Page 14 - Sound Rides Feb 2023

WESTRALIA FLOWERS: FER’S FLOWER FARM
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Saturday 28 January 2pm:
I have personally always wanted to see the flower farm for a long time now so when I approached Fer
to see what could be arranged, he offered to host a tour group and afternoon tea which was a lovely
surprise.
Today 29 members visited Fer’s 10 acre property in Baldivis where he grows a variety of flowers to sell
to florists and stores. It’s a huge job as you could imagine. The whole process from selecting and
ordering seeds and bulbs from suppliers to then planting them all into trays until the shoots are a
certain height. They then get transferred into more trays as they grow bigger. This part of the process
is done in refrigerated cool rooms.
From there the plants would be ready to plant within 2 months so out in the huge shade cloth covered
garden areas they are planted into rows. They are all on a watering system and they get watered twice
a day. Mist sprays are fitted all around which helps keep the temperature down in summer. Insect strips
are strung along some of the rows, different herbs and plants are used to assist with bugs and pests in
a natural way too. These massive areas are comprised from very young plants through to the more
mature plants and then those that are ready to be harvested. Then the whole cycle begins again.
Harvesting takes place and sorted in a work-shop area that is fitted out with all sorts of equipment and
another refrigerated cool-room. So all the orders are collected together, placed in the fridge ready for
vans to collect each day.
We saw Gerberas, Gladioli, Lissianthas, Orientals (Lilliums) and Sunflowers and afterwards we relaxed
by the pond where we had afternoon tea. Singing Happy Birthday to Mark before devouring scones and
various cakes with cuppas, (or wine and beer, thanks to Shane and Mel). As the sun was heading low, it
was time to pack up and return home. I was amazed and I certainly appreciate the time, effort and
money that it takes to grow flowers on such a huge scale. So, now as I am passing buckets of colourful
flowers in cellophane at the shops, I can think to myself, I know how you are grown!
Thanks Fer, for opening your home/property to us and to everyone who came to make it successful.
Cheers, Julie

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