Love Lessons from a Forty-Four-Year-Old Plant Shop in New York City | The New Yorker Documentary

Ched Markovic and his wife, Maria, have been running a little plant shop in Manhattan for over forty years. Their plants are thriving, but is their marriage? Matthew Beck’s film “Noble Planta” explores this sometimes strained relationship.
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Love Lessons from a Forty-Four-Year-Old Plant Shop in New York City | The New Yorker Documentary

[@Julie-8]

says "if they die let them die" and smiles i love her

[@dashanthonyflagg9562]

I've lived in NYC my whole life, and I've shopped at Nobel's countless times. Right now i'm looking at a ferrocactus I bought there 4-5 years ago. Once when I went there was a plant I really liked it but was too much money. It just so happened to have a few seed pods on it and he gave me one and now I have 4 two year old euphorbias that look amazing. Mr. Markovic over the years has given me flower pots when I needed one and was low on funds. I always recommend his shop to people looking for something different. That little shop is yet another reason NYC is so amazing.

[@simmadownow]

Him: When I saw her ...also something hit me in my chest. Her: He had a heart attack. 😃😀😂

[@itsaplantlife9850]

I thought this was going to be sweet and inspirational. I guess it's inspirational if you need to wake up to your life.

[@n0ceans]

The story, the animation, the old film samples, the Plantasia music...just delightful. Chef's kiss

[@nubbyrose87]

The illustrations were the best part.

[@kaneworthington]

My interpretation of what happened with the wife and the overall story is that ultimately the plants are a metaphor for relationships, you need to listen to your partner and nurture the relationship over time. Ironically it seems that he perhaps didn't listen enough to his 'plant', his wife, and ultimately she either left and decided she wasn't working in the shop anymore or who knows what else happened. Either way she clearly didn't seem happy working there and it was almost like this documentary woke something inside her with almost a sense of regret of a life spent living his dream, not hers.

[@josephinetyree1476]

I've done the same thing......and now I'm nearing 'my' end....Never becoming what I 'always' wanted... We 'all' need to allow those we 'love' ..to BE who they 'want' to be.....not just for 'our' benefit.....!!!

[@barbryll8596]

Well said

[@aclark903]

@@barbryll8596 God hates divorce. Cf #Malachi 2:16

[@GigiofGigi]

Feeling for the both of them... the past year hasn’t been kind to many people in relationships and like someone else said this documentary was probably an eye opener for her. Beautifully made and shows an honest story. It seems like she has her freedom now and he has his shop to continue to cherish.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

It’s so nice to read such a kind and thoughtful comment on KZbin. *You made my day, thank you very much.* The world needs a whole lot more of you. Please stay healthy and best wishes to you and that cute kitty ;-)

[@soyonpak4270]

I laughed when he went on about the asparagus fern because he yelled at me that it was a plumosa! when I bought it last summer. Then he went on a rant about people in general not giving plants light and I bit my tongue about the poor lighting in the store. He liked to hear himself talk and I remember being amused/annoyed by it all and showing him photos of all my thriving plants. It felt kinda surreal and I left disappointed since I had heard so much about how great the plant store was and how knowledgeable and helpful the owners were. The plumosa is thriving btw.

[@butterflymoon6368]

but were they not knowledgeable and helpful?

[@shahn78]

@@butterflymoon6368 Bad listeners are too in their own head so rarely that helpful, imo. Either you go on and on about whats important to you or listen to others to understand hence provide something useful.

[@julieghim7846]

I hope that lady is having a nice retirement 🌱

[@arlenehutchinson9259]

The animation was fantastic 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I think it was a case of those who are easily able to express love 💘 and those who give love 🎁♥️ The difference in love as an adjective and love as a verb. Love is a VERB.

[@ema459]

I can imagine her seeing him handling the pot with that hammer thinking "oh my god, thats not how you do that at all...!"

[@verenapuzik6141]

Loved it I actually don't think it's sad it just seems pretty honest

[@jakicatancabelic9436]

It is hard to lift heavy plant pots. It is also hard to water different plants, to know which need watering more frequently. Being a plant lover, and having close to 200 plants, I would get very tired too, after 40 years.

[@wiggitywhacked]

Love her cheeky smirk after saying something funny

[@nadiaportillo1321]

This is so beautiful it made me cry...

[@arturo6780]

Yo me too I was not expecting that at all

[@dahliacecily]

Bravo! A very personal story was told, perhaps too peresonal but it needed to be seen. Thank you, Maria for your patience and good for you with the boundary not working at the shop anymore. I hope you find new hobbies and your own interests you enjoy doing each day

[@melherron1]

Beautiful anatomy/cross section of a marriage.

[@melanycastillo7109]

Poor lady she looks and sounds so unhappy, plants always brings joy, I guess not in her case !!

[@TahtahmesDiary]

Plants bring joy but people using you can take it away.

[@FixedFace]

does it make you feel better to bully old ladies on the internet? smh

[@inashamsia]

I think it is a case of opposites attract 😜

[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

This brings back memories of when I worked in a wholesale plant shop on 28th street in the 1970’s. The old NYC Flower Market.

[@wendyhan609]

beautiful doc with even better illustrations. really told a whole story with the couple envisioned as plants

[@SeaofSightstoSee]

keep it up new yorker love all these docs

[@joanholland3438]

My plants thrive on Classical music and I do talk to them 🌷They 💚me back!

[@a615a]

The lady is my spirit animal ❤️

[@meirchaimo6960]

Beautiful film. Exceptional score too!

[@natasatrifan8828]

My favorite street in New York

[@lovelyskull3483]

This is fascinating. Such lovely people. Thank you.

[@LakeBum24]

Thank you for keeping our world green and beautiful 💚

[@1sissaree]

He should hire someone young and teach them! Please let the wife retire, she hates being there! Sad sad 😢 can’t bear watching

[@SuZySueSuzyQ]

Wonderful piece! Loved it!

[@laineapple5384]

I love this! Thank you!

[@fumiyohirano8323]

It’s a lovely story on intimacy and impermanent of of all things🙏🏽⛩❤️

[@elizabethayres1062]

beautiful

[@samanthalinn15]

major mother earth's plantasia vibes with the music

[@Zincink]

I’ve gone past this plant place for years but only walked past it. For some strange reason I don’t remember it being open to the public or I thought it was only for ordering via phone. It’s funny how I remember it, yet never went inside. I think I got booped on the street w a large plant they were moving and he yelled something but it wasn’t my fault. & he saw my ultra tall boyfriend & that ended fast lol! Anyway it’s one store in NYC that always was intriguing, magical and special. I hope to see it continue for a long time. I love my garden and this Plantasia album is good you should buy it.

[@KarmasAbutch]

Your experience with the shop was… getting booped in the street by one of his plants then yelled at for his plants bad manners! I know I’m laughing at a wrong thing but …. Colour Me DECEASED 🪦😆😂

[@RealBradMiller]

I love plants so much.

[@TamieLe]

who did the illustrations for this? just superb

[@greciacharry2284]

Bravo Maria!

[@johna4769]

She told me to watch the video because she found them funny. And in all honesty this video was amazing

[@junkintwin]

Wait. What am I watching lol

[@juliehubbard1094]

Great Illustrations

[@jorgeartemiocruzarias7383]

Thanks for share 👍🏼😃🤩

[@eastcoastartist]

True characters

[@katherinezp]

It is romantic for me,love those green plants

[@josephinetyree1476]

AMAZING...He has many that are 'tropical' plants !! Need more 'sun' than most..!!! My neighborhood..Houston St !! Hope Maria is happy now....She really did all she could...As much as I love plants ( which are 'all' around my land etc lol ) , his ONE word was LISTEN...and yet he didn't to .... Marie....( cherish etc...yes...to your wife...1st..not just your plants ) Wonder how many children they have...?? Great Doc....

[@teddybear-cz9cq]

this was a very nice video they seem like lovely people.very funny man in my opinion

[@barbaramcspadden8655]

😁😆very professional.🤗 😁 Reminds me of our farm life but I just got a little place next to my transplant N.Y. husband. Kinda special that way.💗

[@FlorenceChandotCA]

Husband's full of it. Juniper bonsai are not indoor plants, much less tropical. They need dormancy in winter and way more light and humidity than you can get indoors. Anyone claiming otherwise has never kept one alive and vibrant for more than a few years.

[@Liisa3139]

Husband does not know crap about plants. He just makes up his "instructions", because he likes to act like an expert. Having too many plants in such a small space already speaks volumes. You can even sell more if you arrange the plants nicely and always have some special looking plant in a highly visible spot. There are trends in plant scene too. One moment plant x becomes very popular and a few months later it is plant y. In addition to these you need a good selection of others for the true plant people who don't care about trends.

[@jorgeartemiocruzarias7383]

Your plants and cactus are very beautiful ítems 😃✅Congratulations

[@oskaretc]

Half expected him to ask for Luca Brasi with that voice

[@oliviars1757]

i want to hace a cup of coffee with that woman and let her tell me everything she’s ever wanted to say to him and he refused :-/ amazing story still

[@carpenterfamily6198]

“ He thinks he’s hilarious “ Well I hope we all think that of ourselves.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

Everyday I find something hilarious to have a deep laugh over...and it’s typically my old lady-ness!

[@Julie-8]

humongous ugly cactus ahahahahahahha

[@LPurje]

Who did the animation?

[@MRPILL72]

i think she's misunderstood, she seems happy in her own way... let her be >:(

[@Jay98psu2003]

This is the epitome of a true Nyc love story. They love.

[@morgancaine1820]

His advice at the end sounds like he regretted not appreciating his wife.

[@livingitup9647]

Why is the editing so vague on what exactly happened to his wife??? It's annoying. But the whole story is engrossing, and lovely... including the animation. 👍. Thanks for another quality piece!

[@livingitup9647]

Vote with a thumbs up, anyone who would like to know where his wife, Maria, went to...👌. I'm sure we ALL want for her to pursue her own endeavors toward fulfillment and happiness, which the drudgery of this shop did NOT do for her! Wishing her all the best 💗

[@geovanes79]

Queria ser neto deles ❤️

[@TheLearningLounge]

Not sure they could afford it, but they need a helper, so his wife is not so overburdened. Interesting how different they are, and are still together. But surely they both understand you get what you settle for?

[@pachamama526]

i want to share a google review i found of this place which i found hilarious: "I called looking for a black or very dark orchid and the man that answered the phone said "No! No black orchids I'm prejudice" and hung up the phone. I cannot support an owner or business that makes such comments. I will however share this information with others thinking about shopping here." 1/5 stars i just think that is just such a cute joke of him and i can totally imagine that he didn't mean it in a mean way and just being misunderstood- or maybe his prejudices were right and the lady had no sense of humor

[@GigiofGigi]

That’s is a hilarious joke lol

[@samk6051]

The lady is grumpy but sweet😃

[@sheafamily3]

BS she tells it like it is. lol

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Divorce money in hand, the former Mrs. Marcovic went back to school, to study chemistry. Day by day, drop by drop, her bitterness and barely-repressed rage melted away, with every gallon of Agent Orange she made.

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

...the plant shop was sold at a discount to provide the divorce money. She is now in online dating sites writing "where are all the good men?" They never existed sweetie except in your imagination. I date older women and hear their unrealistic fantasies often.

[@tany2191]

@@Stoney-Jacksman you're being so unnecessarily mean and pretentious. Grow up bully.

[@scorps-3473]

The Yugoslavian guys know how to do the right business

[@mariab2863]

She kind of reminds me of my Yiayia hah

[@Stephan5150]

Imagine being vetted before buying a plant haha, only in NYC, bigger, better, best! How anyone aspires to live in that city is mind boggling...

[@MysticGwen]

They're CUTE 💗🖖🦋

[@aliciaseecharan]

Humongous cactus should have a pear or flower. At least. Right ? 🌵🍐🌸🪴👍🏻💕

[@PDogB]

How interesting, I thought. While Ched was an obvious extrovert, at first it seemed to me that Maria was the opposite. She must be an introvert, like me. But unlike Maria, I would give my right arm to have her job as the worker in the plant shop. I certainly would rather spend my days caring for plants in the quiet back ground, then schmooze humans for a living. In fact, I would thrive like a healthy plant in the garden of eden! So, I didn't understand her flat and slightly defensive attitude about her job and husband. Something was not right. I think she' was resentful for being under shadowed by such an outgoing partner. Could it be that suppressing our natural personalities through many years can make us so unhappy? Thank you for this video. I will be reflecting on this one......

[@barbarahaines7661]

I guess there running out the clock.....

[@melaniebruton1831]

She seems so un happy.😕

[@limitone9564]

What about listening to your wife? Open your eyes, listen,

[@Doofball3]

This feels like it was filmed in 2012. 😷

[@mofaz1968]

Do they have any children?

[@celebratelife8436]

She should just fire him and hire 5 strong and Young Men to assist her

[@empressoftheskies]

I like her, him, not so much. He can be really condescending at times. He's always inside while she's always outside. Is it by choice? I dunno, but she definitely takes care of the plants while he sells them.

[@warrenstegmann696]

The wife is bitter. We all make choices. Give away your power to someone else and you left with bitterness which is expressed toward another but ultimately it is as much your anger and frustration with yourself if not more.

[@Bamx333]

Wait. 1. Did she die? 2. Is this a documentary or a fiction/short film?

[@daddishowkey]

It's a documentary

[@johna4769]

No she is not dead 😐 she is very much alive , she actually told me to watch this

[@Bamx333]

@@johna4769 so she divorced him? Or just left him

[@timkeriwuth]

He sounds like he’s a part of Klingons

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

That smarmy narrative voice.

Very sad documentary. She is so bitter....

[@williamwoody7607]

Boy she’s a real peach.

[@muffinthecat4706]

A glorified moaning about hubby or her indoors - I don't need it

[@markeddowes1467]

I’m sorry I loved the whole thing. Yet she does seem to be a bitterly disappointed woman with her lot. Sad she should read Ghandi’s works. A full life can be lived in small things. 🙏

[@catone_atelier]

How judgemental, maybe live as her in the same kind of relationship then you'll find yourself in the same position as her. Guys who is all talk and no action or listening makes poor husbands.

[@kristyjohnson2820]

Agreed. @MarkEddowes...not judging is one of Ghandi’s most espoused points. Perhaps you may need to read it (again).

[@breezluize3282]

Did she say ONE good or positive thing during this entire video? Her energy is a regrettable drag around so many plants.

[@josephinetyree1476]

After 30 years of him paying more attention to the plants SHE takes care of ...and he keeps ordering and he keeps selling....It took it's tole... Moving those pots around...watering ? 300 daily .. and knowing 'how' much water each one needs and when...?? Like she said ...it was 'his' dream, as his wife ..she helped him reach it....but what about 'her's' and her life...?? Living it for another can kill you ... inside and out...I know .. : (

[@breezluize3282]

You can either stay or go. You can't do something for 30 years AND complain about it for THAT long!

[@vindictivetiger3958]

@@breezluize3282 exactly. After a while, you're a volunteer, not a victim.

[@vindictivetiger3958]

@@josephinetyree1476 that should have been hashed out 35 years ago before she legally bound her life and her citizenship to him.

[@aloggins69]

His wife is a meanie. She complains all the time, but it's better than having to go to a different kind of job that she would really hate.

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

I'm a 64 year old guy in the US and this video imo is a pretty fair look at "love". Is gets to be horrible. I like being in love but that doesn't last. People are individuals and that is going to become a problem most of the time. Better imo to not marry and just stay together until the fantasy dies. I've been married twice, 1 & 18 years. I shouldn't have married but that's how I learned. Sure shouldn't have stayed married 18 years but it wasn't horrible and I thought maybe things would get better, closer. Nope. Raising kids I think would keep a couple together longer as it takes your mind off your partner a bit. My plan now is to move to another country and marry a much younger woman and start the clock again. Maybe even have kids because in the west a men having kids wasn't ever a good option for me because of the risk of losing the kids in divorce. Pretty cool to have that option.

[@kcidguzman]

beautiful

[@geovanes79]

Queria ser neto deles ❤️