Clarington Digital Newspaper Collections

Canadian Statesman (Bowmanville, ON), 24 Sep 1975, Section 2, p. 1

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Greenthumb Racer Grows Exotic Plants- BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 ction Drivers often slow their cars down on the road to try to figure out what these buildings are. They're the Jensen Greenhouses and they house thousands of exotic plants. The pre-fabricated structures contain 26,000 square feet of glass and are called 'glass acres' because they have no interior walls. Bruce Jensen poses beside some of the trees inside the recently built green- houses. Jensen greenhouses, located for years in Scarborough, has recently moved their wholesale tropical plant business to a new location near Newcastle. To Mosport fans, Bruce is known as the 'Greenthumb Driver'. He races a Formula Atlantic Chevron B-29 as relaxation from his hectic tropical plant business. The photos above show some of the small detail of three species in the greenhouses. At top is an oleander blossom. The middle picture shows a staghorn fern which is a parasitic plant that lives off the coconut. The lemon blossom, at right, has an overpowering scent despite its small size. Editor's note: Botanical names have been carefully avoided because the photographer can't spell. Bruce Jensen's wife Barbara explained that many of the larger plants and trees are transported from the Jensen nursery in Orlando, Florida. With extensive travel and the change in climate, all of the plants and trees go into a temporary state of shock and lose some leaves. The Jensens keep them in the greenhouses here for a period of time to become acclimatized and recuperate efore distribution to clients. Jensen plants can now be obtained through retail florists in Bowmanville. by Liz Armstrong. Kermit the Frog of Sesame Street fame would be well- advised to avoid Bruce and Barbara Jensen of Newcastle. In his theme song, Kermit laments the color of his skin. ."It's not easy being green, the color of the leaves..." For the sake of bis individuality, he'd prefer to shed his camouflage and be orange or blue or any other ýsolor in the world. Kermit would no doubt find the Jensens very likeable, though it's a cinch he'd stay ,vay from the business they e because Jensen 1 Plants is one of the st wholesale growers and distributors of tropical Dlants in North America, and green figures very highly in their lives. Thousands Of Plants Kermit aside, a visit to the Jensen Farms in Newcastle is an eye-opening experience that's bound to leave even a amateur indoor gardeners drooling, and more than a little green with envy. The four huge greenhouses recently constructed on tne- towers and shopping plazas property contain literally throughout Canada and the thousands of tropical plants United States have had their ranging in size from small foyers and concourses de- cuttings taking root in the corated with countless plants propagation beds to trees well and trees from Jensens. over 20 feet in height. * In addition, the company It's difficult to convey the also provides retail florists size and atmosnhere of the with their supplies of tropical 'glass acres', but wanderinE plants, and thousands of the through the warm, humi smaller potted varieties are interior between the palms sold annually through Lob- and yuccas and hanging pots, laws. and smelling the indescdib- Not A Mirage able scent of the orange and Yet, as recently as five lemon blossoms, you'd almost months ago, there wasn't even expect to hear a macaw one square foot of glass on the screeching from the branches property except in the win- of one of the exotic trees. dows of the farm bouse, let Contracts for Jensen plants alone the rows of rubber come from all over North plants, cacti and palms that America, neluding a recent grow inside the greenhouses. one from the John Hancock It was an empty field in May; Centre in Boston, the largest since then the 26,000 square ever awarded on this contin- feet of glass in the pre- ent and possibly in the world. fabricated greenhouses have The new Hyatt Regency Hotel sprung up from the founda- in Dearborn, Michigan is tions. another Jensen client, and Huge truckloads of plants there are trees in the green- followed immediately after house right now which are completion of the building, tagged for a new Toronto and for the past six weeks, the Dominion Centre in Emon- stock has been steadily filling ton. the immense greenhouses to Over the years, large office capacity. No wonder people slow down in their cars to get a better look at the place; they probably think it's a mirage... . Quite the contrary. Jensen Exotic Plants is solid and well established; the family has merely relocated a business that bas been building a sizeable clientele and an excellent reputation for years. Bruce Jensen was born into the business that is now located in the Newcastle area. His father Eric came to Canada as an immigrant from Denmark, and he worked in several greenhouses as a horticulturalist before ultim- ately buying his own business in Scarborough from his last employer. Exclusively Exotic Through the years, Jensen Greenhouses grew steadily. Originally, the business ca- tered to a mixed market, but in the early fifties, the company began importing tropical plants, and like most of the other big growers, it gradually moved toward' specialization. Today it deals exclusivelv in tropical plants. In 1954, the Jensens built a nursery in Orlando to grow their own stock. Three specially heated transport trucks now travel to Florida each week in order to bring back plants and trees to Canada. With the completion of the new greenhouses this year, most of the small plant propogation will now be done here, and the Jensens will convert much of the Orlando operation into growing of larger trees. Four years ago, the Jensen land in Scarborough was sold to developers and new pre- mises ha to be constructed this year in another location. Plants To Newcastle The new land had to meet several requirements before the Jensens could consider buying. They needed a flat piece of land with an abundant supply of water, and in order to allow the big transport trucks access, the property had to be located near a highway on a lot zoned for agriculture. After two years of searching, the Jensens found the suitable location near Newcastle, and construction of the greenhouses began in May. All of the glass has been whitewashed on the exterior to prevent the hot rays of the summer sun from bumning the foliage of the plants and trees inside. As the colder weather approaches, the whitewashing will wear off and the glass will become more transparent al- lowing the weaker rays of the sun to penetrate more effect- ively. Next April, the green- bouses will be re-whitewashed in anticipation of another hot season. A complete irrigation sys- tem has been installed and hundreds of feet of piping will provide water for the plants. A Cf C 10 foot trench was dug to handle these large quantities of water plus the run-off from the snow and rain on the roof. Te wtr that s acunuae S dw will be recycled into the pond, a fact that should please the In addition to the criticism environmentalists and prove theylaunched toward the taxi reassuring to neighbours who service in Bowmanville, the may have feared being wash- Chamber of Commerce dele- ed out. And if the pond should gation at Monday's meeting of threaten to overflow, a sluice- council's Committee of the way will be installed to carry Whole, rcported concern over off the excess water. the condition of the sidewalks The Greenthumb Driver along the King Street Business Even prior to moving his Section. business to this area, Bruce It was noted that recent Jensen was well acquainted work by the gas company with the territory, and he which required portions of the needs no introduction to car sidewalk to be tom up, bad racing fans at Mosport. In fact resulted in further patching ail over the North American being done with asphaît rather racing circuit, he's well known than cerent. as "the Greenthumb Driver." The Chamber Directors are Racing serves as a form of of the opinion that the asphaît relaxation from his hectic patching bas left the side- business, and for the past walks in an unattractive several years he bas driven a condition. Formula Atlantic Chevron Councillor Ivan Hobbs me- B-29 in international competi- tion. Though it bas recently When the greenhouse opened been taken apart for repairs, in August, advemtisements Bruce's car is distinctive and were placcd in local papers to easily recognized when it's on find cmployccs to work at the the track. The exterior is Jensen Farms, and according elegantly painted with the to Barbara, the response was two-tone green and white logo overwbelming. As a mesult, ail of Jensen Exotic Plants. the labor necessary for the Bruce's work takes hirn ail business in Newcastle is over the-continent, and his racing has opened up nany Lookîng after tropical new business opportunities for plants is esscntially as time him. consuming as tcnding live- Not For Amateurs stock. It's a year round The plant business is not for operation, and the plants get fly-by-night operators, thougb thirsty on wcekends too. many do try to break into the Squeezing in a holiday isn't market and soon realize that easy for the Jensens, but they it's not a job for amateurs. will try to get away at Bruce grew up in it, and his Christmas to visit Bruce's wife Barbara maintains that a parents in Omlando. great deal of the necessary Wbile someone tdnds the knowledge is acquired as if house (and garden) tbey'll "by instinct. Much of what is take their camper to Michigan essential bas to be learned as (so Bruce can check out the a child. It's ver ydifficult to Hyatt Regency in Dearborn) learn it as an adult." and tben continue on to In addition to the invaluable Florida (to inspect the nur- experiencelhe gained as a boy, sery). Between business en- Bruce developed a fine eye for gagements, there may even be interior design, and con- afew days to get away from sequently, he bas become it ail in a State trailer park. extremely successful in his Barbara Jensen relates al field. As well, he possessed the this with a smile...obviously foresight several years ago to ,sh's as keen on green as ber realize that the building of busband. large business centres in Toronto was being curtailed, so be got busy and scouted opportunities in other areas. Architects come to him with their blueprints, and he advises what kind of plants and trees will suit their plans. When the order cornes, tla plants and trees are snlaced in their containers, shîpped in one of a dozen Jensen delivery trucks and delivered to tbeir destination. Upon arrivao in their new borne, the plants are arranged and installed by Jensen em- ployees. The company will also provide maintenance for the plants if the client wishes, and if this service is rcquested the plants are guaranteed byI the company. Tbere are about 420 clients in this region of Soutiern Ontario tbat have their plants looked after this way. One Jensen employee is keptdfhsypusy taking care of he plants in Toronto's Coe- merce Court, and Te is assisted by a part-time helper eacplweek. Plans To Expand WitWin the next couple of years, tbe Jensens hope to expand the size of the presw greenhouse to include two more units. Plans also include tbe construction of an 'ae- ptaant bouse' whico will ac- commodate trees up to 45 feet in veiget. That thought could boggtlnte meyd of even the kbsnest indoor greentiumb. Though the plants bave been in the greenbouses for the past six weoks, the first cron cuttingssave already oen rooted and potted. As the growth process continues, it should be an interesting and e rewarding experience for the a t n Jensens to sec the tiny plants progress to their successively paraer pots before taey're Wi s odCospletely Canadian Including the nursery in ®rlando, Jensen Greenhouses is fu(sy Canadian, ahdcitois one ofyatteRfewncaninianacornn panes ellng lans ad atdes Thesns conthe smato tlorda UoS.spearthenur BeteenNccasleandJesens Bewee bues her- Tomnto aout45eole re egaets there mayoee oe cmpov inth buines. tel nw building traile prk. ire ctors Say Iks Un attractive plied to the delegation, noting that asphalt patching has been used as an economical move due to the high cost of replacing concrete sidewalks everytime they are torn up. Councillor Hobbs and Mayor Garnet Rickard both voiced concern over the large num- ber of times that the sidewalks have been and are being torn up. Councillor Don Allin agreed with the chamber representa- tives that the appearance of the sidewalks at present is not the best but that as it had been done for economical reasons there was little else that can be done. The merchants asked the committee if there is any plan being developed for revamp- ing such matters as sidewalks in the downtown area. Councillor Hobbs advised them that there is nothing in this year's works budget for such improvements. Mayor Rickard said he did not know of any way that the constant tearing up of the sidewalks could be controlled but tiat n the cost compari- son he could only agree with the use that has been made of asphalt. The mayor further suggest- ed that the cost of the replacement to a comparable condition as that prior to the work be born bv the contrac- tor rather than the property owner. Councillor Ann Cowman interjected the suggestion to the delegation that they should approach the Region as they appear to be more concerned about revamping downtown areas and she urged them to attend Monday evening's pub- lic meeting to see the plans. Committee Chairman Ken Lyall was in agreement with Mayor Rickard on the sugges- tion that the cost of compar- able replacement should be born by the contractor. However, Mr. Lyall added that it might be wise for the contractor to be required to obtain a building permit under which provisions the town's inspectors could keep an eye on the situation and ensure that replacement is compar- able. Councillor Hobbs advised Mr. Lyall that contractors dc have to obtain a permit but that it is for permission to make a cut and not a building permit which grants the construction of a house. Mr. Lyall added that a building permit, as it ap- p arently is required to build a ence, might also apply to this situation. Councillor Hobbs insisted that if Mr. Lyall would listen he might learn something but Mr. Lyall replied "not from you, sir." Committee carried a motion of Mr. Hobbs that the situation be referred to the works committee for a recommenda- tion. Sr. Citizens Club A well-attended pot-luck supper began the autumn activities of the Bowrnanville Senior Citizens Club. Enter- tainment was provided by Mr. Walter Woolley who g layed popular musical num- ers. Mr. R.W. Sheridan introdue- ed several members of the costs of musicals recently produced by the Bowmanville High School Drama depart- ment; Brig-a-Doon and He's a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The audience was very ap- preciative of their singing and acting. Mr. J. Crookshank was the pianist. Mr. Harold Skinner, Presi- dent, conducted a short business meeting. Tentative plans were made for a bus trip to the Royal Winter Fair on Nov. 14. Card-playing was enjoyed for the remainder of the evening. potted plants are sold through Loblaw's from the is also a large section of the greenhouses that is f propagating cuttings, and the first 'crop' grown in ently potted.

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