Schairer’s Greenhouse open for 11th year

Flowers were at the forefront in Birnamwood on April 30, as Schairer’s Greenhouse opened for its 11th season last weekend.

“We are opening for our 2022 spring season,” said Schairer’s Greenhouse owner Karen Schairer. “We have the greenhouse and we sell a variety of plants, including annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, succulents, trees and shrubs. You can just pick something up for Mother’s Day or come and just get your vegetables.”

Schairer said she started the greenhouse because planting and gardening was of interest to her.

“I just like planting and putting arraignments together,” said Schairer. “I just started growing things and I enjoy doing it. People really like to come out and see the unique things that you put together.”

She said that the greenhouse has become a spring tradition to go along with their vegetable planting in the summer and pumpkin planting in the fall.

“It is kind of just three businesses wrapped into one,” said Schairer. “This is just an extension of the business. This keeps your year going.”

With this being the 11th year of existence for the greenhouse, Schairer has called the business a journey.

“We started very small at a different location,” said Schairer. “We just got a feel for what people were looking for. As we learned that from year to year, we just kept adding stuff. What are the customers looking for and what do they want?”

This year has looked a little different for Schairer though, due to the constant rain that has covered Birnamwood.

“Last year it was 70 degrees and it was crazy here,” said Schairer. “We have not had that this year, but people still know what they want and will come here the first day regardless of what the weather is.”

Schairer said that a lot of time goes into planting and growing the flowers and other plants in preparation of the greenhouse.

“You are selling a live product,” said Schairer. “You can’t leave this alone. It’s just like having pets or animals, you have to be here daily to water, fertilize, learn the plants and check for pests — you have to do all of that to put out a good product. People are looking for a good product.”

Schairer said she starts work on the greenhouse around March 1 every year.

“About two months before we open is when we like to get things going, including turning the heat on and watering,” said Schairer. “Most of it is by plugs (a small flower you order from other greenhouses). I do a little bit of everything, I start my own, I start some things from seeds, I do plugs and I go to plant sales. I try to make this place how I want it to look andto make it what the customers are looking for. The quality has to be there.”

Schairer’s Greenhouse, 154 U.S. Highway 45, Birnamwood, is open through mid-June, with their hours being 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and closed on Monday.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com