HISTORY
of ludwig's rose farm
1962
Ludwig lands in South Africa at the age of 20, with R 2 in his pocket.
It is October, the Jacaranda trees in Pretoria are in full flower and the roses are immaculate – he instantly falls in love with the place.
Works at Bus Nurseries in Kammeeldrift, Pretoria till 1971.
Bus Nurseries propagated 500 000 rose plants in fields.
In winter the plants were lifted (ploughed out) and sold without soil, bare rooted.
Many were sent by mail order for direct planting out in gardens or planted up in burnt out oil tins with punched drainage holes.
1971
Ludwig plants his first Karee tree on his own property in Haakdoornlaagte, Pretoria, purchased in March for R 11 500.
The N1 highway was measured up and the offramp to the farm was pegged out.
The old dust road over the hill still had to be used for another 4 years. Challenging when it rained well.
His ultimate goal of developing the rose propagation had to happen step by step.
He started the first garden service in Pretoria. Two teams
and sold flowering bedding plants . Two teams