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Victor and Eva Kraus acquired their first small
farm in the summer of 1951. Having left their
native Czechoslovakia, where Victor's father had operated a nursery in
Velvary, they settled in Carlisle, Ontario with dreams of continuing a family tradition.
Unable to
afford a tractor for the first three years, Victor cultivated their 5 1/2 acre plot with a horse and plough. They propagated rose bushes and
fruit trees, and people would come from miles around to view the
rows of beautiful blooms along Centre Road.
As each year
passed, both the nursery and the family began to grow. By
the end of 1961, Eva
and Victor found themselves working 28 acres of land and raising five daughters.
As they became old enough each of the girls began to help out on the farm,
all the while gaining
valuable experience for later years.
Victor’s
passion for horticulture combined with his own experience, from
working in
European nurseries, was the perfect combination for plant production.
Willing to experiment with new techniques, his methods of planting and
pruning began to influence the industry .
Meanwhile, in the home office, Eva’s knack for organization not only
kept the business on course but allowed her to manage their
energetic daughters. Over the next couple of decades the size of the
nursery would increase to several hundred acres and many additional
employees. Most of the daughters would also take on regular positions
in the company.
The
catalogue has since evolved from hardy fruit trees and rose bushes to
include a wide range of native ornamental trees and shrubs, vines,
perennials, and small fruit.
Now into a seventh decade as wholesale grower /
supplier to cities,
garden centres, landscapers, and orchardists, V.
Kraus Nurseries Limited has earned its reputation as one of
Canada's 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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