By Derek Schlennstedt
Residents are reassured that Hancock’s Daffodils in the Menzies Creek is open for spring, despite the heavy machinery that’s parked on their lawn.
Will and Christine Ashburner told the Mail that they’re still open, and there’s plenty of daffodils to choose from for spring.
Ms Ashburner said the machinery is part of the Kallista Sewerage project – which will provide a new sewerage service to properties in Kallista, The Patch and Menzies Creek that can’t contain their own wastewater on-site.
“It is all part of the Kallista sewerage project,” she said.
“They asked us if they could use our front paddock and it’s a lot bigger than we thought, but we’re just behind them and open as per usual,” she joked.
Will and Christine Ashburner have over 20 years of experience with daffodils and they’re keen to advise both experts and novices on how to get the best out of their bulbs.
Over spring a sea of flowering colour will greet visitors, from the extensive indoor and garden displays with a large variety of fresh cut flowers, to potted daffodils and collector’s bulbs.
“We’ve got thousands of different varieties,” Ms Ashburner said.
“There’s not just the normal yellow daffodils, but ones with white backs, there’s yellow and orange, white and pinks, and split corona types. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.”
The Ashburners took over the farm in 2000 and have continued introducing new bulb varieties, which are all tested for the local climate, from their own programs or from other breeders world-wide.
From its humble origins more than 100 years ago, the business has evolved to become Australia’s leading daffodil specialists, offering more than 1000 individual varieties to home gardeners around the country.
The Spring festival is open weekdays from 11am to 4pm and on weekends from 10am to 5pm until Sunday 30 September, at the corner of Belgrave-Gembrook and Jacksons Hill roads, Menzies Creek.
Entrance is free and details can be found at www.daffodilbulbs.com.au.
