Many of Telly's family of staff have been with us as we've grown over the years. These are the faces you've come to recognize on your visits to Telly's. We are here to help you with your gardening questions and problems. We care about your gardening success.

- George Papadelis
Owner

Maria Elenis

I have known Maria for over 30 years. Yes, thirty years! That's because we are cousins. She has worked at Telly's since 1992. Maria is the Greenhouse Sales Manager. That means she is in charge of growing, ordering, watering, selling, signing, spacing, grooming, etc. every annual that we sell out of the greenhouse. This is a huge responsibility, but if you ask anyone on staff to tell you what she does, there's a lot more. Maria is like the glue that keeps everything together at Telly's. She does the scheduling, prepares the store for classes, decorates memorial blankets, handles all of the Christmas fundraisers. The list goes on and on. But, the best thing about Maria is that the entire staff loves her to death. She's like everyone's big sister - especially me. She keeps me out of a lot of trouble, mostly because I'm not terribly organized. Customers also find her extra pleasant because she tends to not use all the botanical names that too many of us often over exploit.

About 13 years ago I came to the greenhouses and announced that I had finally received my pilots license. I asked everyone if they wanted to be my first passenger in the plane. Maria willfully volunteered and a few minutes later we were flying over the greenhouses. Since then, we have flown to many greenhouses many times. She even let me take her three kids in the plane - at the same time. That's trust.

Maria is also our in store chef, having prepared many gyro sandwiches for us during the slow paced days of winter. Her children, Tony, Alex and Anna, and many of their friends, have always supplied Telly's with an almost infinite supply of workers during the busy season.

These are just some of the things big sisters do.

Eric Grant

Eric has worked at Telly's since 1990. His mastery of the written language has awarded him numerous articles in Michigan Gardener and hundreds of entries in our advertisements and website. I have had the pleasure of traveling with Eric extensively. Together we have visited plant places from the east coast to the west, and explored the vastness of China.

Eric has attended many of horticulture's celebrated gatherings where I have seen him befuddle/bewilder some of the industries most knowledgeable experts. His responsibilities at Telly's have included the acquisition and propagation of new plant material. He manages our hard goods department (everything that's not a plant), worked on developing the Telly's website, maintains and sells our poinsettia crop, and, most recently, oversees the implementation of a new computerized point of sale system.

Needless to say, Eric's broad range of talents continue to help make Telly's what you experience today. I think Eric has worked almost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for at least a year so it's likely that you have been helped by him in your last visit or two. His uncanny knowledge of annuals, tropicals, and woody plants will continue to amaze us for years and years. The same goes for his sense of humor. Eric, by the way, is single.

Susan Pioch

Susan has been working at Telly's since 1999. She is your friendly, neighborhood rose lady. Roses have been growing in her gardens for many, many years. As I hope most of you know, Telly's has developed a tremendous reputation for offering a large selection of high quality roses. Each rose season begins the previous year when Susan and I visit our Canadian "bare-root" rose source. The roses are planted in rows which we walk along all day long while Susan takes notes and I take photos. I consider myself pretty durable, but after walking several miles and enduring the inevitable leg amputating thorns, without a lunch break, I have a hard time getting excited about the new orange climber. Susan, on the other hand, turns into the energizer bunny on this annual event. Her enthusiasm and pace does not falter until the last rose is analyzed for disease resistance, vigor, and flower quality.

In March the roses are shipped to Telly's as bare root plants in many, many plastic bags. Susan sorts them, soaks them in water, prunes them, helps pot them, and tags them. She waters them, fertilizes them, and grooms them until spring when her efforts yield an exceptional specimen that awaits its new home.

That's the mechanics of Telly's rose program. But the part that makes a Telly's roses even better than other roses is Susan. Virtually every rose we sell grows under Susan's careful supervision and sells under Susan's careful supervision. She makes sure that every customer she helps gets the right rose to suit their needs. And, that the customer is aware of what is necessary to optimize rose performance. As a result, Susan has developed a loyal customer base that relies on her for all their rose needs.

Susan is also my Christmas decor guru. She has an excellent eye for displays and creates stunning wreaths, door arches, swags, memorial blankets, etc. If you have a special need when it comes to Holiday decor, Susan is your gal. She has accompanied me to the Chicago, Michigan and Atlanta gift marts where her design and buying talents have been very valuable.

Susan and flying. For years and years fellow employees and I would fly to conventions, nurseries, gardens, etc. in my four passenger airplane. Susan always said "I'm never getting in that thing." We all tried to convince her, but she wouldn't budge on the issue. Then two years ago, we were invited to an Ohio nursery to learn about a new rose series that they wanted us to sell. Susan wanted to attend so we talked her into trying the airplane and assured her that we would land immediately and drive if she didn't like it. She reviewed her will with her husband, Rick, and decided to roll the dice. Well, sitting in a small airplane is usually like sitting in a parked car except that you are moving very fast and the view is amazing. This trip was no exception. Susan sat in the front seat and laughed at herself for not flying sooner. We had a great trip that I am sure Susan will never forget. When we landed she began planning other flights that would in some way benefit Telly's rose program.

Maria Elenis

Eric Grant

Susan Pioch