Left Mechanicsburg after breakfast at around 8. We decided to go to Watkins Glen on the way to Naples. Did a gas and donut stop just outside of Harrisburg. Of course we stopped in Mansfield and walked the campus a little. visited the student center where we used the facilities then otured the library which used to be Libbie's old dormitory. At Watkins Glen, Walked the park a little then headed out. i needed a bathroom break badly so we stopped at t public park on Lake Seneca next to Captain Bills Lake Cruises. Got to the Violet Barn at around 2:30. Rob and Olive were very gracious, took us around everywhere explaining each of the areas. We visited the Karen washing pots in bleach. visited the employee work room where they were separating babies for planting. Each had a personal work area. Rob explained his employee manual which shows each task and how it should be done. He also explained that each of the tasks is timed and showed me the timings of what he and olive can do, then what each employee can do average and what is considered minimally acceptable. The manual had detailed pictures showing how to cut a leaf, propagate it, pot a violet, pack a plant for shipping, etc. It's a very good how to manual. The soil room has buckets for mixing 4 different kinds of medium. We saw the A/C water filling a bucket for use in the growing area. I like the benchtops with a resin coated holding tray over each thin sheet of plywood. This makes a giant 4x8 water reservoir. The A/C is distributed by exposed 8 inch ducts with openings every few feet. I need something like this.
We next went out to dinner with Rob and Olive at an American Food place called Poor Richards. I ordered Meatload. Libbie had turkey breast. Very good food. Got a tour of the Violet House next. Incredibly restored old home downtown. The first floor had no sheetrock and had plant stands in their when they have no roomm back up the hill. Amazingly there is WiFi.