The sun is shining, the crocuses are sprouting, the pussy-willows are budding – spring has arrived in the Cariboo.
And, for all of those itching to get into their gardens, Ten Mile Nursery’s new owners are welcoming you to come out and get growing.
Long-time Quesnel residents Lorne and Shirley Walker, together with their son Ryan and his wife Heather are the new faces behind the nursery and are very excited to be open.
The greenhouse is still at the same location, 4699 Ten Mile Road, with the same great quality products. Heather, who’s the new manager, says “we’re hay farmers, all four of us.”
“My mother-in-law just absolutely loves plants and me as well, so we just decided to give it a try.”
This is a new venture for the family.
“I’m learning as I go,” Heather said.
But with 13 staff members who have a combined work experience of 40 years in the field, things are going great.
“I can’t stress enough how amazing our staff is, they know their stuff and are very very passionate about it,” she said.
On what the nursery will offer, Heather said “it’s all the same great quality – the lady that originally started the nursery works here, so all the quality and selection is going to be the same.”
However, they are sticking with current trends.
“We’re giving it a twist by focusing on container gardens, increasing the selection of hanging arrangements and herb bowls,” she said.
“We are increasing the containers for people in apartments, nursing homes, etc., so they can have fresh veggies on their balcony.”
Heather notes that these types of gardens are really big right now.
“We’re really trying to stick with the trends and container gardening is great,” she said.
“I don’t want to be on my knees weeding a garden all day.”
Ten Mile Nursery is carrying all kinds of container gardens.
“We have these hanging baskets that have tomatoes coming out the bottom with a lettuce mix coming up the top,” she said.
“We have a chef’s salad dinner – cucumber plant, pepper plant and tomato with a variety of lettuces. We have a marinara basket – tomatoes and different herbs, so you can do it all fresh.”
And of course, they carry lots of planters, baskets and bedding plants.
“There is lots there to choose from – stuff already flowering and lots of vegetables,” Heather added.
There will also be a retail section in the barn that has knickknacks, planted gift arrangements, and products from local people.
On running the business with family, Heather says it’s work out really well, with a variety of expertise.
“It’s a melding of experiences that is turning out good,” she said.
“I’m doing everything, from the ordering of the flowers to the point of purchase signs to planting to cleanup… Shirley does design and planting.
“Ryan does the maintenance of the buildings, repairs, water systems. Lorne does the same as Ryan – organizing, repairing, fixing, they are both the jack of all trades out there.”
One of the things that has really drawn the Walkers to the field is the people. “What I’ve seen so far is the passion people have,” Heather said.
“Some people are just crazy about their flowers on a whole nother level.”
Ten Mile Nursery has a face book page with more information and will be celebrating it’s grand opening in mid May.