the buzz log

People may be focusing on their backyard plants during the recession, but they aren't shopping at high-end garden stores. That's the reality faced by the Northern California-based retailer Smith & Hawken, which is dying on the vine after 30 years in business.

The chain is closing its doors. It originally opened as a place for serious gardeners—selling tools with a lifetime guarantee. The basic garden-supply store was bought by a weed-killing manufacturer, then branched out to general outdoor stuff, like fire pits and (really, really expensive) teak furniture. In these tough economic times, what should have been a blooming time for the garden business failed to grow.

The one note of good news (and there isn't much: All 56 stores will close and 700 people will lose their jobs): Going-out-of-business sales start now. But don't bother heading to the website. That's already been shut down. If you want to scoop up a nifty deal on a terrarium or a patio heater, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way: go to the store.