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Behnke Nurseries Rose Catalog Spring 1932

1932 behnke nurseries Roses Catalog Cover

Boxes of Memories

In these passed few weeks since my mother passed away, we have been going through boxes and boxes of memories. I have written many times about different things I have found over the years from my family, but now and then, I am astounded.

Love Of Roses

Roses were always the one plant that my grandfather, Albert Behnke, loved maybe more than any others. But, lucky for him, he fell in love with a woman named Rose (Rosa). So, this week I came across this 1932 Spring Rose Catalog that my grandmother, Rose Behnke, must have put together. Looking at the detail of this catalog, I am amazed at what she was able to put out.

 

There were two German immigrants pretty much just off the boat. English was their second language, and the country was in the middle of a depression. This catalog had to cost a lot for them back then, but they both believed in the importance of advertising. That may be why the old story, The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs, meant so much to them that they had it made into a sign that hung at the nursery for decades. (I have it now at my house.)

The 1932 Catalog

This catalog listed so many varieties of roses. In addition, it included artwork and photographs of their rose fields, along with a photo of Albert’s little sister holding a bouquet of roses in Germany.

 

As I turned the pages of this 90-year-old catalog, I wondered what putting together something like this would have cost. The catalog listed the ‘Latest Introductions and Newest Varieties’ complete with names, prices, and descriptions.
Alice Stern, HT (F. Gillot, 1926.) Exquisite, pointed buds, white, daintily tinted with creamy salmon, opening to moderately large flowers of fine petalage. Sweetly scented and long lasting. Thrifty, and especially free flowering in autumn. $1.50 each.

 

Also, before getting to the variety names, there was a page with drawings of the proper way to plant and prune your roses. (we gave out planting instructions till the day we closed our doors) There was a page that explained the different types of roses.

Putting It Together

Besides the cost, think about the time my grandmother spent putting this all together. First, all are typed out and ready for the printer. Then, she had to design and edit it before the final printing.

 

Amazing what two people can do when they put their minds to it, even through the most challenging times. And 1932 was some of the hardest of times.
1932 behnke nurseries Roses Catalog Inside Cover
1932 behnke nurseries Roses Catalog Inside Cover
1932 behnke nurseries Roses Catalog Inside Albert Behnkes Sister Lisa Behnke
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog Inside Albert Behnkes Sister Lisa Behnke
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog How To Grow Roses
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog How To Grow Roses
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog Introduction
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog Introduction
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog How To Plant Roses
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog How To Plant Roses
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog
1932 Behnke Nurseries Roses Catalog

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. These pages are great and they are still accurate!! Glad to see that they agreed that the graft part of the rose should be planted underground as well. Thanks for sharing this!

  2. I marvel at how your grandparents started with nothing and built a fantastic business employing many people who made Behnke’s a career.

    Any who knows how to create a catalog? I wouldn’t know how to start much less see about getting one printed with color pictures of flowers and descriptions.

    It boggles my mind.

    PAT.

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