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It was the
summer of 1951 when Victor and Eva Kraus acquired their first small
farm in the quiet community of Carlisle, Ontario. Having left their
native land, barely ahead of the post-war communist sweep, they had
brought to Canada dreams of continuing a family tradition.
Victor’s
father had operated a nursery in Velvary, Czechoslovakia and, now,
with 5 ½ acres in their name the young couple were ready to raise
their own crop, and their own family.
They
cultivated the land at first with horse and plough but, in 1954,
managed to buy their first tractor. They harvested rose bushes and
fruit trees, and it wasn’t long before people from miles around were
drawn to the beautiful rose gardens.
Over
the next few years the nursery and family grew together. By 1961, Eva
and Victor were raising five daughters and plenty of plant material on
28 acres. Expected to help in any way possible, the girls received
hands-on training in the family business from an early age.
Victor’s
passion for horticulture combined with experience gained in several
European nurseries was a winning combination for plant production.
Always willing to experiment with new techniques, his results soon
began to influence industry methods of planting and pruning.
Meanwhile, in the home office, Eva’s knack for organization not only
kept the business on course but also allowed her to manage their
energetic daughters. Over the next couple of decades, the size of the
nursery increased by several hundred acres and, as they came of age,
most of the daughters became bona-fide employees of the company.
The
catalogue has since expanded from fruit trees and rose bushes to
include a wide range of native, ornamental trees and shrubs, vines,
perennials, and small fruit. As a wholesale grower / supplier, V.
Kraus Nurseries Limited has earned it’s reputation with cities,
garden centres, landscapers, and orchardists as one of the best
sources for plant material.
Sadly,
Victor passed away in 2005 but the torch has passed on to the next
generation. With the help of a dedicated staff and an ever-growing
number of loyal customers, the future remains bright for this
pioneering nursery.
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