Boulanger and Desponds
Jean Nicolas BOULANGER was born on October 17, 1802 in Lunéville (Meurthe et Moselle, France). His father, Jean Claude, was a horticulturist in this city. His mother was called Catherine CLEMENT and belonged to a family of gardeners.
After the birth of this first son, the couple settled in Noroy (Haute-Saône, France) where Jean Claude became a horticulturist.
For reasons still unknown, Nicolas settled in Marseille (Bouches du Rhône, France) where he was found working as a coachman. He lived at 15 rue de la Fare, a building in which he met Geneviève PHILIP, whom he married on October 20, 1835 in Marseille. Geneviève was born on February 6, 1796 in Ubraye (Alpes de Haute-Provence, France) and died on July 10, 1857 in Marseille, daughter of Raphael and Elisabeth PHILIP.
On January 19, 1860, Nicolas remarried Marie Olympe BOUVIER, widow of Pierre FUMAT
He died in Marseille on September 17, 1874 in his home in the Mazargues district.

Jean Louis Roger DESPONDS was born in Lausanne on January 8, 1817 to Charles and Louise Dubrez. He died in Marseille on December 6, 1877, having remained single.

We do not know precisely the date of their association but we can place it between 1835 and 1846
In 1846, they were located on Boulevard du Rouet. In addition to roses, they also grew geraniums and other decorative plants. They are regularly present in annual exhibitions where they often win prizes. In addition, they will be almost the only ones in Marseille to sow rose to obtain new varieties.