Duck, ducklings fly the coop at garden centre

A duck that made her nest in a Charlottetown grocery store's garden centre has flown the coop.

Staff at the Atlantic Superstore say the duck's six eggs hatched Wednesday in the bed of Spanish lavender that she made her home.

The duck had been named Lucy by staff.

"Kind of exciting, it's kind of sad now that she's gone," said Suzanne Doucet, who works at the garden centre.

"She's been here for like a month and you kind of get attached to her. I think she got used to a few of us, our voices, because we're here all the time, so she knew we weren't going to hurt her."

Doucet said Lucy and her brood made their way across University Avenue overnight Wednesday.

Staff said shoppers were respectful of Lucy, but often found her by accident while perusing the garden plants.

The staff believe Lucy went to either a pond near the farmers' market or a pond at UPEI.