**Exhibit      10.53**

**LIMITED      WAIVER TO**

**LOAN      AND SECURITY AGREEMENT**

----

----

*Signature      Pages Follow*

----

|   | BORROWER:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | HINES NURSERIES, INC.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | By:   /s/                      Claudia Pieropan                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   | Title:                         CFO                                                                                       |
|   | Name:  Claudia                      Pieropan                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | PARENT:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | HINES HORTICULTURE, INC.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | By:   /s/                      Claudia                      Pieropan                                                                                                                                          |
|   | Title:    CFO                                                                                             |
|   | Name:  Claudia                      Pieropan                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | AGENT                        AND LENDERS:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | BANK                        OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent and a Lender                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | By:  /s/ Jason                      Riley                                                                                                                                                           |
|   | Title:                         Vice President                                                                                                                                                                 |
|   | Name:                            Jason                          Riley                                                                                                                          |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,                      as a                      Lender                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | By:   /s/ Gregory                      Hall                                                                                                       |
|   | Title:    Vice                      President                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | Name:  Gregory                        Hall                                                                                                                                                     |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | GMAC COMMERCIAL FINANCE LLC,                      as a                      Lender                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | By: /s/                      Robert                      Richardson                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|   | Title:    Director                                                                                                                                |
|   | Name:  Robert                      Richardson                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

**S-1**