Enjoying the sweet smell of success
In the hills above Whiting Bay a new business is blooming. Charlotte’s Flowers has created a small flower farm out of a former grazing field.
Professional gardener Charlotte Karsemeijer sows and grows seasonal flowers with the emphasis on their natural beauty and scent.
Charlotte began the business two years ago but it is in the last year that she has been putting all her energies into getting it up and running.
‘We have a strong belief in sustainability with a low carbon footprint,’ she said. ‘Everything is grown along organic lines keeping everything natural and fresh.’
Whether it is the roses, the sweet peas, the dalias or the carnations they are all grown for their scent as well as their appearance. ‘Flowers which are commercially produced don’t smell like they used to, said Charlotte. ‘We want to get back to the old fashioned variety to try and make them a bit more real.’
The nursery is part of a one-and-a-half-acre site bounded on one side by the Glen Burn, which has an impressive waterfall, but at the moment there is no run- ning water on the site, so the plants are all watered with collected rainwater.
‘Rainwater is better for watering plants as it is not as hard as Arran water but to have some mains backup would be an advantage. We had just put in loads of new plants when the long dry spell started in May, so that was a bit of a nightmare.’
Charlotte, who has lived on Arran for 10 years, has part-time help at the nursery from Carol McQuarrie and is also being helped by her young Dutch cousin Laura van der Woude, who is staying on Arran for the summer.
Work at the nursery is almost year-round, starting in January with the planting of both annuals and perennials in the greenhouse at her home in Lamlash, she shares with partner Jamie Stewart. The work goes on right through to December when the demand is for wreaths and Christmas greens.
In between there is a full growing season for a wide range of flowers all cultivated and grown in the fine sandy soil of the nursery, which has its own polytunnel to help the young plants along.
The ordered flowers are cut in the evening and allowed to rest overnight before being arranged by Charlotte in her own log cabin on site and delivered to the customer.
‘The aim is to produce Arran-grown seasonal flowers. Something quite natural with a low carbon footprint,’ she added.
‘It is very much a growing business and I would like to build up more regular orders,’ said Charlotte.
She can take orders for any occasion and her flowers are also available to buy at Bay Stores in Whiting Bay and Arran Active in Brodick with more outlets being sought. Charlotte is also regularly supplying a couple of hotels and restaurants, which she would like to expand.
She can also supply a DIY bucket of flowers to anyone who wants to get creative and make their own special bouquet.
Charlotte said: ‘There is a lot of hard work involved and you are always planning for the future, but it is something I enjoy and hope the people of Arran will be able to enjoy them too. I would like to expand further and push the season a little more but it all takes time.’
But the sweet smell of success does not seem too far away.
To order flowers directly from Charlotte’s Flowers email charlottekarsemeijer_flowers@hotmail.com or call 01770 600969.