Welcome to the first official blog post from the Flowerhouse! We’re so excited to be entering the final months leading up to our launch and for our projects to really start to take shape. However, before we jump into all of the fun behind-the-scenes action and plant information, we really wanted to take a moment to give you a glimpse into who and what the Flowerhouse is.
Maybe you have a vague idea of who runs the Flowerhouse, perhaps you know us personally, or maybe you have no idea who we are yet! Regardless, our story probably differs a bit from what you might expect.
It starts in a small town in the Netherlands in the 60s, when owner Pete De Vrij was born and started working for his dad’s greenhouse. Over the years, Pete has grown a variety of plants, ranging from vegetables to trees, and worked in the Netherlands and the USA before settling in Chilliwack.
Despite this experience, there’s one area that Pete found himself still curious about: retail. Having mainly worked in the wholesale greenhouse industry, he found himself in a position where he had the chance to take his horticultural expertise and branch out into retail. While there are always challenges and surprises that come with starting a new business in an unfamiliar sector, Pete’s vast connections and friendships within the industry have made this transition smoother than we could imagine. He is especially excited to be able to help gardeners of all skill levels experience the joy of growing and creating their own gardens with the help of the Flowerhouse.
Another key aspect of this transition, however, is Pete’s co-owner and son, Seth De Vrij. Greenhouses aren’t just on one side of the family for us! Pete’s wife Amy has a giant family tree that also originates in the Netherlands and has roots in horticulture. Her dad, John Van Wingerden, and his 10 siblings pretty much all started greenhouses after immigrating to the USA back in 1948. So, when Seth had the opportunity to go intern as a grower with our cousins and friends at Green Circle Growers in Ohio, he jumped at it. The year and a half he spent working and learning in Ohio were essential to his development as a grower. He returned to Chilliwack excited and equipped for this next chapter, namely, The Flowerhouse. Seth’s experience as a grower is a central part of the Flowerhouse’s commitment to providing the highest quality plants and product to our customers.
The Flowerhouse was born out of a desire to take the extensive knowledge about plants and the greenhouse industry that Pete and Seth both have and make them accessible to the community. We like to joke that we are a “greenhouse family,” but it’s true. Our family grew up in greenhouses, and we are comfortable in this space.
However, as natural as plant lingo and growing information may be to us, we know that’s not the case for most people. Learning about, choosing, and caring for plants can be hard and daunting, and many times retail spaces don’t allow for much education to be found onsite. We want to make the Flowerhouse a place where our background shines through our ability to provide our customers with not only plants, but also the tools and knowledge to grow and care for them after they leave.
When you walk through our doors, you’ll have the most knowledgeable team members available to guide you in developing your dream garden. We’re also striving to create a comfortable, friendly space where people can relax and feel welcome as they shop for plants and learn how to take care of them.
It’s safe to say that we love plants! But we want you to love them too, and for colour, joy, and life to be brought into your home through the Flowerhouse. This is our dream.
Thanks so much for following along and being part of our story. Your support means the world to us as we gear up to officially launch this spring. Stay tuned for more updates, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn for the latest content and information from the Flowerhouse!
