Gemmell's Garden Centre | growing with you...

Gemmell's Garden Centre

growing with you...

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Our History

	Gemmell’s Garden Centre has been growing locally since 1932. Rob Gemmell is the third generation of this horticultural family to operate the greenhouses. Along with his mother Liz they grow some of the most beautiful plants in Eastern Ontario. Their current business includes a large retail space that sells gorgeous annuals, perennials and vegetables, their famous custom designed Victorian hanging baskets and planters, a huge selection of trees, shrubs, evergreens, fruit trees, and roses. There is also a garden gift shop and an extensive selective of outdoor garden accessories. Gemmell’s also boasts a large wholesale growing operation.
More than 75 years ago, Donald Gemmell, Rob Gemmell’s grandfather, first began selling flowers, fruits and vegetables at the same location where Gemmell's Garden Centre is now located. A small roadside stand and a honey house were built and from this, his cut gladiolus, raspberries, strawberries and honey were sold. He soon became well known for excellent quality plants and his passion for growing all things, particularly his beloved pansies. In 1932, greenhouses were built at 32 Church St. W. in Smiths Falls, next to the family home. Together, Donald, along with wife Lillian, and his sister Eva Beach provided excellent service always with an extra touch. Some readers may recall their childhood days spent anxiously awaiting that first ripe banana, fresh from the greenhouse. Donald and Lillian soon had more than plants growing in the greenhouses. Three sons, Ron, Ralph and Carlisle helped out from an early age.

The business grew once again in 1967 with a move back to the present Highway 15 location, where several greenhouses were constructed. Donald and his three sons (Ralph then becoming primary grower), operated Gemmell's Sunnydale Gardens .Liz and Ralph watched as their young sons, Robert and David grew up running through the greenhouses. They loved to work with Grandpa, snapdragons were a particular favourite. Rob was smitten with the bug to grow them from the beginning, and David's interests always lay in the mechanics of making it happen. In 1972, Wiesia Czuprys was hired to help out with the seeding, transplanting and watering; she continues to be an invaluable part of the Gemmell’s team today. In 1979, just shy of his 72nd birthday, Mr. Gemmell passed away at the Garden Centre doing what he loved best – checking his pansies. This event became a major turning point in the family business and in 1982 the business was split into Gemmell's Flowers Ltd., owned and operated by Ron & Janice Gemmell, and Gemmell's Garden Centre Inc., owned and operated by Ralph & Liz Gemmell. Rob became an active partner with Liz in 1987 and together with their qualified staff; they work tirelessly to continue to bring quality plants and service to the Smith Falls area. Rob has succeeded in building a strong wholesale component to Gemmell’s Garden Centre over the last number of years. The garden centre sells top quality annual and perennials throughout Eastern Ontario. They are known for their popular niche items such as beautifully custom designed Victorian hanging baskets and matching planters as well as the latest new and unusual annuals, perennials and vegetables. In 2009, Rob implemented a horticultural pot recycling program at the garden centre which recycled 8,000 lbs of plastic in the first year. Being a ‘green’ business is an important mission of Gemmell’s Garden Centre where they use many biological controls in the greenhouses and offer a full line of eco products to customers. The most compelling aspect to Gemmell’s Garden Centre is their drive to continually change and transform in order to keep on top of the latest gardening trends. A huge growth in vegetable gardening has resulted in an expanded line of herbs and vegetables with many larger container grown varieties available including the coveted heirloom vegetables. As the fourth generation of Gemmell’s start getting their hands in the dirt, one thing is for sure… this family has growing in their genes!

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