April 22, 2026
Four Generations of Belgian Nursery, since 1959!
The story of Belgian Nursery is a story of growth: the growth of a family, the growth of a community, and the growth of the beautiful plants that unite them all together.
The 1960s: Let’s Get Growing!
In 1959, Belgian immigrants Maurice and Mary Lombaert, along with their young son Luc, purchased 3 acres of land in rural Breslau, Ontario. From a house, a barn, and just one coal-heated greenhouse, Maurice and Mary grew their first market crops and soon their field-grown pansies, perennials, garden mums, and gladiolas were delighting patrons at the old Kitchener-Waterloo Farmers’ Market. Soon “Pa” and “Ma” had expanded to three glass greenhouses, six wood-framed fibreglass greenhouses, 2 acres of field grown perennials, and a wood slat house for selling perennials.
The 1970s: Perfect Place for Plant People!
Ten years and ten acres later! Belgian’s annuals, perennials, garden mums, and poinsettias continued to spread joy throughout the region. They purchased 10 additional acres to accommodate the Nursery’s growing footprint, which included the construction of the spacious Tropical House. As the nursery expanded to service the growing communities around it, so did the Lombaert family; Luc had grown up and married Rosie, with daughters Rosemary and Julie joining the family tree.
The 1980s: The Great Greenhouse Experience!
The 1980s and 90s were decades of renovation and reconfiguration, fueled by Luc and Rosie’s desire to provide a full retail shopping experience. The old wood-framed greenhouses were replaced with one acre of open-concept poly houses for growing and selling annuals, and a new front store was added for more convenient shopping. Rosie’s dream of a Cactus House was achieved by completely renovating greenhouse #5 to accommodate the growing selection of cacti and succulents. The old perennial house was replaced with a modern poly structure, complete with flexible roll-up walls, so that customers could shop comfortably no matter the weather.
The 1990s: Plants and People Need Each Other!
In the late 1990s, daughters Rosemary and Julie joined the family business full-time alongside their parents, each finding their own niches within the daily operations. The family tree continued to grow with the arrival of Luc and Rosie’s first grandchild and the first of the fourth generation of Belgian Nursery!
As the family and the nursery continued to grow and flourish, there were moments of sorrow. The community mourned the loss of founders Maurice (1995) and Mary (1999). The Lombaert family found comfort continuing the lifelong legacy “Ma” and “Pa” had worked so hard to build.
The 2000s: A Flower World of Beautiful Plants for People!
The new millennium brought about an ebb and flow of plant varieties and specialties, including an increased focus on annuals, mixed planters and baskets, unique perennials, vibrant tropicals, and striking cacti and succulents. The end of this decade saw the completion of the fourth generation: four grandchildren for Luc and Rosie.
The 2010s: Plants and People: Together We Grow!
The 2010s saw Belgian Nursery adding some updates to the greenhouses to help their daily operations remain efficient and environmentally sound. This included replacing the former heating system with high efficiency boilers, which keep the greenhouses nice and toasty throughout the cold winter months. During this time, Luc and Rosie have stepped back as their daughters have taken on more roles in the daily operation of the family business. Belgian Nursery became a landmark in the community, known for providing healthy plants and expertise in a lush and beautiful setting.
The 2020s: Celebrating Plants & The People Who Love Them!
Today, Belgian Nursery continues to evolve and adapt to the serve the community that has supported it for over six decades. It is these deep roots that allow us to thrive by maintaining a tradition that embraces growth, change, and creativity. We look forward to many more decades together ‘Celebrating Plants & The People Who Love Them!’
Post Views: 11
