After returning from WWI in 1919, Henry Groth began working for Holton and Hunkel Greenhouse. Later that same year Henry and Emma Schriber were married and began a family. Nine years later Groth's Country Gardens was formed. Originally the business consisted of two 25'x100' glass greenhouses. The business sustained itself by producing cut flowers, doing floral design and farming.
In 1930 Henry and Emma decided to get into the logging business. Two years later Emma decided logging was taking up too much of Henry's time and that they should focus on the greenhouse. Their labor of love, which was the greenhouse, continued until 1950 at which time Henry's health forced a change. At that time his son, Edward, and daughter, Eleanor, took over the greenhouse operations. To expand cut flower production they tore down and rebuilt greenhouses, on their property, purchased from Schaals Greenhouse.
In 1951 Edward was married to Laverne, who then became part of the greenhouse family. Spring sales and floral sales continued to grow, however cut flower sales continued to make up the majority of income through the 70's. In 1966 Edward hired a 13 year old boy named Bruce Sadowski. Bruce worked there for years and eventually started dating one of the owners' daughters.
Bruce and Elaine were married in 1974 and thus started the third generation at Groth's Country Gardens.During the 70's and 80's the cut flower market steadily declined. Fortunately spring plant sales were increasing. As Elaine began to devote more time to designing floral arrangements those sales also rose.
In February of 1983 Groth's Country Gardens lost its floral shop and half of its greenhouses to a massive fire. With support from friends and family Groth's reopened its doors one month later. Bruce and Elaine decided that they would buy the business later that same year. The business continued on relatively unchanged for the next 13 years.
In 1996 Paul Sadowski returned from college and became the fourth generation to become involved in the business. Groth's greenhouse operation continues to expand, from 5000 square feet in 1928 to a current 80,000 square feet. In 2002 Bruce and Elaine's daughter Jennifer was hired to help with growing floral shop sales.
In December of 2011 Elaine lost her 3 1/2 year battle with breast cancer.
In October of 2014 Paul and Jennifer bought Groth's Country Gardens from Bruce. Making Groth's officially a fourth generation company.
There are still many generations of Groths working together at the business. Laverne and Bruce continue to work on a daily basis with Paul and Jennifer. The youngest, and hopefully the fifth generation, of Groth's are now at the greenhouse lending a helping hand when they are not in school.