Two  Green Thumbs are looking forward to the new season of their store and hope to open in the coming weeks.

With the snow melting away, Craven greenhouse workers Carol Nye  and Wendy Kuntz look forward to an other successful season at Wolf’s Garden Centre. They are hoping for another busy spring and summer and are ready to open in early April.

Located off highway 20 and near the jamboree grounds is Wolf’s Garden Centre in Craven, Sask. The center is near Wolf’s general store and is a popular source for all things plants, fruits and vegetables during their operating months which run from April to the end of August.

One of their main greenhouse keepers is Carol Nye, Nye has worked in the greenhouse business for nearly 40  years and with Wolf’s Garden Centre since 2019. She  often works all day, from six in the morning till later afternoon.

“I seed everything. Flowers like petunias, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, onions, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, cantaloupe, watermelon and more,” said Nye. In May, they receive various trees and shrubs, including raspberry and strawberry plants, which along with perennials come in ready to be sold.

“The customers are favourite part of working in the greenhouse,” said Nye.

“Lots of people that come up here are repeat customers and it’s always nice to here their feedback about our work,” said Wendy Kuntz.

During the open season, they experience a steady flow of customers across all months, with the slowest period being during Country Thunder.

“We stay open for half a day and that’s it, because it’s busy over there,” Nye said.

Carol and Wendy through some severe weather conditions during the summer months including heat and  severe thunderstorms. During severe thunderstorms  they are forced to shutdown due to safety hazards.  After they close last September, one of the greenhouses roofs was torn down by heavy winds.

“If it’s too hot we just go outside and find a cooler spot, there’s days its over 100 in here, even with the fans,” said Nye.  Working in the heat is a necessity, but they take frequent breaks to prevent any heat related illness.

“I usually get alot of orders from people,” said Nye.  Other things the greenhouse offers are bulk orders, hanging baskets and  bouquets of flowers.

The greenhouse generally employs around 10 people during the duration of the season and they often employ four part time summer students.

“We have lots of laughs, but we work hard, alot of people who come here to work don’t realize what’s involved,” said Kuntz.

“They think that things just show up the way they see them when they walk into the store, ” said Kuntz.

For Nye,  using Canadian products is a necessity.

“All our plants come from Canadian growers, we don’t do USA,” said Nye. They

“There are some things that we don’t carry because they have a short growing season, we want something with a long growing season, said Nye.

For Kuntz and Nye, greenhouse work is calming and they enjoy it when their hard work pays off.

“It makes you happy to see a flower bloom,” said Nye.

Kuntz has also enjoyed learning from Nye, ” I’ve learned so much stuff from her, she’s a expert.”