Sometimes a house call is just what the doctor ordered! That can apply to horticulture as well as medicine, as Mulkey McMichael has learned. Mulkey, a retired educator, Perry Wellness Center staff member, and Marion County resident, has been actively involved with the Mobile Market outreach, particularly in Buena Vista. Over time, he has learned to be creative in getting deliveries to customers.

Recently, he was asked by a member of Buena Vista United Methodist Church to help her in securing and placing floral offerings for the church sanctuary. Joyce Henson asked Mulkey to come by her residence on an upcoming Mobile Market visit and let her select plants for her Sunday floral duties.

When the Mobile Market headed to Buena Vista last week, Mulkey loaded several colorful plant varieties with Miss Joyce in mind. After reviewing the inventory, she selected two Mandevilla plants filled with red blooms. 

The plants also met with the approval of minister Jeremy Alexander. “The plants were pretty and a perfect color for the church season. I thank Joyce and everyone involved in this floral placement,” Rev. Alexander said. 

Perry Wellness Center founder and CEO Stuart Perry knows that the Mobile Market is all about community connections. He explained, “When we began the Mobile Market, it was first designed to provide information about what Perry Wellness Center really is and to share our mission. We decided to have local farmer produce and plants as another customer service idea. It has been a good combination.”

Mulkey noted, “We like to remind Mobile Market customers of our extensive inventory of plants at Rudy’s Happy Patch Market in Americus.” But he is also willing to go the extra mile to bring the market to the customer.

In the photo above, Joyce Henson stands outside her home with her live plant selections on display.