The young guides of Northern Flower Farms

As tourists came in droves to catch a glimpse of the pastel-hued blooms and unique rose cabbages lining up a ridge set against the Mt. Pulag range of Kabayan along the Halsema highway, the owners of Northern Flower Farms in Atok, Benguet were eventually compelled to open up their gardens, originally meant for cut-flower farming, to the public.

Initially, an occassional visitor would knock on their gates, even in the wee hours of the morning, to be permitted to take a peek at this miniature Eden citing the long distance traveled as an entitlement, and would not be turned away. But word got out and the curious public who wouldn't take no for answer put that hospitality and generosity to even greater pressure. The number of visitors rose drastically that young students from nearby schools already had to be trained and employed to lead tourists along the neatly lined rows and explain basic botany.