Blizzard of blooms

By Lia Bichel
AN INCREDIBLE number of flowers at the Karinga nursery are ready to be shipped to flower shops and grocery chains across the country, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Owner and manager of the Keysborough nursery, Roy Schirmer, said he grew about 100,000 pot plant chrysanthemums every year, making him the main grower in Australia.
The 57-year-old florist developed his passion for flowers when he was young and by the age of 17, he was running a plant nursery.
“A friend of my parents, who was 80, knew of my interest and we started a plant nursery when I was 17,” he said.
“After a few years we bought our first block and have been operating from it for 38 years.”
Mr Schirmer said chrysanthemums were the traditional Mother’s Day flowers, which last for years to come.
“They are highly sought after for Mother’s Day,” he said.
“After they are purchased they are usually kept inside for a couple weeks to appreciates their blooms, but then they can be planted in the garden, and as a perennial, the flower generates young shoots for the new season.”
Mr Schirmer said the flowers would be shipped to supermarket chains and flower shops in time for Mother’s Day.