From Ottawa, Vern attended Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and to start his own nursery chose the Niagara area for its mild climate. The first year was on rented land in Jordan and for the second season the operation moved to our current location. Vernon married Jesse Harvey in 1929 and they had 3 children, Walter, Judy and Jack. The 18 acre nursery became a growing concern of Trees, Shrubs and Perennials. Sales were retail and mail order and landscaping jobs were part of the business. Vern encouraged his sons to follow the business and they too attended OAC (before it became part of Guelph University).

Vern was killed in an automobile accident the year Walter graduated and the young Walter took over the nursery, soon followed by Jack. Over the years, retail became the focus and they built greenhouses and the store building in 1958. In the early 1960s, Walter went into teaching and Jack took over the business with his wife, Marilyn. They too had 3 children, Karen, John and Kathy. During Jack’s time, the nursery continued to evolve and a Farm Market and Christmas trees extended the sales seasons. More greenhouses were built and the sales yard areas were expanded.

Jack was a friendly, people-oriented man who always had a joke to tell. He passed away in 2004 leaving Marilyn and son John at the helm. The nursery continued to evolve and reflect changing gardener interests including initiatives such as increasing the selection of Ornamental Grasses and Hostas. Following Marilyn’s passing in 2016, John Alexander became the third generation of Alexanders to operate Niagara Nurseries, all at the same site at the edge of St. Catharines, Ontario.