Our Experts

We employ over 30 people. Here are a few of our experts.

Ellen Presley - Retail/Human Resources

Definitely an Island girl: Born on Lulu Island, raised on Vancouver Island and 4 years on Prince Edward Island. She co-owns Anderton Nursery with her husband Karl. Her family has been in the Comox Valley for over 40 years even though she had to leave the Valley to pursue University and work in Vancouver. She loves the Comox Valley and was glad to return to it in 1996. “I developed my love for the garden from my Father who had a vegetable garden wherever we lived. In Vancouver, I kept buying more and more plants until my husband finally bought me a Nursery”
Ellen handles all of the marketing for the nursery and is a regular contributing writer for The Comox Valley Echo's garden section.

Karl Opelka - Wholesale/Production/Accounting

Karl is co-owner of Anderton Nursery. Born in Austria, he moved
to Canada
when he was 2 years old. He lived in Quebec until he was 18 and then to move to B.C. Most of his life has been in Vancouver where he worked at St.
Paul’s hospital as an OR photographer and later at UBC Biomedical department. He was able to move to the Comox Valley with his wife Ellen in 1996. Together they have grown the Nursery into what it is now. Karl runs the Wholesale department, does all the building and
maintenance and thinks he’s the real boss, but his wife knows better.

Leah - Wholesale/Production

Leah has been with Anderton Nursery since 1996, when we purchased the business. She was born and raised in the Comox Valley and has had a life-time passion for gardening. Her own personal garden is amazing. We are fortunate enough to have her here to manage our wholesale department and help co-ordinate our production team. Leah is an amazing employee whose devotion and dedication to the workplace is outstanding.

Sandy - Production/Retail

Sandy is wonderful and has been with Anderton Nursery for the last 12 years. She was born in Vancouver and travelled a lot before she finally came to Vancouver Island in 1981 and hasn’t left. She has been gardening all her life.
Although primarily in baskets she is an all-rounder who is in both production and retail and is a valued employee.

Karen - Retail Cashier

Karen was recommended to us by June who had worked for Anderton Nursery
as a Cashier for over 14 years. June broke her leg in January before the store opened and is unable to work this season. We are
delighted to have Karen. Born in Orillia, Ontario she learned gardening from
her Grandparents. When she was 17 years old she moved out to BC. She loves
the West coast. She did, however go back to Ontario to attend Guelph University for 3 years taking floral design and the Horticultural program. She worked at Hollard Park Garden Gallery in Ontario but in 1996 headed West again. This time she
came to the Comox Valley and loves it here. She has worked for and eventually owned Roses and More Florist.
“I have always kept my hands in the garden and loved the Customers”

New Employee Coming Soon

Kathi - Custom Baskets/Production

Kathi was born and raised in the Comox Valley. She was in the
service industry for many years and then she discovered plants and took floral
design. She has worked in the greenhouse and retail industry for the last 15 years. Kathi has worked for Anderton Nursery for several years in our basket area during the Spring. She even
extends the growing season with her own business creating wreaths and planters
for the Winter.
“I am really inspired by the plants…I’m kind of a
plant nerd. They are always so exciting”

New Employee Coming Soon

Esther - Retail/Trees, Shrubs & Perennials

Esther was our Easter Bunny this year and is a talented singer and song writer and knows her plants. She began planning and planting gardens at the early age of 8. She did a lot of travelling, skiing and windsurfing throughout North America while in her 20’s before getting the gardening bug again in 1985 when she had her condo at Whistler. Esther took a garden design course and created many of gardens around the Whistler area. She also went to St Lucia as an organic farming consultant. A few years ago she came to the island and we are thrilled to say she is working for us.