CARDINAL - A teenaged Koren Manneck didn't ask for a car or a ticket to college. She asked for a greenhouse.

More than three decades later, the owner of Brokor Greenhouses at 319 Froom Road continues to thrive in her beloved "soil rich" environment while drawing a loyal throng of customers from throughout the region.

"It's passion and creativity wrapped together that drives this whole thing," says Koren. "It's a good life when you're surrounded by flowers and plants."

This is one of the best times of year for the business when her greenhouses are filled with seeds, "veggie transplants" or seedlings, herbs, annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, planters, arrangements and cut flowers. Koren is a mainstay on the Brockville Farmers' Market so you can visit her there as well. Her plants are also available at Home Hardware in Brockville and at the B&H Your Community Grocery in Kemptville.

"Soil is in my blood," says Koren. She was raised on a dairy farm and did a high school co-op placement at a nursery. That seemed to seal the deal for her career path. Her first greenhouse led to two, then three and so on. The business has been at its current location 19 of the past 30 years.

Floral design for weddings and special events is a big part of the business too. Koren has a flare for arranging and blending colours. A big hit are her fall bouquets using pumpkins as containers. She shares her talent in many popular workshops like BYOV - Bring Your Own Vase.

Koren credits customer loyalty, product quality and a strong work ethic to Brokor's success and longevity. She is also grateful for the support of husband Nordhoff, daughters Kerryanna and Katareena and niece Kirstan Bennett, who is the lead grower at Brokor.

"Our philosophy is to offer a local, naturally grown product, with biological controls that are free of chemicals," says Koren.

Koren and family are community minded. Each year they choose a perennial with sales going to Neuroblastoma cancer research in memory of the late Cardinal teen Joshua Crawford.

Learn more about Brokor Greenhouses by visiting their newly updated website. The business is located off Shanly Road (County Road 22), south of Highway 401. You can send an email or give them a call at 613-657-3375.

We would like to hear your views on the challenges and opportunities facing the region’s tourism industry. What is your vision for tourism in the United Counties over the next few years? What programs and policies do you think the region needs in place to help realize that vision?

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office is in the process of preparing its first regional tourism destination strategy and action plan as part of the tourism and hospitality sector recovery and for its future development.

As one of the region’s tourism stakeholders, you can participate in a survey and / or a virtual session. The survey will take you 5-7 minutes to complete, with your responses only analyzed in aggregate by the Counties project partner, Twenty31 Consulting.

Responses will be kept strictly confidential and no personal information will be made public.

The Virtual Consultation Session will be held Wednesday, June 8, from 7-9 p.m.