Nothing quite suggests, here in the Prairies, that spring has truly arrived until it warms up enough for the greenhouses and ice cream shops to open their doors.
The greenhouse, just off the highway in Carnduff, specializes in small quantities of plants with a wide variety of options. They support small family growers based in the Prairies, including the Vanstone and Jeffries families out of Portage La Prairie, Man. Being a family-owned-and-operated business itself, co-owned by mother and daughter Lynette and Victoria Lang, supporting small businesses is important. They have been operating the greenhouse for eight years; they opened their doors in May 2016.
“Our main focus is buying quality and putting a lot of hours taking really good care of them,” said Lynette Lang who oversees the greenhouse.
“We keep a good eye on what customers like year after year.”
As well as keeping track of popular sales, Lynette takes into consideration the community needs while ordering for the year. After talking to the local Filipinos, they are bringing in jambalaya okra, Asian beans, and Hansel Asian delight eggplants.
The greenhouse is also instrumental in the community, filling the Town of Carnduff pots as well as any planters for the residents.
“People can just drop off their planters and we will fill it for them,” Lynette shared.
The greenhouse in Carnduff will be opening May 11, but is open year-round as a florist and gift shop as well.
The greenhouse in Oxbow started as a mother-daughter duo, and has been operating for eight years. And with the eight greenhouse buildings loaded with plants, in the heart of town, owner Sherry Hansen and staff keep very busy. They start their seedlings in January and February, and have everything from flowers to veggies to house plants.
When they first opened, Hansen confessed that “I didn’t know anything”, but now they provide flowers all over the town for the hospital, cemetery and the flower baskets hanging in downtown Carnduff that are displayed in memorial for lost family and friends.
Throughout the year they host flower-arranging classes for adults.
“We have had holiday-themed workshops, like Easter for example.”
Along with having an impact on the locals Sherry shared that they also have returning patrons from Estevan and Regina.
The greenhouse in Oxbow is open year round, along with the florist and gift shop.
