SAUQUOIT, N.Y. (WKTV) - A mainstay in the local gardening industry is closing its doors for good this week.

The Strawberry Geranium in Sauquoit is shutting down after 34 years in business, and its owner Dottie White - is finding it hard to say goodbye.

"This is all I have left in perennials," White said while walking through the store.

Her day-to-day routine is about to dramatically change. She's made the tough decision to retire, and the very thought still gets her emotional.

"I'm going to not work as hard," she said. "I'm going to see my grandchildren, watch my grandchildren grow up. And I think the reality is...this has just all sunk in."

She and her husband, Gary, decided to sell in January. Since then, they've been busy clearing out all the buildings.

"It's funny what you find when you haven't really been in the barn in the deep corners," she said. "That you have all of this stuff from when we were a florist."

And that's where it all began - a small home florist.

Two years later - a green house.

Then, more green houses.

"Growers have a very funny mentality," White said. "The more space they have, the more they're going to fill. And the more they grow, the more they need to have space for."

Dottie's new role eventually grew into education - first radio, then television - where she continues to appear every week on NEWSChannel 2 at Noon, taking your calls about gardening and plant care.

"Their comment was, it's no different than being on the radio," she said, recalling when she was asked to start appearing on-air. "I said 'Oh yes there is, there's one major difference. They're going to see me.'"

Dottie says she'll miss working in the greenhouses, and miss the people she's met even more - like loyal customers and employees.

"It's fun to see how the fellas who have worked with Gary out in the nursery are now landscaping their own homes," she recalled. "Stuff they learned!"

And now she's set to learn new aspects of life - like slowing down.

"This is why in the Spring I lose weight," she said.