When World War II ended, a young Jim Meier was discharged from the army and began the journey that eventually ended on Grand River Avenue in Brighton.

Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jim studied horticulture at Michigan State University after leaving the army. Once his formal schooling was completed, Jim continued his education by learning his trade first hand at various greenhouses in the Detroit area.

Newly married to Helen, Jim started his first greenhouse business at 7 Mile and Telegraph in Detroit. Three years later. Jim came to Brighton by chance. When a fellow Redford Lions' member died, Jim and Helen delivered flowers to the funeral in Brighton. While in the area, Jim noticed a greenhouse for sale on Grand River. Jim recalls telling Helen..... "This place is mine."

After nearly 40 years at the same location, there's been a whole lot of growing (and not just flowers) at Meier Flowerland. Jim's five grown children - Danny, Karen, Lori, Lonnie and Eric - grew up learning about flowers and continue to work for the family business.

The greenhouse has grown too. From the original four greenhouses, Jim now has over 28 greenhouses growing plants and flowers to meet the needs of an expanding community. Five of them are located on a new piece of property purchased after the original site was filled to capacity. Greenhouse number six at the new location, which is seven miles from the original Grand River location,. was completed in time for spring planting in 1996.

The motto "We Grow Our Own" assures customers of a quality they won't find somewhere else. Jim attributes his Swiss ancestry for his need to always strive for better quality. "Our aim is to always grow the best we can and still deliver the competitive prices," he asserts.

From early February, when the first seeds have been planted for the upcoming spring season, until mid-November when the latest crop of poinsettias is ready to be holiday-wrpapped and sold to Christmas shoppers, planting season is year-round at Meier Flowerland.

"In the Fall, growing 20,000 hardy mums and eight greenhouses of red, pink, white and mixed poinsettias is a real challenge," Jim states as he continues pruning his flowers. Meier's also carries over 75 tons of Halloween pumpkins, and Christmas trees up to 18 feet tall.

Jim is modest about his success and says that the "good people" of Brighton have had a lot to do with it. "My story is just like one of yours, somebody who did something. Keep growing, Brighton, and I'll grow better with you," he promises