Some of my memories

During the war, in 1943, fate led me to Ludwig Kientzler´s nursery. I was just 19 years old at the time. After a period of mandatory service on Sudetenland, I was to be sent to work in an ammunition factory. Hence, I came to work at a nursery called "Kientzler Jungpflanzen" in Bad Kreuznach.

Else Kientzler

The nursery was established by Ludwig Kientzler and his wife Susanne, nče Holzbauer, in Bad Kreuznach on October 15, 1904. They grew pelargoniums, heliotropes and chrysanthemums and bedding plants. After the first World War new varieties were added: Rex-begonias, Lorraine begonias, ferns, pteris, hydrangea and chrysanthemums. With great industry and unflagging determination they took on this massive task. This highly specialized operation soon gained a good reputation for high-quality young plants throughout Germany.

The founder: Ludwig Kientzler

Even then, Ludwig Kientzler predicted that his nursery would still be in operation in a hundred years´time. And he meant what he said literally: he expected what he established to last forever. He was, therefore, never very keen on changing or modernizing anything. Nevertheless, he would now be proud of his grandchildren if he could see the modern operation that they run today.

By the time I began working at the nursery in 1943, the owner´s son had already been away at the front for three years. When I arrived, the elder Kientzler were happy to have some younger help. One evening, that the same year, their son - young Ludwig - came home on leave unexpectedly. That was the first time I met him. I was surprised to see such an attractive young man standing in front of me and I fell in love with him immediately.
 

In the very last weeks of the war a bomb feels on the greenhouses, destroying them almost completely. That was in January 1945, and it was so cold that almost all of the plants were killed by frost.

The original building in Bad Kreuznach

In order to save whatever we could, we hastily repaired the greenhouses, using what could be salvaged from the debris left by the bomb. We then propagated mother plants from the remaining stock.

Ludwig, the son, was only held as a prisoner of war for a short period and retuned home in 1945. We were married that very same year. Then, in 1946 our son Ludwig was born, followed by Helmut in 1950 and Iris in 1956.

After the war, the heating system was fully automated and converted so that liquid fuels could be used, the coldframes were replaced by greenhouses and the nursery paths were paved. We were then able to expand our selection of chrysanthemums.

In 1949, grandfather Kientzler died at the age of 69 after having had a stroke. As the only son, my husband Ludwig, who had completed his floricultual training took on responsibility of running the operation.

Then on March 19, 1960, my husband suffered a stock at the age of only forty-five. He died within two hours. We were unable to fathom what had happened. Our three children, Ludwig (13), Helmut (10) and Iris (3) had lost their father. This dear and wonderful person was suddenly torn from our lives in the very prime of his manhood.

From one day to the next there was suddenly no one there to run the nursery. At the critical moment the only thing to do was for two women - the mothers of the family, Mrs. Kientzler Sr. and myself - to combine our efforts. We both took on the responsibility for the entire operation, since I wanted to preserve for my three young children at all cost.

I began to live a double life: as a mother raising my three children and as a nurserywomen and manager of a company. Guidance and organizational talent, courage and determination, willpower and a sense of purpose were all required in no small measure. I consider the ability to work quickly to be a tipically female attribute - This may be a result of the fact that women often have to coordinate so many things - family, profession and household.

Working ceaselessly from early in the morning until late at night was what was called for, it was necessary to provide impetus and to serve as a model, while never letting one´s self become discouraged. After the sudden death of my husband, a French horticulturalist, Michel Letscher, provided me with a great deal of help. His efforts on behalf of the company were tremendous.

In 1960, houseplants began to become more and more popular - we added Cissus, Scindapsus, Philo, Hedera, Hibiscus, Ficus benjamina to our assortment. New methods of propagation spurred rapid economic devolpment and increased the recognition for our products.

Catalog 1960 & 1955

In 1963, the idea of relocating the operation took on concrete form. The original location in Bad Kreuznach was too limited in its potential for development: the facility was sixty years old and situated on a slope. There were stairs in the greenhouses themeselves. They precluded the possibility of using motorized vehicles in the greenhouses.

Hence, every crate had to be transported manually and it was imposible to rationalize our production methods. There was also an obvious need for expansion. Hence, a decision was made and I bought four hectares of commercial real estate in Gensingen in the Mainz-Bingen region. The move to Gensingen began in 1964. We build larger, automated greenhouses, a heating unit with a high volume oil tank, space for a shiping department, facilities providing amenities for our employees and new offices.

Gensingen 1974

After introducing a new method of propagating chrysanthemums, most of the greenhouses space was devoted to growing them. I was often asked how a woman was able to manage all this. For my owe part, all I can say is that I like to work end enjoy taking on responsibility. Being forced to work hard allows us to test the limits of our own strength.