From a bare block with just two trees to a thriving flower farm, nursery and florist business, Must Love Flowers at Finley is the result of more than two decades of vision, hard work and an enduring passion for plants.
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Located on a 30-acre property about 3km from Finley, called ‘La Grove’ at the corner of the Newell Highway and Donaldsons Rd, the enterprise has grown into a unique destination that combines commercial flower production, a display garden, nursery and florist service.
Owner Leonie Schubert, a florist with more than 30 years of experience, purchased the property more than 20 years ago when it was little more than a cleared paddock.
“Virtually a very bare, messy block” is how she described it.
Today, 12 acres are devoted to Australian and South African native trees and shrubs, with thousands of plants flourishing.
Another two acres consist of established gardens featuring more than 200 roses, a wide variety of Australian and South African natives, bulbs, agapanthus, iris and deciduous trees suitable to the local environment.
Transforming the property into the productive flower farm it is today required significant preparation.
The land was cleared, levelled and deep ripped before dripper lines and irrigation systems were installed throughout the grove.
Suitable species were carefully sourced for the florist and cut-flower industry, while young plants received intensive care during their first one to two years of growth.
“Regular pruning and protecting seedlings from the elements and rabbits with tree guards were critical in those early stages,” Leonie said.
All trees on the property are now supported by a dripper irrigation system, helping maintain healthy growth while using water efficiently.
The flourishing grove has become a haven for local wildlife, particularly native birds, which are attracted by the shelter and food sources created by the diverse range of plant species.
Building on the success of her long-running florist business, formerly known as Finley Buds and Blooms, Leonie has recently expanded with the opening of a nursery under the Must Love Flowers name.
The nursery, which opened in June, specialises in Australian and South African native trees and shrubs, while also offering roses and on-site grown seedlings of flowers, herbs and vegetables.
Visitors can view many of the mature varieties growing in the property's display gardens before selecting plants for their own gardens and farms.
Among Leonie's latest innovations is a new method of raising seedlings, which she calls the “snail concept”.
Designed as a zero-waste system, the approach uses recycled materials, including old sheets, which can later be composted after planting out seedlings.
The new seedling range is expected to be available from September.
Must Love Flowers is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with a self-service flower stand operating daily outside of business hours.
Visitors can also enjoy pick-your-own native flowers, information days, and opportunities for garden clubs and community groups to tour the property.
Leonie hopes the grove will appeal not only to gardeners, but also to artists, photographers and nature lovers.
“There are so many wonderful focal points here, from flowers and trees to the birds that visit,” she said.