NISHIKI NURSERY: GENERATIONS OF HORTICULTURE

By Teagan Faull, Nishiki Nursery

Ever since I was a young girl, I always had a deep understanding and attraction to plants, flowers and all things living. It’s deep inside me. I was lucky enough to have grown up on a lilium and foliage farm, with my Grandpa John, or Pop, as I called him. Pop was so full of energy and excitement, as well as being wise and knowledgeable. It was infectious; it left its mark on me.

My Pop and his father started out growing vegetables in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, in Olinda, way before my time. He then started his own nursery with my grandma selling Rhododendrons, Camelias and Azaleas. Before moving on to grow a wide range of plants and trees for their foliage to supply florists and cut flower shops around Melbourne and interstate.

On top of all that, he was doing lots of earth moving and planting in the Dandenong Ranges in the prestigious Rhododendron gardens and R J Hammer Arboretum, as I said he had a lot of energy.

My Pop was always looking to share his knowledge and passion for plants with those closest to him. His middle son Grant, my dad, fell under his spell and began growing too. They’d both delight in telling me stories from their younger years on the farm. Now I’m making my own growing stories and can’t wait to share them.

This sort of generational passing down of knowledge is abnormally prevalent in our industry. Speaking with fellow growers, there’s often a family member that sowed the seed from which others sprouted.

Indeed, having sat down and talked with my colleagues at Nishiki, Reece Boden and Steve Boekel, they’ve shared similar experiences.

Reece’s grandfather and dad started a rose farm together in Monbulk around 40 years ago. His father Ian is a very wellknown grower in the hills and still grows amazing roses today. Reece remembers helping pot plants into tin cans after returning home from primary school because they had no pots.

Naturally he got the bug and loved horticulture so much that as soon as he could, he completed his apprenticeship at a few nurseries in the Monbulk area. He’s now the part owner at Nishiki Nursery and it feels special to be following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps. He’s also propagated a couple of daughters along the way and he has high hopes that they will follow in his footsteps and find the passion for plants that has been such a positive influence on his own life.

For Steve it was his Dutch grandfather who sowed the seed. He moved to Australia and started growing a wide range of vegetables, before turning his attention to bulb growing, including flowers such as daffodils and peonies.

A young Steve started helping his dad to grow and graft maples, it’s a good thing for all that generational wisdom, because let me tell you grafting is not as easy as it looks! Steve is a very talented grafter with lots of experience and knowledge that’s ready to be imparted on his children, keeping the horticultural flame alive in his family.

I have always felt such a strong connection to horticulture, it’s a special bond which is informed by knowing that I’m following my grandfather’s and father’s legacy. There’s something about knowing that previous generations of my family were having the same work experiences decades ago, that I’m having now that makes it all the more meaningful.

I am blessed to have been surrounded by such passionate and experienced mentors who are shaping my horticultural path. I have come a long way but we’re in an industry where you never stop learning and here’s a long way still to go.

I hope other young horticulturalists are inspired to see the worth of passing on their stories and knowledge to the next generation and breathe new life into our industry. What we hold is special, be sure to pass it on.

Reece, daughter Frankie, and Chippa

Steve with Vizsla Dahli