Kitty de Jong and her sister Wendy took over Agrofleur Select from their father around twenty years ago. Their deep love for seasonal flowers remained, but Kitty made a clear choice when it came to her own business. "The Nerine possesses a pure, feminine beauty."
"My favourite flower? That has to be our very own Nerine, of course. Not just because of its beautiful white, pink and red colours, but also because of the mythical story behind it. The flowers are said to have been transported from South Africa to the coast of Guernsey. And they are said to be named after the Nereids, the 50 daughters of the sea god Nereus. Nerines bloom from the heart of their bulb. They are special because of their pure, feminine beauty and their beautifully shaped flowers that glisten when pollinated. With some varieties, it's as if they're dusted with gold. I could really fall in love with a flower like that. And secretly, I have, haha. I see the Nerine as a fragile yet powerful symbol of connection."
A love for seasonal flowers
"Generally speaking, I have a particular preference for seasonal flowers. At the moment, that means tulips from the garden. They have truly beautiful, deep colours and lovely, full buds. I live in Roelofarendsveen, but for the tulips I make a special trip to Voorhout in the bulb-growing region. I pick up 50 tulips and put them all in one big vase. That makes for a stunning, solid bouquet that really comes to life and moves. So cool! I absolutely love peonies. And then in autumn, of course, our Nerines, which combine so beautifully with those little berries."
"A number of growers grow Nerines all year round. We grow Nerines in season: from August to November. After that, we switch to bulbs. These days, not just for cut flowers, but also for the garden. That's all down to the growing popularity of Nerines. We also do breeding work, which leads to ever more beautiful and robust varieties that also have a lower environmental impact."
© Royal FloraHolland
From father to daughters
"My sister and I took over the business from our father about twenty years ago; he had set it up himself. Whilst my sister mainly handles the administrative and financial side, I'm primarily involved with the flowers. My father used to grow various types of seasonal flowers. We decided to focus entirely on Nerines. That was mainly an intuitive choice; I simply felt the strongest connection with that flower. It's not a common choice. That appeals to me. With this flower, you can really stand out."
"My father thinks it's absolutely brilliant that my sister and I have taken over the business. He's involved, but doesn't interfere in anything. In the past, two uncles and a cousin also worked in the business. The family is still involved. They come along regularly to help out, even though they have jobs and children. At half past seven on Saturday mornings, we have a cup of coffee with lots of family members in the canteen. They all still have a soft spot for the family business and for the flowers."
From mother to daughter?
"I haven't managed to persuade my two daughters – both in their twenties – to join the business. Although my youngest daughter, who is still studying, sometimes lends a hand. Perhaps she'll take the plunge after all. In any case, I've passed on my Flower Love. When I visit my eldest in Tilburg, I can't turn up without a bouquet. There's always a bunch of flowers on the table at my youngest's place too; even though she's on a tight budget as a student. That mission has certainly been a success!"
