John and Mary Albrecht immigrated to Canada from Germany in the 1950’s. They met in Waterloo in 1960, and married in 1962. They later built their home on Heidelberg Road (now Lobsinger Line), just outside of St. Jacobs. In 1963 the first seedlings were planted there. As the trees began to grow, so did their business…

John’s Nursery officially opened their doors in 1968. Larger shade trees and evergreens were planted and sold, along with trailer-loads of trees from other farms. “Customers drove up and bought trees from dawn until dusk,” recalls Mary, “there were no set business hours in the beginning.” “We ran our very first office out of a garden shed,” adds John. As they developed John’s Nursery throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s, John also worked the late shift at a local brewery: “He would be building the garden centre or selling trees all day, and then it was off to his second job at night,” comments Mary. According to John, Mary also performed double duty. “I don’t know how she did it; planting, watering, assisting customers around the nursery – all while looking after our three children.”

In the late 1980’s and 1990’s, the nursery’s retail department became larger, and began carrying more products. John and Mary also acquired more land, and continued growth of their tree farming division. Since 2000, John’s Nursery has continued to expand its greenhouse growing, tree, shrub and perennial wholesale production.   Landscape design and construction services have expanded over the years and offer complete design-build services with 2 designers on staff as well as 4 landscape crews doing everything from planting larger trees to complete garden makeovers.  Johns Nursery has a vast collection of decor items, statuary, lighting and planters available.  Johns also offers some of the best landscape tools for landscape contractors, orchards and farms as well as homeowners.

A staple in the community for over 50 years, John’s Nursery has become known for their large selection of shade, evergreen and fruit trees. “It all began with a few seedlings, which blossomed into a catalogue of over 2000 products,” remarks John. John and Mary still manage the business today alongside their sons, John and Rob.