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Health & Fitness

Looking for Flowers for Mother's Day? Check Out the Workhouse

Sometimes unlikely surprises are hidden in plain sight. So it is with the greenhouse at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility.

A couple of years ago, Kellee, who is one of my favorite (tongue firmly in cheek) “bloodletters” at the Woodbury branch of Memorial Blood Centers, told me about the spring time flower sale at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility at Lower Afton and Century Ave in nearby Maplewood, a couple of miles south of 3M world headquarters.

We went over the next day and bought Mother’s Day flowers for our gang.

It was a great decision, and each year it’s becoming a tradition. Yesterday we went over again, and if you’re still looking for some nice posies at a very affordable (and partially tax-deductible) cost, check out the Workhouse greenhouses

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There’s nothing dramatic to this story.

Yes, the helpers are inmates, as polite and respectful as any you’d find in your usual retail outlet. Yes, they’re doing time for something or other. But no matter, they’re somebodies child and this is mothers day weekend. They made some mistake, and maybe the sentence will help change their life….

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And the flowers are, well, flowers, nicely put together, as at any greenhouse.

I haven’t inquired about the back story behind this small treasure in our midst. There’s time to do that.

We’ve had good success making purchases there…and now we notice that they’re going to do a fall season as well.

To our mind, it’s win all-around.

If you’re in the area, stop over, if for no other reason than to look around.

They're open 8 to 3 today, and 9-1 tomorrow, Mother's Day.

The big commercial establishments get plenty of business. Once or twice a year at the Workhouse is very much worthwhile.

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