2012 Michigan Garden Plant Tour

Transcription

1 2012 Michigan Garden Plant Tour July 30 August 10, 2012 planttour.hrt.msu.edu In coordination with: C. Raker and Sons, Inc. Four Star Greenhouse, Inc. Mast Young Plants MSU Horticulture Gardens Pell Greenhouses, Inc. Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. Walters Gardens Inc.

2 2012 Michigan Garden Plant Tour July 30 - August 10, 2012 Welcome to the 9th annual Michigan Garden Plant Tour, July 30 to August 10, This coordinated open house is comprised of leading ornamental plant producers and Michigan State University. Everyone in the commercial floriculture and landscape industries is invited to visit the seven participating Tour sites during this two-week event. Each company features impressive displays of the newest cultivars and species of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. This is a terrific way to observe plant performance in a variety of settings, both in ground beds and in containers. The Tour is completely free, but please contact the companies in advance so they know when to expect you. Page through this brochure for information about each site, including garden highlights and contact information. You are also welcome to attend the annual Plant Trial Field Day at Michigan State University on Tuesday, August 7, You ll see unbiased garden performance of plantings and hear the latest about new annuals, perennials, vegetables and more from MSU and leading breeding companies. This event requires registration. Finally, the All-America Selections Summer Summit is being held in Michigan during the 2012 Tour, on August 7-9. Visit meetings for more information. 2

3 plan your route Visit planttour.hrt.msu.edu for interactive maps to each location. Distances indicated are approximate. C. Raker and Sons Rainey Road Litchfield, MI phone: x 560 four star greenhouse, inc Indian Trail Road Carleton, MI phone: mast young plants 3525 Bristol Road NW Grand Rapids, MI phone: msu horticulture gardens 1066 Bogue Street East Lansing, MI phone: x1329 pell greenhouses, inc Baldwin Road Hudsonville, MI phone: SPRING MEADOw NURSERY, inc th Avenue Grand Haven, MI phone: walters gardens inc th Avenue Zeeland, MI phone:

4 C. Raker and Sons Rainey Rd. Litchfield, MI Contact: Deb Eichler to RSVP Phone: Website: trialgardens.raker.com The Raker Trial Gardens are the Midwest destination for a complete floricultural exhibit and comparison trial experience. The Gardens were created to serve as an industry information resource. With a focus on education, we create and maintain over four acres of colorful floral displays that offer visitors a unique learning opportunity. Garden Hours Monday Friday 9:00 am 5:00 pm. Weekend visits by appointment only. Trials are open from July 18 - August 31, Highlights Color Options for Shade. This year we are featuring a comprehensive display of color options for shade. View both flowering and non-flowering varieties in a row comparison setting. This area will include: Abutilon, Begonias, Coleus, Cyclamen, Hypoestes, Lobelia, Salvia Splendens, Torenia, and New Guinea Impatiens. Annual Row Comparison Trials. This is an exceptional opportunity to view over 600 rows of annuals and perennials in a true, side-by-side comparison format. This season we offer Agastache, Ageratum, Cuphea, Euphorbia (annual), Nicotiana, Ornamental Peppers, Torenia, Vinca, and Zinnia. Breeder Beds. Raker is proud to feature raised brick beds supported and designed by breeders across the globe. Our participants in 2012 include: American Takii, Athena Brazil, Ball Horticulture, Benary, Darwin Perennials, Ecke Ranch, Grimes, HMA, Hort Couture, Jelitto, Kieft, Pan American, Sakata, Selecta, Syngenta Horticultural Services and Syngenta Flowers. Additional Row and New Variety sponsors include: Amerinova, Bartels Stek, Beekenkamp, Danziger, Fides Oro, Floranova, Gerbera Factory, Harris Seed, Hem Genetics, Kieft, Plant Haven, Selecta, Suntory, Syngenta Flowers, and Terra Nova. 14 Hanging Basket Trial. The 2012 Basket Trials feature over 250 varieties of vegetative Verbena. This is one of the most comprehensive trials of this genera ever conducted. Bacopa and Scaevola will also be featured. New Variety Hanging Baskets. This year, we ll have over 80 new varieties displayed in 14 hanging baskets. This display is adjacent to the New Variety Steppes. New Variety Steppes. Our popular brick and stone display area features patio pots dedicated to new 2012 New Variety introductions for both sun and shade. All-America Selections (AAS) Trial Ground and Display Gardens. Raker is one of 47 locations across North America where potential new annual introductions are tested. Check out what new plants are under evaluation this year. See the last 5 years of winners in both of our AAS Vegetable and AAS Flower Display Gardens. Facility Tours. Spend an hour inside to see how we operate - from sticking and sowing to boxing and shipping. Sign up when you arrive for a morning or afternoon tour. Lunch Daily from 11:30am - 1:00 pm. The grill will be fired up during the Michigan Garden Plant Tour for refreshments compliments of The Blackmore Company. 4

5 Four Star Greenhouse, inc Indian Trail Road Carleton, MI Contact: Customer Service Phone: Website: Garden Hours Monday Friday 9:00 am 4:00 pm. RSVPs are appreciated. Special Event: Stop by on July 31st for our 5th annual Landscape Day to network with industry professionals and learn about our landscape-friendly containers for planting anything from beds to baskets. RSVP by phone or mail. The Four Star Display Gardens are a one-of-a-kind stop on the Michigan Garden Tour. Join us and tour our beautiful one-acre gardens to see the new 2013 Proven Winners varieties as well as your favorite existing varieties. Explore our landscape beds, pick your favorite combinations from over 100 hanging baskets and uprights displays, and visit with our grower and customer service staff. Highlights All new 2013 new Proven Winners and Proven Selections varieties on display New for 2012: Proven Winners Perennials landscape beds Over 20 in-ground landscape beds featuring new and existing Proven Winners and Proven Selections varieties Visit us on Tuesday, July 31st for our 5th annual Landscape Day. Network with industry professionals and learn about our landscape-friendly containers for planting anything from beds to baskets. Grower and customer service available daily for individual tours and questions. Lunch served daily from 11:30am 1:00 pm History Four Star has been a licensed Proven Winners propagator since We have watched as a brand that started with just 4 plants has grown into the #1 Plant Brand. We continue to unveil new ground-breaking industry genetics every year, and grow with the Proven Winners brand. 5

6 Mast young plants 3525 Bristol Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI Contact: Brian Weesies or Deb Sciba Phone: or Website: Mast Young Plants Trial Gardens showcase a wide assortment of flowering annuals and accents from angelonia, calibrachoa, begonias, and petunias to grasses, impatiens, lantana, specialty plants, and more. Many of the 1,100 items from our catalog can be found in a Garden Hours Monday Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm The Trial Garden is open from mid-july to mid-september. natural outdoor growing environment at our Trial Gardens. The complete line of Syngenta Flowers is featured, as well as varieties from Selecta, Fides-Oro, and other breeders. Highlights New! 12,000 sq ft. All-America Selections (AAS) Trial Ground. See never-before-sold varieties that are being professionally tested and judged in competition for the AAS Winner award. AAS bedding plant trial consists of 8 entries and 22 comparisons, along with a vegetable trial of 23 entries and 48 comparisons. Trial garden features over 200 combination pots, 100 urns, and 200 hanging baskets View 20 raised sun and shade beds with over 400 varieties in a landscaped environment Plants are clearly labeled for easy photography and identification New living wall display Knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions Shaded sitting / meeting space available with wireless internet No appointment is necessary or contact us for a guided garden tour 6

7 Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens 1066 Bogue Street East Lansing, MI Contact: Katie McCarver (Trials Manager) or Art Cameron (Gardens Director) Phone: ext (Katie) or ext.1338 (Art) Website: trialgardens.hrt.msu.edu Garden Hours The Gardens are always open to the public. Building and Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Come to the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens and see a wide range of unique and new introductions of annuals, vegetables, herbs, herbaceous perennials and native plants set in an inspiring landscape. Our official trials include hundreds of entries submitted by breeding companies, native plant producers, All American Selection Committee and the Fleuroselect program. The performance of each entry is noted by our garden staff, collated and made available to participating companies, industry professionals and the general gardening public at Katie McCarver is the Trial Garden Manager and Dr. Art Cameron is the Trial Garden Director. Highlights The MSU Horticulture Gardens cover 14 acres and include a combination of educational and inspirational gardens including the 4-H Children s Garden, Judith DeLapa Perennial Gardens, the Clancy Lewis Arboretum, a Nearly-Native Garden, several roof-top gardens, a unique vegetable garden and more. Go to for a garden map which shows the location of all of our gardens. When visiting, please park in the MSU Garden Parking Lot, which is located on Bogue Street and is just north of the railroad tracks. Be sure to stop and sign in at our Visitor Booth to receive a complimentary version of our Trial Booklet, maps (including directions to the Dairy Store) and other information. Tours: Katie McCarver (Trial Manager) will be available to give guided personal tours of the Trial Gardens. Contact Katie by phone or (mccarve4@msu.edu) to arrange a day and time. Plant Trials Open House. Join us for the MSU Plant Trial Field Day on Tuesday, August 7 turn to page 12 for more information and page 15 to register for this fun and informative event AAS Summer Summit in Michigan! The MSU Gardens will also co-host the 2012 All American Selection Summer Summit on August 7-9. The opening reception will be Tuesday August 7, just following our Open House. Visits to C. Raker and Sons and Mast Young Plants are also scheduled. See for more information on this unique opportunity. 7

8 pell greenhouses, inc Baldwin Rd. Hudsonville, MI Contact: Julie Zylstra Phone: Website: We invite you to add Pell Greenhouse as a key destination on the Michigan Garden Plant Tour this summer. We offer the full line of GreenFuse Botanicals, 5 Series of Regal Geraniums, as well as our Young Plant area with Dahlias, Zonal/Ivy Geraniums, and Osteos all from Fides-Oro. When you add in our friendly, knowledgeable staff, you certainly won t be disappointed. Garden Hours Monday Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Facility Tours Available Pell Greenhouse is a family owned business established in We are best known for outstanding quality and superior service. We specialize in Young Plants, Pre-finished Regal Geraniums, Finished Spring Annuals, Finished Fall Mums, and Finished Poinsettias. Pell Greenhouse is the only GreenFuse Botanical propagator in Michigan. GreenFuse Botanicals are sold exclusively thru the Henry F. Michell Company. Highlights 12 acre facility (under cover) 4 acre outdoor mum production Exciting NEW GreenFuse Botanicals Items, including: Antirrhinum (two new colors), Bacopa Betty (two new colors), Gaura, Ipomoea SWG Bullfrog, Streptocarpus (three new colors) Regal Geranium Trial: Elegance, Graziosa, Graziosa Piccola, Maiden, Solstice NEW Young Plant items, including: Coleus, Dahlia Dahlinova (Fides-Oro), Osteo Blazing Daisy (Fides-Oro) Our garden is 100% handicap accessible 8

9 SPRING MEADOW NURSERY, INC th Ave. Grand Haven, MI Contact: Vickie Morgan Phone: ext Website: Spring Meadow Nursery invites you to visit the home of Proven Winners ColorChoice shrubs, one of the most recognized plant brands. Enjoy a guided tour of our state-of-the-art greenhouses and beautiful summer garden. Scheduled tours are at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. Please contact us to sign up. Garden Hours Monday Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm RSVPs appreciated Highlights Over 500 varieties of flowering shrubs, including over 150 Proven Winners ColorChoice selections like Limelight hydrangea and Bloomerang lilac. A look at the 2012 ColorChoice introductions including Lo & Behold Ice Chip buddleia, Bloom-A- Thon reblooming azaleas, Pinky Bells abelia, and Oso Happy Smoothie thornless rose. A sneak-peak at the 2013 and beyond flowering shrubs currently under development. Twenty acres of computer-controlled greenhouses, including retractable roof and open roof greenhouses, a flood floor range, and trimming and sorting machines. All Proven Winners shrubs are selected by Spring Meadow Nursery and then propagated for distribution across North America. Established in 1981 by Dale and Liz Deppe, Spring Meadow Nursery is also a market leader in the propagation and sales of flowering shrubs. 9

10 walters gardens inc th Avenue Zeeland, MI Contact: Barbara Balgoyen or Niles Riese Phone: Website: Highlights New variety trial beds and Proven Winners perennials combination containers Over 500,000 square feet of modern plug production greenhouses Hundreds of acres of bare root field production Innovative processing facilities and tissue culture lab Expansive display gardens featuring over 700 varieties of perennials Garden Hours Monday Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Guided greenhouse, facility, and field tours are available July 30 - August 10, Your RSVP is greatly appreciated. You are invited to bring your walking shoes and camera when you visit the modern greenhouse facilities, expansive field production, picturesque display gardens, and new variety trial beds this summer at Walters Gardens, Inc. Walters offers over 1,000 varieties of bare root and plug perennials and temperennials with an average of 100 new items added each year. Many of their new varieties are developed by their own internal team of hybridizers. Over 15 million liners are shipped to independent garden centers, wholesale growers, landscapers, mail order companies, and municipalities across the US and Canada annually. Company Background Since 1946, Walters Gardens, Inc. has built its reputation on offering a wide variety of new and classic perennials of the finest quality. To ensure they are providing the greatest value to their customers, they have made tremendous progress in modernizing growing technologies to produce better plants more efficiently, delivering them on time and in good condition. Last year, Walters Gardens, Inc. formed a partnership with Proven Winners, the leading consumer plant brand. As the perennial experts for the brand, Walters is marketing their top genetics with a goal of helping growers and retailers increase sales and improve profit margins. You ll learn more about this partnership during your visit. Check out these websites:

11 suggested hotel information The following hotels have been suggested by participating companies. Please contact the hotels directly; the Tour has not negotiated any special rates. Hotels convenient to C. Raker and Sons: The Munro House Bed & Breakfast 202 Maumee Street Jonesville, MI Phone: Holiday Inn Express (new 2010) 2696 Bob McClain Drive Jackson, MI Phone: Hampton Inn 391 N. Willowbrook Road Coldwater, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Mast Young Plants: Baymont Inn & Suites 2151 Holten Court NW Walker, MI Phone: Holiday Inn Express 358 River Ridge Drive NW Grand Rapids, MI Phone: Quality Inn 2171 Holten Court NW Walker, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Pell Greenhouses: Sleep Inn & Suites 4869 Becker Drive Allendale, MI Phone: Quality Inn 3301 Highland Drive Hudsonville, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Four Star Greenhouses: Quality Inn & Suites 1225 N. Dixie Highway Monroe, MI Phone: Detroit Metro Airport Marriott Flynn Drive Romulus, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Spring Meadow Nursery: Holiday Inn 940 W. Savidge Spring Lake, MI Phone: Best Western Beacon Inn 1525 S Beacon Blvd. Grand Haven, MI Phone: Grand Haven Days Inn 1500 Beacon Blvd Grand Haven, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Michigan State University: Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center 55 S. Harrison Road East Lansing, MI Phone: Candlewood Suites at MSU 3545 Forest Road Lansing, MI Phone: East Lansing Marriott 300 M.A.C. Avenue East Lansing, MI Phone: Hotels convenient to Walters Gardens: Haworth Inn & Conference Center 225 College Ave (downtown) Holland, MI Phone: Holiday Inn Express Felch St. Holland, MI Phone: Hampton Inn Felch St. Holland, MI Phone:

12 MSU plant trial field day Plant & Soil Sciences Building 1066 Bogue Street East Lansing, MI Contact: Katie McCarver or Art Cameron Phone: x1329 (Katie) or x1338 (Art) Online: planttour.hrt.msu.edu/fieldday Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Greenhouse growers, landscapers, garden center operators, nurserymen, and plant enthusiasts are invited to participate in this annual event on the Michigan State University campus. Come to view the Trial Gardens in a beautiful landscaped setting, which include annuals, perennials, vegetables, and native plants. We will have a morning session featuring Dr. Art Cameron (MSU Garden Director) and Katie McCarver (Annual Trial Garden Manager) who will discuss new trends and best performers. Also, representatives from many of the major breeding companies including Ball Horticulture, Benary, Dummen, Floranova, Plug Connection, Proven Winners, Sakata, Takii and Westhoff will present some of their favorite new introductions and proven performers. In the afternoon, there will be guided tours of the gardens and the option for informal discussions of plant performance and care. For more information on the MSU Trial Gardens, visit trialgardens.hrt.msu.edu. You can register online or complete and mail in the form on page 15. Please park in the MSU Garden Parking Lot, which is located at 1066 Bogue Street and is just north of the railroad tracks AAS Summer Summit in Michigan! The MSU Gardens will also co-host the 2012 All American Selection Summer Summit on August 7-9. The opening reception will be Tuesday August 7, just following our Open House. See meetings/index.cfm for more information on this unique opportunity. 12

13 Notes MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. MSU Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products, trade names or companies does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. 13

14 2012 MSU plant trial field day Program August 7, 2012 Tentative Schedule Time Topic Presenters and/or location 8:30am Registration and refreshments Plant & Soil Science Building headhouse Introduction and welcome 9:00-9:10 Art Cameron, Katie McCarver, Plant & Soil Science Building and Erik Runkle (MSU) Leading breeding companies including representatives from Ball-PanAmerican 9:10-10:20 Top-performing plants, Part I and Ball FloraPlant, Benary, Dummen, Floranova, Paul Ecke Ranch, P plug Connection, Proven Winners, Sakata, Takii and Westhoff 10:20-10:40 Break; refreshments served Plant & Soil Science Building headhouse 10:40-11:00 Top-performing plants, Part II Leading breeding companies (above) 11:00-11:30 Top performers in the 2012 MSU Trials Katie McCarver (MSU) 11:30-12:00 New plants and gardening trends Art Cameron (MSU) 12:00-12:45 Lunch Plant & Soil Science Building conservatory 12:45-2:15 2:15 Trial Gardens tours highlighting standout plants in 2012 End of program; stroll through the MSU Gardens at your leisure MSU staff and breeding company representatives Registration Fee (includes morning refreshments, lunch, parking, trial booklet, and program) $42 per person (received on or before July 31) $52 per person (received on or after August 1) $ 5 per copy for additional trial booklets 14

15 MSU Plant Trial Field Day Registration Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Advanced registration ends July 31, 2012 To register for the MSU Plant Trial Field Day online using a credit card, please visit planttour.hrt.msu.edu/fieldday. To register and for payment by check, please complete and return this form. Please make checks payable to Michigan State University. Registration Name of Attendee #1 Name of Attendee #2 Name of Attendee #3 Name of Attendee #4 Business Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone No.: Registration Fee (includes morning refreshments, lunch, parking, trial booklet, and program) Number of people $42/person before July 31 $ Number of people $52/person after July 31 $ Number of additional trial booklets $5/copy $ Total registration (please enclose check) $ Mail To Questions Attn: Jennifer Sweet Contact: Jennifer Sweet 1066 Bogue Street Phone: (517) x1339 Plant & Soil Sciences, A222 hgardens@msu.edu Michigan State University Website: planttour.hrt.msu.edu/fieldday East Lansing, MI

16 Michigan Garden Plant Tour 1066 Bogue Street Plant & Soil Sciences, A222 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID East Lansing, MI Permit No. 21