A History of Minnesota Floriculture Richard E. Widmer A Chronicle of People and Events Significant to the Commercial Growth of Minnesota Floriculture, University of Minnesota Contributions to the Industry, and Minneapolis-St. Paul Parks Developments Minnesota Report 238-1997 Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota The University of Minnesota, including the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Copyright ©  2008  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Author

Richard E. Widmer, is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Dedication

This manuscript is dedicated to my wife Muriel Elizabeth for her constant support throughout my professional life.

Acknowledgments

Gathering information for this publication required the kind cooperation of several hundred individuals who were contacted directly, by telephone and by mail. The author also appreciated the use of Minnesota State Historical Society facilities, Minneapolis Park Board Archives (Mary Lerman), St. Paul Park Boarb Archives (Claire Martin), Iron Range Resource Center (Julie B. Smith), Minnesota State Horticultural Society records (Dorothy Johnson), Mower County Historical Society (Monica M. Lonergan), Blue Earth County Historical Society (Carol Oney), Becker County Historical Society (Becky Olerud), Marvin Miller of the George Ball Company, Alvi Voigt, retired agricultural economist at Penn State University, and James Brewster of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, D.C.

The author also appreciated the assistance provided by staff of the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science in keyboarding this manuscript. This publication was produced for the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, with design and production management by Larry A. Etkin, experiment station senior editor, Educational Development System, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Cover graphics courtesy: Gerald Neilsen, Stanley Hampl, Al Gerdin and Gerald McKay.

Disclaimer

Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station or the University of Minnesota is implied. Registered and trademarked names are the properties of their respective owners.

Availability

To purchase a copy of this publication, contact the University of Minnesota Extension Store, 1420 Eckles Avenue, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108-6069 (order@dc.mes.umn.edu or call 612-625-8173). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your Minnesota county extension office or, outside of Minnesota, contact the Extension Store.

PREFACE

This report presents a representative cross section of the individuals, organizations and units that have contributed to and been a part of Minnesota floriculture since its inception in 1851 through 1995. No attempt has been made to present an all-inclusive report, nor have any portions or individuals been intentionally omitted.

For the most part, information in this report is presented in chronological order. However, individual segments of floriculture are sometimes presented for a series of years for smoother reading. In other instances, data for the various segments is intermixed in an attempt to provide a clearer picture.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Distribution Center at (800) 876-8636.

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.