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7 A zV'y V w < y MV ix/i, u--:rj 7 . rz<yCY cJUi ;>•/• ■1 Wednesday, February 10, 1999 COMMUNITY CALENDAR • LIFESTYLES • SPORTS • COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENCE « TV LISTINGS MK 1 ; : v . W W ! " i.Wji*: ; v : f wî^ vV/' ■- r ' • / .*: >?*, t' -vVm^X'/ ir-\ . 1 • 'V ;,.A.r .... :J, tf'Ap** )}-"*-f; >V« )-v. V • '•■, ' h: :: fgji.: v. XX.? ISpagMBaft *, v mXêêX v aBSgwMiyi' lilftt ïBHÉï lilllp; |pK ; : XvXXXXX;."? ■ / Hi * ylR9 ■BF,v ,* . *jw®88H HEP xxvxxX"-',:, ■ X-tt Wx ! .■: ; ,v: ', xv. •■■.. • - g V- : ;■ ViX:'. -'X-X'XX'.^ r'.-/.. 1 -.-.---';...v' ■. .' v v.y.V :;' v X' ;;V- l'éX'r} 'X;-:- ■•'X \ ■■ ■ " 'X. 'X; ■.:"" X ' ■ ■■ .V X' ■ ;ffîfëm ' v 'm î v . V- v-'^. • Jv-V V 'V,V' 1 v "Yv- 1 * lt . r • v - • ; v ' v ■ -ïi» " 1 * - - V ; ■ ' y 'i .•/ vVy',.. ,:•?* V :••»•.•; V>\• v,Vf •1-v- .v.v• • » »-. ■ • .A:-> ».• ■•■.'•, ■fit v-ife: S®»:--!: XX ɧf§!$ Spwi Ss«'*bM ËfcïJ fMjxïi ÊÉmÈ □ See Roses i'(;.2 Still One of The Favourite Valentine's Day Gifts by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer You can't sweet-talk a rosebush, even around Valentine's Day. No matter what, Raymond Mostert just can't get his point across that he needs them to be a little more productive in the winter. "The roses don't know it's Valentine's Day," says Mostert, one of three siblings working at Mostert Greenhouses near Bowmanville. "It's not just a factory where you can put a double shift on." The longer days of summer bring larger harvests harvests at the family's 27,000 square foot greenhouse greenhouse facility near Bowmanville. Some varieties varieties of the flower are cut twice daily during peak production times, But in winter, especially especially around Valentine's Day when Mostert says "demand is phenomenal," it can be hard to keep up. "Mother's Day, we can really gear up for," says Mostert. The Mosterts have been growing roses at their Lamb's Road greenhouses since 1979. Originally a tomato-growing facility, the greenhouse was started by the siblings' father, who still plays an active role in the business. They produce eight varieties of the flower, in all the staple colours, though the majority are red. For the most part, the roses are sold through a wholesaler, who distributes the flowers flowers mainly in the Peterborough Kingston and Pickering areas. The business does accept some direct orders. The roses are cut each morning. During peak productions times, Mostert says as many as 3,000 flowers a day are cut. But, at this time of year, near Valentine's Day when days are shorter, about 700 a day are cut. The family sells more than half a million roses a year. The roses are cut each morning (with a second second cut in the afternoon during the summer) and sorted by length and quality. They are- placed in bunches of 20, hand-tied using a narrow narrow white material, and sent out with the wholesaler. With February 14th fast approaching, Mostert offers some words of advice to help keep roses from your sweetie from drooping quickly. He says the following no-fuss plan is unlikely to keep them alive for long. "If you want to just drop them into water, you may be fortunate enough to enjoy them for five to seven days," he says, adding the condition condition in which the roses are received plays a large role in how long they last. "They have to be fresh to begin with," says Mostert. He says when the roses arrive, the stem should be given a fresh cut while submerged submerged under water. "Cut it with something sharp that won't squash it," he says. He then suggests putting the roses in warm water with either the package package of freshening agent provided with the flowers, or one part Sprite. "Certain varieties at certain times of year only have three days and then they hang their heads," Mostert says. However, there is a method to help bring the flowers back to life. "You can revive them by re-cutting them (under water), or you can entirely submerge the rose in water," lie advises. "Some (varieties) are easier. Certain varieties varieties open quicker than others. It's all to do with freshness," he says. MBBMiTCtr.V. FCUUSM MærfwtJWMemBe aazsw ;jinwiM i*za63aj/avâUMaw