Most people enjoy the simple pleasures of a few lilies or daisies in their backyard. Not Lynn and Rick Mills from Highlands Flowers in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, who have 15,000 plants growing on their 17,000-acre property. Flowers on the farm largely consist of bold colourful gerberas, but the Mills family also grows sweet smelling stocks and native bouquet fillers like orange blossom and lemon myrtle as well as heliconia. The farm is also about to extend its range to include smaller crops of sunflowers and other flower varieties.

This family likes to share the load, so no family member gets out of the farm chores. Rick’s mum and dad live on the property and help out where they can as well as the couple’s adult girls who don’t miss out on the flower picking and market stalls – but they do get to take home any unsold flowers.

Highlands Flowers supplies freshly cut flowers to the visitors of the Jan Powers Farmers Markets at Powerhouse, Queen Street, Mitchelton and Manly as well as Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Markets and Red Hill Markets, so before you depart the market with your fresh produce, top your basket with a bunch of blooms to brighten up your kitchen bench.