Roadside Flower Market presents
April 12th to May 19th
PICK YOUR OWN TULIP FESTIVAL 2024
location
Hi, I’m Kristen and I would like to introduce to you our Roadside Flower Market, which is nestled in the heart of Niagara’s wineries & greenhouse sector.
Take a relaxing drive to St. Catharine’s, Ontario and exit off the Queen Elizabeth Way’s (QEW) first exit to Seventh Street Louth and follow Southbound to 1923 Seventh Street.
You will arrive at a tiny black roof house at the corner of our property. Once you arrive, you will notice parking availability is in between the majestic autumn blaze maples that line the driveway. If this parking is full, there will be a parking attendant who will guide you to the over flow parking area across the street.
Guests are invited to our field to harvest from 500 thousand tulips; that were planted by design to give row by row pops of colour, to last for weeks of spring picking.
You can pick your own tulips by gently pulling at the bottom of the stem. Don’t worry about taking the bulb, as it is no longer good to us. Tulips need the foliage to bring carbohydrates back to the bulb and roots. The foliage is also needed for photosynthesis to take place; which brings energy to the bulb for dormancy and healthy spring blooms the following season.
more about our flower house
how did we start?
When we built our house my husband Henk made sure to build a tiny house by the road for a few reasons. One, rural driveways are quite a distance from the home, so we wanted a place for our children to stay out of the weather, while waiting for their bus. Secondly, we always had plans to house a roadside stand for our ambitious offspring to sell whatever their hearts desired.
With my husband’s family wholesale greenhouse Pioneer Flower Farms, across the street from our home; we had hopes that our children would want to start their own business by utilizing the flowers in some way, shape or form. However; during covid, we decided to start this venture sooner than planned. We wanted to offer our neighbourhood, friends and family an accessible location for contactless blooms.
The Roadside Flower Market blossomed with each smile that entered into our little house. It brought everyone pure joy during such a lonely period and we are grateful to continue this accessible flower service.
Kristen and Henk Sikking
L-R: Malayna, Ellyona, Stratton, Hendrik
Our four children, Hendrik, Malayna, Ellyona and Stratton along with my husband Henk Jr., fill the flower house weekly with fresh bouquet’s, potted plants, seasonal items; and recently, my eldest son Hendrik has started a small chicken farm, so you can find fresh farm eggs here as well.
Our little house is run on an honour system; which allows customers to place money in a red metal box, located inside the house during all seasons (seven days a week.) During Spring and Summer, we also have a money box outside on the tractor wagon.
flowers available
Pioneer’s wholesale growing crop is tulips, but also grow for mixed bouquets and planters; which include, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and our seasonal production consists of; Asiatic lilies, peonies, dahlias, sunflowers, hanging baskets, asters, mums and for a brief period in time my Aries husband ventured into growing garlic.
Pioneer’s profitable outdoor crops began in 2005 with sunflowers and in 2013 Henk Jr. purchased land and planted his second attempt with a peony crop under our personal farm, Henk Sikking Jr. (HSJ) Farms Ltd.
Currently under the Pioneer Flower Farms umbrella, we grow sunflowers, asters, peonies and dahlias in neighbouring fields and harvest for cut flower summer and fall production.
Spring 2024 will be our first WePlant, YouPick tulip event and with your attendance, we hope to continue this outdoor family event annually. We are looking forward to welcoming new friends to our farm to harvest the beauty from planting last fall; to enjoy in your home or gift to a loved one.