Corine van den Berg started the Montana nursery in Poeldijk 35 years ago with her husband, Frank van Holst. They have passed on their love for lisianthus to their children, two of whom now work in the business. "As a mother, it's wonderful to work alongside my two sons."
"Falling in love at first sight—some people never experience it. I've actually had the privilege of experiencing it twice! First with my husband Frank, with whom I started the nursery in 1991. And together, we fell in love with the lisianthus. With the flower as a whole, but also with the buds that swell like beautifully swirled dollops of whipped cream. And that then open up elegantly and gracefully in the vase. That is and remains a stunning visual explosion of color. A flower to fall in love with at first sight, then!"
Little ones
"Running your own nursery is intense. You're at it 24 hours a day. It's not just a job, but a way of life. I love it. From the very beginning, the flowers have felt like our children. They need a lot of care. Frank focused mainly on the growing itself. I've always been heavily involved in sales and product development. Trade shows and flower events really make my heart sing. I also handle marketing. That's why I've always been the face of Montana. Unconsciously, we've passed on our love for the Lisianthus to our children."
© Royal FloraHolland
"Later, we had our own children—four in total, plus a foster son. They grew up in and around the greenhouse. They never had to go to daycare because Frank, I, and my father-in-law—who often helped with the flower bouquets—were almost always there. That was fun for the kids, who got to know their grandpa well. And it was wonderful for Frank and me; we saw our children much more than parents who work in an office. When they were in elementary school, they always came home for lunch at noon."
Your Sons as Colleagues
"Two of our children now work in the company: Jerom and Frank Jr. Our youngest son, Bonno, also helps out regularly. As a mother, I think that's fantastic, of course. It's sometimes really funny. For example, when I hear my son say on the phone, 'I'll just check with my colleague,' when he actually means me—his mother. But above all, we know what to expect from each other. The values we instilled in them while raising them are also reflected in the company. Make sure people can trust you; be honest. Try to do the right thing and always go the extra mile for your customers. I see the boys doing that. That makes me happy."
"We've given the boys the freedom to explore what their 'thing' is. Jerom is technically minded and has tried various things; he was involved with the planting robot and helped me with sales in the office. Ultimately, he ended up doing what his father does: growing plants, working with them. Frank Jr. is a true salesman. He calls people and feels right at home in that role. Little by little, he's taking over as the face of Montana. I give him that freedom."
A shared passion
"The Flower Love really runs in the family. But it goes beyond that. I also sense an enormous passion for flowers among the floral designers and Japanese breeders we work with.
Because flowers are so much more than you might think at first glance. It's truly a language. You can convey deep feelings simply by giving flowers. And experience how it opens hearts in a special way."
