La Pine businesses hit hard by snowstorm

Bobby Newby surveyed the damage Thursday after heavy snowfall collapsed her greenhouse roof at Little River Nursery in La Pine.

“I feel like I lost a friend,” she said. “I went into shock, and I made a little video of it and said, ‘Well, I guess I’ll have to retire.'”

It was the same story for another nursery across town.

“These are steel frames that just absolutely buckled,” said L&S Gardens owner Linda Stephenson.

She and her husband have been running the business for nearly three decades, and lost two greenhouses in the storm — a sad first for them.

“To replace these, I’m probably looking at $30,000,” she said.

Stephenson said insurance won’t cover greenhouses because they don’t meet certain requirements, such as having foundations.

Despite the setbacks, both women were optimistic.

“I have some of the best customers in the world. We do a lot of classes, so yes we’re going to rebuild,” Stephenson said.

Both nurseries plan on reopening in the spring, but may have to push their opening dates back a bit.