The Chamberlain family have been growing spring flowers at Hadstock Farm in Mid Canterbury since the 1930s.
in the 1930s, John Chamberlain's grandfather started growing tulips at the Springston property which became Hadstock Farm, then his father introduced daffodils in the 1950s.
John continues the growing tradition with wife Cynthia and daughters Jessica, Courtney and Hannah.
It's a full-time job for 23-year-old Courtney who is also studying for a law and commerce degree.
"I do a lot of the driving of the machinery, running the bulb washer, I do all the bulb sales, running the website and I manage all the pickers when they're here," she says.
During the busy flower-picking season, John employs up to 40 casual staff.
Once a year the Chamberlain's also welcome hundreds of local flower-lovers on to the farm – a tradition started by John's father in the 1970s.
"The first weekend of September we open up a paddock and people can come in and pick a bucket full of daffodils," Jessica says.
To dig up the bulbs, the Chamberlains use a Dutch-made bulb digging machine that goes up and down the rows at about 1km per hour.
"You'd probably do a hectare in a day if you got going for a full eight hours," John says.
Currently the last of the bulbs are being dug up and the early flowering daffodils will be planted in April.
"Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty"
-William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale
