Horticulturalist. He arrived in America with his family in October, 1906. Settling in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles the family became involved in agriculture. Albert established a fruit orchard and dairy farm, and began growing flowers - his real passion. Paul was particularly interested in the poinsettia, a tall leggy red plant that grew wild in the area. Because of it’s annual bloom cycle near the winter holiday season, Paul felt the poinsettia would be an ideal official holiday flower. The growth of field-grown poinsettias began in earnest, with Paul selling cut flowers and plants from roadside stands in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. He sped up the growing season from 18 mos. to 8 mos. and developed the first poinsettia that could be grown indoors as a potted plant. When Albert died suddenly in 1922 Paul took over the business, relocating the Ranch to Encinitas, CA in 1923. The Ranch grew field-grown plants that were shipped to greenhouse growers throughout the country, with Paul spending much time traveling to promote the plant as a holiday flower and teaching the greenhouse growers what he had learned. He continued until the mid 1960s when his son Paul, Jr. took over the day-to-day operations.
Horticulturalist. He arrived in America with his family in October, 1906. Settling in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles the family became involved in agriculture. Albert established a fruit orchard and dairy farm, and began growing flowers - his real passion. Paul was particularly interested in the poinsettia, a tall leggy red plant that grew wild in the area. Because of it’s annual bloom cycle near the winter holiday season, Paul felt the poinsettia would be an ideal official holiday flower. The growth of field-grown poinsettias began in earnest, with Paul selling cut flowers and plants from roadside stands in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. He sped up the growing season from 18 mos. to 8 mos. and developed the first poinsettia that could be grown indoors as a potted plant. When Albert died suddenly in 1922 Paul took over the business, relocating the Ranch to Encinitas, CA in 1923. The Ranch grew field-grown plants that were shipped to greenhouse growers throughout the country, with Paul spending much time traveling to promote the plant as a holiday flower and teaching the greenhouse growers what he had learned. He continued until the mid 1960s when his son Paul, Jr. took over the day-to-day operations.
Bio by: O'side Native
Family Members
Parents
Children
Advertisement
See more Ecke memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
