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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                         FRANK'S NURSERY & CRAFTS, INC.
                             2002 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                         As Amended as of March 24, 2003

                  1. Definitions. As used in this 2002 Stock Option Plan Frank's
Nursery & Craft, Inc., the following terms shall have the following meanings:

                  (a) "Affiliate" means any affiliate of the Company within the
meaning of 17 CFR ss. 230.405.

                  (b) "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Company's board
of directors.

                  (c) "Change in Control" shall mean:

                  (i) The acquisition, after the Effective Date, by any
         individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
         14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
         (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
         of 35% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of either (A) the then
         outstanding shares of Stock, taking into account as outstanding for
         this purpose such shares issuable upon the exercise of options or
         warrants, the conversion of convertible shares or debt, and the
         exercise of any similar right to acquire shares (the "Outstanding
         Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then
         outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally
         in the election of directors or member managers (the "Outstanding
         Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of
         this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
         Change in Control: (V) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate,
         (W) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
         sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,
         (X) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
         complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(c)(iii), (Y) any
         acquisition in connection with any loan or other financing described
         in, pursuant to, as a result of, or in connection with the Plan of
         Reorganization, or (Z) any acquisition by an Existing Shareholder (or
         any Existing Shareholder Affiliate). For purposes of this Section
         (1)(c)(i), "Existing Shareholder" shall be defined as any shareholder
         receiving Stock pursuant to, as a result of, or in connection with the
         Plan of Reorganization and "Existing Shareholder Affiliate" shall be
         defined as any person or entity that, directly or indirectly through
         one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under
         common control with the Existing Shareholder; or

                  (ii) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
         Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
         least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual
         becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or
         nomination for election by the directors then comprising the Incumbent
         Board, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Company's
         shareholders shall be considered as though such individual were a
         member of the

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         Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
         whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or
         threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of
         directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
         consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

                  (iii) Consummation, after the Effective Date, of a
         reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of
         all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business
         Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business
         Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and
         entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
         Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
         Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially
         own, directly or indirectly, more than 65% of the then outstanding
         shares of common stock or interests and the combined voting power of
         the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in
         the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation or
         other entity resulting from such Business Combination (including,
         without limitation, a corporation or entity which as a result of such
         transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the
         Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries)
         in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately
         prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common
         Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
         and (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related
         trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the
         Company, or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination
         or any Affiliate of such corporation) beneficially owns, directly or
         indirectly, 35% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of, respectively,
         the then outstanding shares of common stock or interests of the
         corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination, taking
         into account as outstanding for this purpose such common stock or
         interests issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the
         conversion of convertible stock, interests or debt, and the exercise of
         any similar right to acquire such common stock or interests, or the
         combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
         corporation or other entity except to the extent that such ownership
         existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority
         of the members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body
         of the corporation or other entity resulting from such Business
         Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
         execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board,
         providing for such Business Combination; or

                  (iv) Approval by the shareholders or equityholders of the
         Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                  (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
         amended.

                  (e) "Committee" means the full Board of Directors, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other committee of at
least two independent people as the Board of Directors may appoint to administer
the Plan.

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                  (f) "Company" means Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, as reorganized pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization.

                  (g) "Effective Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 21 hereof.

                  (h) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                  (i) "Fair Market Value" on a given date means (i) if the Stock
is listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the highest and
lowest sale prices reported as having occurred on the primary exchange with
which the Stock is listed and traded on the date prior to such date, or, if
there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which
such a sale was reported; (ii) if the Stock is not listed on any national
securities exchange but is quoted in the National Market System of the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System on a last sale
basis, the average between the high bid price and low ask price reported on the
date prior to such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the
last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Stock is not
listed on a national securities exchange nor quoted in the National Market
System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee to be the
fair market value based upon a good faith attempt to value the Stock accurately
and computed in accordance with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue
Service; or (iv) in the event of a Change in Control, the same amount received
by the selling shareholders. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the Fair Market Value as of the consummation date of the Plan of
Reorganization shall be the ascribed value set forth in the Plan of
Reorganization.

                  (j) "Grant Date" means the date on which an Option is granted,
as specified in Section 7.

                  (k) "Incentive Option" means an Option which by its terms is
to be treated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422
of the Code.

                  (l) "Nonemployee Director" means a director of the Company who
is not an officer or employee of the Company and who is (i) a "nonemployee
director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any
successor rule or regulation and (ii) an "outside director" within the meaning
of Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however, that clause (ii) shall apply
only with respect to grants of Options intended by the Committee to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

                  (m) "Nonstatutory Option" means any Option that is not an
Incentive Option.

                  (n) "Option" means an option to purchase shares of the Stock
granted under the Plan.

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                  (o) "Option Agreement" means an agreement between the Company
and an Optionee, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Option.

                  (p) "Option Period" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 9 hereof.

                  (q) "Option Price" means the price paid or to be paid by an
Optionee for a share of Stock upon exercise of an Option.

                  (r) "Optionee" means a person eligible to receive an Option,
as provided in Section 6, to whom an Option shall have been granted under the
Plan.

                  (s) "Plan" means this 2002 Stock Option Plan of the Company.

                  (t) "Plan of Reorganization" means the Company's Joint Plan of
Reorganization, dated February __, 2002, as amended.

                  (u) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                  (v) "Stock" means common stock, par value $.001 per share, of
the Company.

                  (w) "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company as
defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

                  (x) "Ten Percent Owner" means a person who owns, or is deemed
within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code to own, stock possessing
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company (or its parent or subsidiary corporations). Whether a person is a Ten
Percent Owner shall be determined with respect to each Option based on the facts
existing immediately prior to the Grant Date of such Option.

                  2. Purpose. The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of the
Stock by key employees and Nonemployee Directors of the Company and to provide
additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company's business.
The Plan is intended to provide for the grant of Incentive Options and
Nonstatutory Options.

                  3. Term of the Plan. The expiration date of the Plan, after
which no Options may be granted hereunder, shall be the date that is ten years
following the Effective Date; provided, however, that the administration of the
Plan shall continue in effect until all matters relating to the payment of
Options previously granted have been settled.

                  4.       Administration.

                  (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, each member of the Committee
shall, at the time he takes any action with respect to an Option under the Plan,
be a Nonemployee Director. The majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members

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present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing
by a majority of the Committee shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.

                  (b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without
limitation, the provisions of Sections 8 and 9), the Committee shall have
complete authority, in its discretion, to make the following determinations with
respect to each Option to be granted by the Company: (i) the key employee or
Nonemployee Director to receive the Option; (ii) whether the Option (if granted
to an employee) will be an Incentive Option or a Nonstatutory Option; (iii) the
time of granting the Option; (iv) subject to Section 5, the number of shares of
the Stock subject to the Option; (v) the Option Price; (vi) the vesting
schedule, if any, over which the Option shall become exercisable; (vii) the
expiration date of the Option (which may not be more than ten (10) 4 years after
the date of grant thereof); and (viii) the restrictions, if any, to be imposed
upon transfer of shares of the Stock purchased by the Optionee upon the exercise
of the Option. The Committee shall have complete authority to interpret the
Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to
determine the terms and provisions of the respective Option Agreements (which
need not be identical), and to make all other determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee's determination on
the matters referred to in this Section 4 shall be conclusive.

                  5. Stock Subject to the Plan. The Plan covers 3,652,174 shares
of the Stock, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan. All
of the shares of the Stock covered by the Plan may be granted, at the
Committee's discretion, as performance based compensation pursuant to Section
162(m) of the Code. The number of shares of the Stock purchased pursuant to the
exercise of Options and the number of shares of the Stock subject to outstanding
Options shall be charged against the shares covered by the Plan; but shares of
the Stock subject to Options which terminate without being exercised shall not
be so charged. Shares of the Stock to be issued upon the exercise of Options may
be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its
treasury. During any calendar year (other than calendar year 2002), no person
other than the Company's Chief Executive Officer may be granted Options with
respect to more than 500,000 shares of Stock; provided, however, that (a) with
respect to calendar year 2002, no person may be granted Options with respect to
more than 2,000,000 shares of Stock and (b) during any calendar year (other than
calendar year 2002), the Company's Chief Executive Officer may not be granted
options with respect to more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock.

                  6. Eligibility. An Option may be granted only to a key
employee or Nonemployee Director of the Company; provided, however, that
Incentive Options may only be granted to employees of the Company.

                  7. Discretionary Grant of Stock Options. The Committee is
authorized to grant one or more Incentive Options or Nonstatutory Options to any
person who meets the eligibility requirements of Section 6. Each Option so
granted shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan, or to such other
conditions as may be reflected in the applicable Option Agreement.

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                  8. Option Price. The Option Price per share of Stock for each
Option shall be set by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less
than, in the case of an Incentive Option, 100% of the Fair Market Value of the
Stock on the Grant Date, or not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the
Stock on the Grant Date if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Owner; provided,
however, that all Options intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code shall have an Option Price per
share of Stock no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the
Grant Date.

                  9. Option Period. Options shall vest and become exercisable in
such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and shall
expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the
Committee (the "Option Period"); provided, however, that no Incentive Option may
be exercised later than the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date if the Optionee
is a Ten Percent Owner; further, provided, however, that notwithstanding any
vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may in its sole discretion
accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect
the terms and conditions of any such Option other than with respect to
exercisability. If an Option is exercisable in installments, 5 such installments
or portions thereof which become exercisable shall remain exercisable until the
Option expires.

                  10. $100,000 Per Year Limitation for Incentive Stock Options.
To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date)
of Stock for which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by any
Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its
Subsidiaries) exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Options shall be treated
as Nonstatutory Options.

                  11. Manner of Exercise and Form of Payment.

                  (a) The Options shall be exercised by delivering written
notice to the Company stating the number of shares of Stock to be purchased, the
person or persons in whose name the shares of Stock are to be registered and
each such person's address and social security number. Such notice shall not be
effective unless accompanied by the full purchase price for all shares to be
purchased, and any applicable withholding (as described below). The purchase
price shall be payable in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, in shares
of Stock, by any other means or method acceptable to the Committee or any
combination thereof; provided that the Optionee may use Stock in payment of the
exercise price only if the shares so used are considered "mature" for purposes
of generally accepted accounting principles, i.e., (i) have been held by the
Optionee free and clear for at least six months prior to the use thereof to pay
part of an Option exercise price, (ii) have been purchased by the Optionee on
the open market, or (iii) meet any other requirements for "mature" shares as may
exist on the date of the use thereof to pay part of an Option exercise price.
Payment in currency or by certified or cashier's check shall be considered
payment in cash. In the event that all or part of the purchase price is paid in
shares of Stock, the shares used in payment shall be valued at their Fair Market
Value on the date of exercise of the relevant Options. Subject to, and promptly
after, the Optionee's compliance with all of the provisions of this Section 11,
the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Optionee a certificate
for the number of shares of the Stock then being purchased by him or her.

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If any law or applicable regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or
other body having jurisdiction in the premises shall require the Company or the
Optionee to take any action in connection with shares of the Stock being
purchased upon exercise of the Option, exercise of the Option and delivery of
the certificate or certificates for such shares (including, without limitation,
any exercise of the Option and delivery of the certificate or certificate for
such shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11(c) below)
shall be postponed until completion of the necessary action, which shall be
taken at the Company's expense. The number of shares of Stock subject to each
outstanding Option shall be reduced by one share for each share of the Stock
purchased upon exercise of the Option.

                  (b) The Company's obligation to deliver shares of Stock upon
exercise of an Option shall be subject to the Optionee's satisfaction of all
applicable federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding
obligations. The Optionee shall satisfy such obligations by making a payment of
the requisite amount in cash or by check, unless the Optionee is entitled to and
has elected to effect such payment through a "cashless" exercise in accordance
with Section 11(c) below.

                  (c) In lieu of the methods of exercise described in Section
11(a) above, an Optionee may, unless prohibited by applicable law, elect to
effect payment by including with the written notice of exercise referred to in
Section 11(a) above irrevocable instructions to deliver for sale to a registered
securities broker acceptable to the Company a number of shares of Stock subject
to the Option being exercised sufficient, after brokerage commissions, to cover
the aggregate option price payable with respect to such shares and, if the
Optionee further elects, the Optionee's withholding obligations under Section
11(b) with respect to such exercise, together with irrevocable instructions to
such broker to sell such shares and to remit directly to the Company such
aggregate option price and, if the Optionee has so elected, the amount of such
withholding obligations. The Company shall not be required to deliver to such
securities broker any stock certificate for such shares until it has received
from the broker such aggregate option price and, if the Optionee has so elected,
the amount of such withholding obligations.

                  12. Transferability of Options. Unless specifically allowed by
the Committee and set forth in an Option Agreement, Options shall not be
transferable, otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
and may be exercised during the life of the Optionee only by the Optionee.

                  13. Termination of Employment. If an Optionee ceases to be an
employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, or a Nonemployee Director's service
with the Company terminates, for any reason other than retirement (in accordance
with any qualified retirement plan maintained by the Company), in the case of an
employee, or death of an Optionee, any Option held by that Optionee may be
exercised by the Optionee at any time within 90 days after the termination of
such relationship, but only to the extent exercisable at termination and in no
event after the Option Period. If an Optionee that is an employee of the Company
or a Subsidiary enters retirement from employment or any Optionee dies, any
Option held by that Optionee may be exercised by the Optionee or the Optionee's
trustee, executor or administrator, as applicable, at any time within the
shorter of the option period or 12 months after the date of retirement or

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death, but only to the extent exercisable at retirement or death. Options which
are not exercisable at the time of termination of such relationship or which are
so exercisable but are not exercised within the time periods described above
shall terminate. Military or sick leave shall not be deemed a termination under
this Section 13 provided that such leave does not exceed the longer of 90 days
or the period during which the reemployment rights of the absent employee are
guaranteed by statute or by contract.

                  14. Adjustment of Number of Shares; Fractional Shares.

                  (a) Options granted under the Plan and any agreements
evidencing such Options, the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to all
Options and the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which any one
person may be granted Options during any year shall be subject to adjustment or
substitution, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, reasonably
exercised, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Stock or other
consideration subject to such Options or as otherwise determined by the
Committee to be equitable (i) in the event of changes in the outstanding Stock
or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, stock
splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers,
consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in
capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any such Option or (ii) in the
event of any change in applicable laws or any change in circumstances which
results in or would result in any substantial dilution or enlargement of the
rights granted to, or available for, Optionees in the Plan, or which otherwise
warrants equitable adjustment because it interferes with the intended operation
of the Plan. In addition, in the event of any such adjustments or substitution,
the aggregate number of shares of Stock available under the Plan, and the
aggregate number of shares of Stock as to which Options may be granted to any
one person over the term of the Plan, shall be appropriately adjusted by the
Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. Any adjustment in Incentive
Options under this Section 14 shall be made only to the extent not constituting
a "modification" within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any
adjustments under this Section 14 shall be made in a manner which does not
adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act. Further, with respect to Options intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code, such
adjustments or substitutions shall be made only to the extent that the Committee
determines that such adjustments or substitutions may be made without a loss of
deductibility for Options under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company shall
give each Optionee notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such
adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

                  (b) Upon a Change in Control, all outstanding Options that
have not yet become fully vested and exercisable shall become fully vested and
exercisable. Upon a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its discretion and
upon at least 10 days advance notice to the affected persons, provide that an
Option shall terminate, but the Optionee (if at the time an employee or
Nonemployee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have the right,
immediately prior to such event, to exercise the Option, to the extent then
exercisable by its terms and not theretofore exercised. In the event of a Change
in Control, the Committee may also, in its discretion and upon at least 10 days
advance notice to the affected persons, cancel any

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outstanding Options and pay to the Optionees thereof, in cash or stock, or any
combination thereof, the value of such Options based upon the price per share of
Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in the
event. The terms of this Section 14 may be varied by the Committee in any
particular Option Agreement. No fraction of a share of the Stock shall be
purchasable or deliverable, but in the event any adjustment of the number of
shares of the Stock covered by the Option shall cause such number to include a
fraction of a share, such fraction shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller
whole number of shares. In the event of changes in the outstanding Stock by
reason of any stock dividend, split-up, contraction, reclassification, or change
of outstanding shares of the Stock of the nature contemplated by this Section 14
after the Effective Date, the number of shares of the Stock available for the
purpose of the Plan as stated in Section 5 and the exercise price per share of
each Option shall be correspondingly adjusted.

                  15. Stock Reserved. The Company shall at all times during the
term of the Options reserve and keep available such number of shares of the
Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan and shall
pay all other fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in
connection therewith.

                  16. Limitation of Rights in Option Stock. The Optionee shall
have no rights as a stockholder in respect of shares of the Stock as to which
his or her Option shall not have 8 been exercised, certificates issued and
delivered and payment as herein provided made in full, and shall have no rights
with respect to such shares not expressly conferred by this Plan.

                  17. Purchase for Investment. The Optionee shall make such
representations with respect to investment intent and the method of disposal of
optioned shares of the Stock as the Board of Directors may deem advisable in
order to assure compliance with applicable securities laws.

                  18. Voluntary Surrender. The Committee may permit the
voluntary surrender of all or any portion of any Nonstatutory Option granted
under the Plan to be conditioned upon the granting to the Optionee of a new
Option for the same or a different number of shares as the Option surrendered,
subject to the aggregate maximum number of shares available under the Plan as
set forth in Section 5, or require such voluntary surrender as a condition
precedent to a grant of a new Option to such Optionee. Such new Option shall be
exercisable at an Option Price, during an Option Period, and in accordance with
any other terms or conditions specified by the Committee at the time the new
Option is granted, all determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan
without regard to the Option Price, Option Period, or any other terms and
conditions of the Nonstatutory Option surrendered.

                  19. Termination and Amendment of Plan. The Board of Directors
may at any time terminate the Plan or make such modifications of the Plan as it
shall deem advisable, provided, that the Board of Directors may not, without the
approval of the Company's shareholders in a manner which complies with the
requirements of Sections 422 and 162(m) of the Code and the requirements of any
exchange on which the Stock may be listed, increase the maximum number of shares
available for option under the Plan (other than as provided in

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Section 14). In addition, unless the Committee specifically determines
otherwise, approval of the Company's shareholders in a manner which complies
with the requirements of Sections 422 and 162(m) of the Code shall be required
for any other amendment to the Plan which, without such shareholder approval,
would cause (a) Options intended to be Incentive Options to fail to qualify as
Incentive Options or (b) Options intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify. No
termination or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Optionee to
whom any Option shall theretofore have been granted, directly and adversely
affect the rights of that Optionee under that Option.

                  20. General

                  (a) Government and Other Regulations. Notwithstanding any
terms or conditions of any Option to the contrary, the Company shall be under no
obligation to offer to sell or to sell and shall be prohibited from offering to
sell or selling any shares of Stock pursuant to an Option unless such shares
have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion
of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold
without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the
terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The
Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities
Act any of the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. If the
shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold 9
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Company
may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Stock certificates
representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the
availability of any such exemption.

                  (b) Claim to Options and Employment Rights. No employee,
Nonemployee Director, or other person shall have any claim or right to be
granted an Option under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an
Option, to be selected for a grant of any other Option. Neither the Plan nor any
action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Optionee any right to be
retained in the employ or service of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.

                  (c) No Liability of Committee Members. No member of the
Committee shall be personally liable by reason of any contract or other
instrument executed by such member or on his behalf in his capacity as a member
of the Committee nor for any mistake of judgment made in good faith, and the
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each
other employee, officer or director of the Company to whom any duty or power
relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or
delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability
(including any sum paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or
omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such person's
own fraud or willful bad faith; provided, however, that approval of the Board
shall be required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against
any such person. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive
of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled
under the Company's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.

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                  (d) Governing law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

                  (e) Funding. No provision of the Plan shall require the
Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to
purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which
contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the
Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the
existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such
purposes. Holders shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured
general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become
entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they
shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

                  (f) Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan
shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension,
retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company
or any Subsidiary except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.

                  (g) Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be
borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

                  (h) Pronouns. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine
gender shall refer to both men and women.

                  (i) Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the
sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of
any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall
control.

                  21. Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the effective
date of the Plan of Reorganization. The effectiveness of the Plan and the
validity of any and all Options granted pursuant to the Plan is contingent upon
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company in a manner which
complies with Sections 422(b)(1) and 162(m) of the Code, if applicable. Unless
and until the stockholders approve the Plan in compliance therewith, no Option
granted under the Plan shall be effective.

                                       11<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.13

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of April 1, 2003,
between Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and Mr. Bruce Dale ("Employee").

                                     RECITAL

         A. The Company is engaged in the operation of retail stores that sell
lawn and garden products, Christmas trim-a-tree merchandise, artificial flowers
and arrangements, garden and floral crafts and home decorative products.

         B. The Company wishes to employ Employee as its Chief Executive Officer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Employee desires to be employed by the
Company in that position.

         Therefore, the parties agree as follows:

1.       DUTIES AND NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT.

         1.1 Duties. During the Employment Term (as defined in Section 2.1
below), Employee shall, in accordance with this Agreement, be employed by the
Company as its Chief Executive Officer and devote his full working time,
attention and best efforts to the business of the Company. During the Employment
Term, Employee shall comply with all of the Company's corporate policies. The
Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to cause Employee to be
nominated to the Company's Board of Directors.

         1.2 Relocation. Employee shall establish his primary residency in the
Troy, Michigan area as of the date of this Agreement, and Employee and his
family shall relocate to the Troy, Michigan area within four months of the date
of this Agreement (the "Transition Period").

         1.3 Representations. Employee hereby represents, warrants and covenants
that he is not and shall not be, during the Employment Term, subject to any
employment or consulting agreement or other document with another employer or
with any business as to which Employee's employment by the Company and provision
of services in the capacity contemplated herein would be a breach. Employee
hereby represents, warrants, and covenants that he is not and shall not be
subject to any agreement which prohibits Employee during the Employment Term
from any of the following: (i) providing services for the Company in the
capacity contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) competing with, or in any way
participating in, a business which includes the Company's business; (iii)
soliciting personnel of any former employer or other business to leave such
former employer or to leave such other business; or (iv) soliciting customers of
any former employer or other business on behalf of another business. Further,
Employee is not aware of the existence of any circumstances that could
materially interfere with his duties under this Agreement, and Employee
represents and warrants that there is no pending or threatened litigation
against him.

<PAGE>

2.       TERM.

         2.1 Employment Term. The term of Employee's employment under this
Agreement (the "Employment Term") begins on April 1, 2003 and shall continue for
three years or until earlier terminated in accordance with Section 2.2 of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the termination of the Employment Term pursuant to
Section 2.2 below, the parties' obligations under Sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
shall, according to their terms, survive any termination of Employee's
employment, and Employee and the Company shall in all events be bound by and
comply with the provisions of such applicable Sections at all times after such
termination.

         2.2 Termination of Employment Term. The Employment Term shall terminate
prior to its expiration upon the earliest to occur of the following:

         (a) the death of Employee, effective as of the date of death;

         (b) the substantial disability of Employee, as determined by a
competent medical doctor selected by the Company, for a period of 90 days;

         (c) without Cause (as defined below), other than as a result of the
death or disability of Employee, upon written notice to Employee by the Company,
effective as of the date of such notice;

         (d) with "Cause" (defined as gross insubordination, intentional neglect
of principal duties, commission of a felony or breach of duty of loyalty in
connection with his activities relating to the Company), upon written notice to
Employee by the Company, effective as of the date of such notice; or

         (e) upon 45 days prior written notice to the Company by Employee.

         2.3 At Will Employment. While Employee shall have certain rights upon
the termination of his employment, Employee's employment hereunder shall be
terminable at will, with or without Cause, at any time, and Employee shall have
no right to continued employment hereunder.

3.       COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEE. As full compensation for the services to
be rendered by Employee pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall pay
Employee, during the Employment Term, the following:

         (a) An annual salary of $450,000 for the first twelve months of this
Agreement, $475,000 for the second twelve months of this Agreement and $500,000
for the third twelve months of this Agreement, payable in arrears, semi-monthly
or otherwise in accordance with the Company's regular payroll procedures;

         (b) In the event that the Company's actual consolidated earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization after deduction of any bonus
amount payable to Employee

                                        2

<PAGE>

pursuant to this Section ("EBITDA") for any fiscal year of the Company during
the Employment Term equals or exceeds the EBITDA level established in the
Company's budget for such fiscal year as established by the Company's board of
directors, Employee will be entitled to a bonus with respect to such fiscal year
equal to the sum of (i) 50% of Employee's annual salary as specified in Section
3(a) above plus (ii) 5% of the amount by which the Company's actual EBITDA
exceeds such budgeted EBITDA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of the
bonus payable to Employee with respect to the Company's fiscal years 2003 and
2006 shall be equal to the amount of bonus which would otherwise be payable
pursuant to this Section 3(b) multiplied by the percentage of such fiscal year
which falls within the Employment Term; and

         (c) As of the date of this Agreement, Employee will be granted options
to acquire an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock
pursuant to the Company's 2002 Stock Option Plan. Such options shall be granted
at the fair market value of the Company's common stock as of the date of this
Agreement and shall vest as follows: 333,333 shares on April 1, 2004, 333,333
shares on April 1, 2005, and 333,334 shares on April 1, 2006.

4.       FRINGE BENEFITS. Employee shall be entitled, during the Employment
Term, to receive those benefits generally provided to other executive employees
of the Company from time to time. Employee shall also be entitled, during the
Employment Term, to receive the following benefits:

         (a) reimbursement, upon presentation of appropriate documentation, of
all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee with respect to (i) the sale of
Employee's home in Dallas, Texas, (ii) moving Employee's personal effects to the
Troy, Michigan area, and (iii) temporary housing for Employee and his family in
the Troy, Michigan area, not to exceed $3,000 per month, until the earlier of
Employee's purchase of a home in the Troy, Michigan area or the end of the
Transition Period;

         (b)   $1,500,000 of life insurance;

         (c)   health insurance for Employee and his family with no deductibles;
               and

         (d)   use of a leased automobile and related insurance and maintenance
               costs.

In addition, a deferred compensation plan will be established for Employee at
his request provided that there shall be no cost to the Company associated with
such plan.

5.       PAYMENTS UPON CERTAIN TERMINATIONS.

         5.1   Termination of Employment.

         (a) If the Employment Term terminates for any reason whatsoever,
Employee (or, if applicable, his legal representative) shall be entitled to
receive (i) the pro rata portion of Employee's earned but unpaid salary under
Section 3(a) above through the date of termination and (ii) any unpaid bonus
earned under Section 3(b) above with respect to any fiscal year completed on or
prior to the date of termination.

                                       3

<PAGE>

         (b) If the Employment Term terminates pursuant to Section 2.2(a) or (b)
above, Employee (or, if applicable, his legal representative) shall be entitled
to receive, in addition to the amounts specified in Section 5.1(a) above, an
amount equal to (i) the bonus that Employee would have been entitled to receive
under Section 3(b) above for the fiscal year in which termination of employment
occurs, determined as if Employee's employment had not terminated, multiplied by
(ii) the percentage of such fiscal year which has elapsed through the date of
termination of Employee's employment, payable when such bonus would otherwise
have been payable had Employee's employment not terminated (the "Prorated
Bonus").

         (c) If the Employment Term terminates pursuant to Section 2.2(c) above,
then Employee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the amounts specified
in Section 5.1(a) above, (i) his annual base salary, as and when it would
otherwise have been payable to him, for the longer of (A) twelve months from the
date of termination of the Employment Term or (B) until March 31, 2006, and (ii)
the Prorated Bonus. Nothing in this Section 5.1(c) shall limit the Company's
right to terminate the Employment Term under any other subsection of Section
2.2, and discontinue its obligations under this Section 5.1(c), even after the
Company's termination of the Employment Term under Section 2.2(c), if the
Company learns of facts or circumstances that would make termination under a
Section other than Section 2.2(c) appropriate, including any breach by Employee
of the provisions of Section 6. Employee shall be entitled to purchase health
insurance through the Company in accordance with, and for as long as provided
by, COBRA. During the shorter of (I) or the term which Employee receives his
annual base salary pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.1(c) and
(II) the period during which Employee is entitled to purchase health insurance
through the Company under COBRA, the Company shall pay Employee an amount equal
to his cost of such health insurance at the same time Employee's payments for
such health insurance are due to the Company; provided, that if Employee obtains
employment with a third party during the period in which Employee is entitled to
be paid the cost of his health insurance pursuant to this Section, and Employee
is eligible to obtain health insurance through such third party, then the
Company shall no longer be obligated to pay Employee the cost of his health
insurance pursuant to this Section.

         5.2 Limitation of Termination Payments and Withholding of Taxes. Except
as set forth in this Agreement, the termination payments described in this
Section 5 shall be in lieu of any termination or severance payments required by
Company policy or applicable law (including unemployment compensation) and shall
constitute Employee's exclusive rights and remedies with respect to termination
of his employment with the Company, other than rights or remedies that Employee
or his estate may have under the Company's employee benefit plans. The Company
may withhold from any payments under this Section 5 all applicable federal,
state, city or other taxes required by applicable law to be so withheld.

6.       CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETITION.

         6.1   Confidential Information.

         (a) Employee shall not, except as required by his duties to the
Company, as authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company or as required
by law, at any time during or

                                       4

<PAGE>

after the termination of his employment with the Company, directly or indirectly
use, publish, disseminate, distribute or otherwise disclose any Confidential
Information (as defined below). Employee shall keep all Confidential Information
in trust for the use and benefit of the Company. Employee shall take all
reasonable steps necessary or reasonably requested by the Company to ensure that
all Confidential Information is kept confidential for the sole use and benefit
of the Company.

         (b) Upon termination of his employment by the Company or at any other
time the Company may so request, Employee shall promptly deliver to the Company
all materials constituting Confidential Information (including all copies) that
are in his possession or under his control and Employee shall not make or retain
any copy of or extract from such materials.

         (c) For purposes of this Section 6.1, "Confidential Information" means
any proprietary or confidential information of or relating to the Company that
is not generally known in any industry in which the Company is or may become
engaged and which is material to the Company. Employee acknowledges that the
Confidential Information of the Company is valuable, special and unique to the
business of the Company and on which such business depends, and is proprietary
to the Company, and that the Company wishes to protect such Confidential
Information by keeping it secret and confidential for the sole use and benefit
of the Company.

         6.2 Non-Competition. During the longer of (i) the period through March
31, 2006, and (ii) the period through the date which is twelve months after the
termination of the Employment Term, Employee shall not, either directly or
indirectly, through any person or entity:

         (a) Hire any person who is then employed by, is a consultant to or is
an agent of the Company or who was employed by, a consultant to or an agent of
the Company at any time during the three months prior to such date, or
encourage, induce or attempt to induce, or aid, assist or abet any other party
or person in encouraging, inducing or attempting to induce, any such employee,
consultant or agent to alter or terminate his or her employment, consultation or
agency with the Company.

         (b) Take any action intended to, or which otherwise does, interfere
with the Company's relationship with any supplier, vendor, lender, shareholder
or other party.

         (c) Be engaged by, consult with, or invest in, any person or entity
doing business in any state in which the Company does business, the principal
business of which is the sale of lawn and garden and/or Christmas merchandise,
except that Employee may own stock in a corporation which may be engaged
principally in the sale of lawn and garden and/or Christmas merchandise, whose
shares are listed for trading on a national or regional stock exchange or trade
on the over-the-counter market, provided that Employee owns, in the aggregate,
fewer than 2% of the issued and outstanding shares of such corporation.

                                        5

<PAGE>

7.       REMEDIES.

         7.1 Injunctive Relief. The covenants and obligations contained in
Sections 6.1 and 6.2 above relate to matters which are of a special, unique and
extraordinary character and a violation of any of the terms of such Sections
shall cause irreparable injury to the Company, the amount of which shall be
difficult if not impossible to estimate or determine and which cannot be
adequately compensated. Therefore, the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief from any court of
competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or threatened violation of any
of such terms by Employee and such other persons as the court orders.

         7.2 Cumulative Rights and Remedies. The rights and remedies provided by
Section 7.1 above are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and
remedies the Company may have at law or equity.

8.       MISCELLANEOUS.

         8.1 Headings. The descriptive headings of the Sections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

         8.2 Notices. Any notices or other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be sufficiently given if sent by certified or registered mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to the Company at its principal executive offices,
with a copy to Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, 2290 First
National Building, 660 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226, or to Employee
at his address as shown in the Company's records. Any such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been given as of the date so mailed.

         8.3 Assignment. Employee may not assign, transfer or delegate his
rights or obligations under this Agreement and any attempt to do so shall be
void. Upon any assignment of this Agreement by the Company, the Company shall
obtain the written acknowledgement of the assignee or successor that such party
is bound by this Agreement. This Agreement is binding on and inures to the
benefit of the parties, their successors and assigns and the executors,
administrators and other legal representatives of Employee.

         8.4 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts.

         8.5 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute relating to or
arising out of the matters covered by this Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Michigan (regardless of the laws that might be applicable
under principles of conflicts of law) as to all matters (including validity,
construction, effect and performance). Each party hereto consents to, and shall
submit to, the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Michigan and of any
Federal court whose district includes Troy, Michigan, which shall have exclusive
jurisdiction with respect to any action or proceeding, and process in any such
action or proceeding may be served in the manner provided by Michigan law for
service on foreign corporations or persons.

                                      6

<PAGE>

         8.6 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated.

         8.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement,
and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, among
the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement
may not be amended or modified except by agreement in writing, signed by the
party against whom enforcement of any waiver, amendment, modification or
discharge is sought.

                                       7
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been signed on the date first
written above.

                                     Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.,
                                     a Delaware corporation

                                     By: /s/ Adam Szopinski
                                        ---------------------------------------

                                     Its: President/C.O.O.
                                         --------------------------------------

                                       /s/ Bruce Dale
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                             Bruce Dale

                                       8

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