Sheridan Nurseries
In 1911 British landscape architects Howard and Lorrie Dunington-Grubb arrived in Toronto. Their vision was to bring the concept of the English garden to Canada. At the time, there were virtually no private gardens or landscape architecture here. There were also no nurseries in Canada producing the plants they needed. So they started their own. In 1913 they purchased 100 acres of land near Sheridan, Ontario (now part of Oakville) to cultivate ornamental plants. This marked the beginning of Sheridan Nurseries.
Growth was rapid. In the 1920’s Sheridan Nurseries brought the first Boxwood into Ontario from Korea and the first Japanese Yew seed from Japan. Broadleaf evergreens, not thought hardy enough for Southern Ontario, were brought in from the United States and Europe and proved suitable. Over the years, Sheridan Nurseries continued testing and developing thousands of plants to select varieties that would thrive.
By 1926 the nursery had grown to 250 acres with an extensive selection of trees, shrubs, evergreens, roses and perennials. The company continued to grow through the war and post-war years, adding farms in Georgetown, Ontario.
During WWII many of the Japanese Canadians, who were forced out of British Columbia, were hired by Sheridan. Also during the war, Sheridan also hired young women who became known as “Farmerettes” to work in the fields during the summer. This was a common practice when so many Canadian men went overseas. For the last 40 years, offshore workers from Jamaica and Mexico have joined Sheridan in the nursery, providing much-needed manpower and expertise in the fields.
Today, Sheridan Nurseries operates as a local grower, wholesaler and retailer of plants, garden supplies, patio furniture and home decor products. It offers one of the largest assortments of annuals, perennials and nursery stock in Southern Ontario. Many plants are grown locally in Glen Williams and Norval, Ontario.
Glen Williams is the site of Sheridan Nurseries Head office.
Growth was rapid. In the 1920’s Sheridan Nurseries brought the first Boxwood into Ontario from Korea and the first Japanese Yew seed from Japan. Broadleaf evergreens, not thought hardy enough for Southern Ontario, were brought in from the United States and Europe and proved suitable. Over the years, Sheridan Nurseries continued testing and developing thousands of plants to select varieties that would thrive.
By 1926 the nursery had grown to 250 acres with an extensive selection of trees, shrubs, evergreens, roses and perennials. The company continued to grow through the war and post-war years, adding farms in Georgetown, Ontario.
During WWII many of the Japanese Canadians, who were forced out of British Columbia, were hired by Sheridan. Also during the war, Sheridan also hired young women who became known as “Farmerettes” to work in the fields during the summer. This was a common practice when so many Canadian men went overseas. For the last 40 years, offshore workers from Jamaica and Mexico have joined Sheridan in the nursery, providing much-needed manpower and expertise in the fields.
Today, Sheridan Nurseries operates as a local grower, wholesaler and retailer of plants, garden supplies, patio furniture and home decor products. It offers one of the largest assortments of annuals, perennials and nursery stock in Southern Ontario. Many plants are grown locally in Glen Williams and Norval, Ontario.
Glen Williams is the site of Sheridan Nurseries Head office.