Two famous California Horticulturalists

Pacific Rural Press, 1907

I dare say that you recognize one of them, Luther Burbank, but unless you were around 100 years ago, you might not know the other, George Christian Roeding.

George C. Roeding was a mover and shaker of the horticultural world from 1880's until the 1920's...almost 50 years.

In the museum you can find out more about him.

His father created the Fancher Creek Nursery in Fresno.  George C. Roeding soon managed it.

In 1917 Roeding bought the California Nursery Company and combined his operations in Fresno and Niles and other places.

While he was not on the scene here in Niles until 1917, he was well familiar with the California Nursery Company from many years of nurserymen meetings. The two nurseries frequently ordered plants from the other.


I really prefer this other picture of him that was used somewhere in a publication possibly. "Blastophaga Roeding, President of the State Horticultural Society".  The museum will tell you why he got this name.

From the Museum of Local History

This little cartoon will give you a hint.