Founded in 1988 by the husband and wife team of Paul Jenkins and Miriam Goldberger, Wildflower Farm began as wholesale dried flower growers. In 1991, Wildflower Farm expanded to become a pick your own flower farm. This quickly attracted the attention of people in Southern Ontario, drawing thousands of people to the farm during the summer months.
Over the years, Miriam and Paul became increasingly interested in the low maintenance advantages of growing native wildflowers. Working with plants that required no watering, no fertilizing and minimal annual maintenance was very attractive. At that time there were very few sources for truly native wildflower seeds and the seeds that were available were very expensive and of dubious quality and origin. Seeing an opportunity, in 1997, Wildflower Farm expanded its focus and has since blossomed into becoming a leading native plant nursery and natural gardening centre supplying hardy, native perennial plants, seeds and site specific wildflower seed mixes to homeowners, landscape contractors, municipalities and corporations.
During this same time, what began as a simple walk in the forest planted a seed in the minds of Miriam and Paul, when they spotted clumps of a rich green grass growing in the deep shade of the northern woods. Perhaps, they thought, these emerald patches could be used as natural grass pathways for their wildflower meadows. Trial and error led to the development in 1998 of the drought-tolerant, low maintenance turf grass Eco-Lawn™ from a blend of seven fine fescue grasses, a move which has changed the face of “lawnscaping” for homeowners and businesses across North America.
In the twelve years that Wildflower Farm has had Eco-Lawn™ on the market, tens of thousands of homeowners, businesses, governments and municipalities have enjoyed the benefits of reduced mowing and reduced watering, while at the same time eliminating the use of dangerous lawn chemicals.
Originally located on a 100 acre farm near Schomberg, Ontario, in the autumn of 2004, Wildflower Farm moved the entire operation to a farm near Coldwater, Ontario. Located right on Highway 12 just 10 km from Orillia, ON, (see our Map) Wildflower Farm has a one and one half acre demonstration garden consisting of thousands of mature native wildflowers transplanted from the old Schomberg farm with large walking paths of Eco-Lawn™. Most of these pesticide free demonstration gardens are organized by individual species along with a few mixed species gardens.
Along with the gardens, a new retail store and nursery sales area was built. The Wildflower Farm Natural Garden Centre provides gardeners the opportunity to select plants and seeds from a large variety of hardy, perennial native wildflowers and grasses. In 2005, 8 acres of wildflowers were planted in rows providing an on-site source for the growing market for quality, nursery grown wildflower seeds.
Wildflower Farm is now a popular destination point for nature lovers and wildflower and native plant enthusiasts with thousands of people visiting from all over North America. Visitors to the farm can explore the gardens, take photos of flowers and butterflies, discuss their landscaping desires with our informative staff and buy the highest quality wildflower plants, seeds and seed mixes from the nursery along with a host of fabulous and unusual gift items in the shop.
Wildflower Farm will be open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
seven days a week, from Earth Day, April 22nd through to Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
