a persons eye mr van dorp said thats enough to bring in some traffic and he said that once in the store cus tomers are usually impressed with the variety and originality of the plant para dise concept we get customers of every descrip tion he noted some come in for a 99- cent plant and others will come in for a 1000 one the idea to open a plant store occured to mr van dorp in the 70s when driving an 18wheel tractor trailer he was in florida without a load and ended up hauling a trail er full of plants noting that he had some botanical background his father was a gardener in holland and that he used to help him at work he decided to give it a go in 1977 plant paradise became a reality in a deserted basement below irvings plumbing when we first started in here it was just an empty store we did pretty well every thing ourselves he said its taken a lot of work to get it to where it is today plant paradise now boasts an 8000 square foot floor area and five greenhouses behind the store with the introduction of the parrots doves peacocks and dogs mr van dorp said the store has established a bit of a following today school children are given tours of the facility to learn about plant life and meet the animals mr van dorp added that mothers like to bring in their children while they browse for plants the kids go around the back to the greenhouses and see the animals they really enjoy it at least theyre getting out of school he noted he added that the plan for plant para dise is to offer something for the beginning gardener to the real green thumbs lynne holmes whos in charge of quali ty control at plant paradise on wood bine ave checks one of the plants in the hothouse attention league executives we have space available for leagues at the following centres either permanent or temporary arrangement celebrity lanes 963 brock rd s pickering ont 8312920 knob hill lanes 2791 eglinton ave e toronto 2615011 richmond hill pro bowl 10593 yonge st richmond hill 8849366