On a windy January day we come via G.J. de Ruijter to chaenomeles grower Sjouke Dijkstra, an expert in his field and one of Greenflor’s top suppliers. Full of enthusiasm, Sjouke leads us around his nursery in Nieuwveen, where some 5000 m2 of chaenomeles branches are full of small, bright green buds – some up to 3.5 meters high!

Chaenomeles and the Dutch winter

“These chaenomeles bushes are already 25 years old, but I think we will last for an eternity,” says the inspired expert by experience. The Dutch climate visibly leaves its mark on the field. The enormous branches are supported by large poles, which should prevent them from blowing over. “You really are completely dependent on the elements. But the fact that in the middle of winter, with so little energy, you still have a beautiful flowering branch is really cool,” he says enthusiastically.

From battle …

Sjouke is busy day in and day out maintaining his extensive nursery, which includes fields of corylopsis, rhododendron, magnolia, sorbus and viburnum. He spends these bleak winter months outside on his clogs, where he keeps cutting new, ripe branches from the chaenomeles bushes. This is done by hand, the moment the green buds begin to swell. Taming such a field is not without its struggles. Dijkstra describes the nursery profession as a love-hate relationship, in which a prickle regularly gets stuck in a finger or a branch in an eye. But still he keeps going, looking for the most beautiful branches.

… to a warm bath

After pruning, the harvest is moved to a warm barn, where we discover barrels full of meters-high chaenomeles. It feels like a warm bath in which these magnificent branches are allowed to blossom. Sjouke’s wife Cynthia takes care of the selection and cutting of each one by hand. Customization shines through. The couple ensures that only the best and most beautiful branches go to auction, after which they end up full of beautiful pink and white flowers in bank buildings, department stores, hotel lobbies and more.

Exclusive blossom branches full of love

When asked what sets his chaenomeles apart, Sjouke begins to beam. “It’s a very special product for the time of year. A long-lasting blossom branch full of beautiful, colorful flowers. It actually sells itself!”. Chaenomeles is an exclusive and intensive blossom variety, which means a lot of handworks. And that handwork is done with double work gloves on and safety glasses on. A tailor-made product, where local growers like Sjouke still put real love into sticks… err… sticks!