Business is blooming for northern entrepreneur

Page 10

At first it seems like an ordinary greenhouse. Warm, fragrant air and a kaleidoscope of colour greet you at the door while wind snaps at the plastic walls and ceiling. Look down though and you'll see that horsetail ferns have crept inside and stand sentinel around the sandy floor. Breathe deeper and you'll catch a whiff of the nearby boreal forest, mingled with the domesticated scent of marigolds, snapdragons, and geraniums.

The greenhouse is at Elikoos Flowers and Trees on the Kitsaki reserve near La Ronge, owned and operated by Eleanor Hegland and her husband Rodney Hegland.

With her infectious laugh and welcoming personality, Eleanor makes choosing plants a pleasure, not a chore. That's because she's passionate about what she does and has the knowledge to back up her enthusiasm.

Five years ago, she took a landscaping and horticulture course by correspondence, mainly to gain the skills necessary to beautify her own yard. But one thing led to another, and soon Rodney, a journeyman plumber and carpenter, was building the first of three greenhouses. Now Elikoos is a popular stop for locals and tourists en route to their cabins.

The name of the business, Elikoos, is what Eleanor's brother used to call her when she was young, because he had trouble pronouncing her name. It stuck, and Eleanor attached it to the business as a tribute to her brother, who's no longer living.

Customer service is part of what makes Elikoos a thriving business. Customers leave not just with flowers or shrubs, but with tips on how to care for and maintain them. Prices are reasonable and the plants, which come from K-5 Market in Shellbrook, are healthy and well-kept. Eleanor said people often come by several times a week and are glad they no longer have to add plant buying to the long list of errands to accomplish on trips south.

Word of Elikoos' quality is spreading and phone orders are starting to come in from as far away as Camsell Portage, where they're shipped by plane.

"Two of my apple trees just went to Pelican Narrows," Eleanor said.

Other customers include mining and fishing camps as well several La Ronge and area businesses.

Eleanor's upbringing at Pickerel Bay instilled a deep appreciation for nature, something she missed when she moved to town.

"Growing up on the trapline, you're surrounded by beauty and you get to see the changing seasons."

While her business is important, Eleanor makes sure she spends ample time in the bush. She also works as a Cree language and culture teacher at Bell's Point elementary school and is currently involved in developing the curriculum for a new Cree immersion program.

In May and June, a part-time employee looks after sales at Elikoos. As soon as her teaching job wraps up for the year, she and Rodney close the greenhouse and head to their Dore Lake trapline for the months of July and August.

When asked how big she plans to let Elikoos Flowers and Trees grow, Eleanor laughed. "Not too much bigger," she said, but then pointed out where ground has been cleared for another building that will eventually be a year-round store featuring house plants, home and gardening magazines and seasonal items.