Highlight Blooming Centre, Greenway Blooming Centre and The Naturium

Kees and Sabina Kennema’s circuit to prominence as nursery-owners has been uncommon to say the least. Twenty years ago the couple were operating a sheep farm in Monkton in Perth County. Sabina had a passion for flowers and drying them, so Kees built her a greenhouse. Next thing you know, they were growing bedding plants and patio tomatoes and Highlight Blooming Centre was a booming, 20,000 square foot success.

That went so well that when an established nursery in Breslau went up for sale in 1997 they snapped it up and turned it into Greenway Blooming Centre.

Today out of the two sites they grow and sell annuals, perennials, fragrant winter-hardy roses and fresh herbs, with butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting plants a specialty.

Last Septmeber, the Kennemas opened The Naturium next to Greenway Blooming Centre. The Naturium is an information centre, open free to the public (donations to the educational programs are gratefully accepted), with displays about butterflies and hummingbirds, a seminar room where workshops are offered, and a farm gift shop. Outside is a butterfly-shaped garden full of flowers that draw butterflies and hummingbirds.

Events are held at The Naturium throughout the summer, with special guests like Robert Bateman or chainsaw artist “Bearclaw” Jack Eppinga.

To find out how to get to the Kennemas’ fascinating garden venues, visit their website at www.greenwaybloom.com. There you’ll also find a variety of gardening tips and information on plants, gardening, hummingbirds and butterflies.