A paddock of daffodils greet visitors to Cindy and Gordon Coombes' property near Geraldine. Photo / Alexia Johnston
A paddock of daffodils greet visitors to Cindy and Gordon Coombes' property near Geraldine. Photo / Alexia Johnston
Spring is in full bloom across Canterbury and Otago. Among those keeping busy with the new season are Cindy and Gordon Coombes, whose Pleasant Valley property features paddocks of bright yellow blooms.
They talk to Alexia Johnston about their earliest years in the daffodil business, which this year will mark its 40th anniversary.
Fields of bright blooms stretch as far as the eye can see at Gordon and Cindy Coombes' Pleasant Valley property.
The bright yellow landscape of daffodils has been 40 years in the making, a milestone the couple are celebrating as their latest crop blooms.
It was Mr Coombes' stepfather, Colin Crotty, and mother, Ness, who developed the farm in Brophy Rd in 1977.
''Basically, Dad farmed here all his life,'' Mr Coombes said.
''He always had a love of growing things, whether it was trees, plants or flowers - it didn't matter - and then the opportunity arose for him to buy a stock of bulbs.''
At the time, the Crottys were farming sheep and beef.
''Farming was pretty tough in those days,'' Mr Coombes said.
''Lambs were worth very little so [they] decided to diversify into daffodils.''
Now, 40 years on, Mr and Mrs Coombes farm the land where they run Pleasant Valley Daffodils.
They took the business on in 1993, when their youngest child was just 1 month old. Back then, visitors would look after the children while the Coombes tended to the customers, many of whom have become lifelong friends, Mrs Coombes said.
Cindy and Gordon Coombes. Photo / Alexia Johnston
Aside from friendships, the business has made them an income. That income comes from the sale of bulbs.
''It's been a living. It makes us an income, which is important,'' Mr Coombes said.
''It's also a lifestyle. You live to work, basically.''
Maintaining the crop of daffodils takes work and so does the creation of new varieties and the process of naming daffodils.
Creating a new daffodil is an intricate process, which involves swapping pollen from one flower to another with a small paintbrush.
And when ''the very, very best'' is created, the Coombes register it with the Royal Horticultural Society in London.
Mr Coombes has registered about 30 so far, while Mr Crotty has registered more than 200.
Gordon Coombes holds a new seedling, which is yet to be named. Photo / Alexia Johnston
However, no royalties were made following that process.
The business has experienced change over the years, including tourist involvement.
''I reckon, since the earthquakes, we don't get the tourist traffic now,'' Mr Coombes said.
He was not sure why that was.
''We used to get camper vans at 7.30 in the morning - even 6.30 to 7 at night you [used to] hear them pull up. They were just passing and [would] see the sign,'' Mrs Coombes said.
''It's quite humbling when you get people from overseas who say they've never seen anything like it.''
Pleasant Valley Daffodils is now open for the season, giving people a chance to admire the crops. The outing is popular among people from all walks of life, including individuals, families and groups.
