Market Buzz

HGTV HOME adds grower partners for ‘Expressions’ line

The HGTV HOME Plant Collection has partnered with 17 regional greenhouse growers for the Collection’s “Expressions” annual line. The following greenhouse growers have joined the HGTV HOME Plant Collection grower network:

• Alex R. Masson Inc.
• Bob’s Market and Greenhouses Inc.
• Bordine’s Nursery Ltd.
• Botany Lane Greenhouse
• CF Greenhouses
• Color Spot Nurseries
• Diefenbacher Greenhouses
• Floral Plant Growers LLC
• Harts Nursery of Jefferson Inc.
• Janus Gardens Inc.
• Masterpiece Flower
• Meadowridge Inc.
• Neal Mast & Sons Greenhouses
• Timbuk Farms
• Trail Nursery
• Van de Wetering Greenhouses
• Walnut Springs Nursery Inc.

The new growers join established HGTV HOME Plant Collection sourcing partner for annuals, Dummen USA.

The combination of these growers, exclusive annual genetics and the HGTV HOME brand name points to a successful retail experience in independent garden centers this spring, the company says.

In anticipation of 2013, Agricola Management and the HGTV HOME Plant Collection have expanded the “Expressions” Annual Collection from four to six collections, coupled with more than 90 individual annuals to increase consumer selections. The complementary color mixes are available in one-gallon containers, hanging baskets and decorative containers. Individual components are sold in a single quart size.  HGTV HOME Plant Collection says this assortment allows consumers to “color coordinate and go,” creating a polished look at home within minutes.

The “Expressions” Annual Collection was developed by Agricola Management Group in conjunction with HGTV and will be available spring 2013 in select independent garden centers nationwide. The HGTV HOME Plant Collection expansion continues in 2013 with the soft launch of the ‘Smart & Stylish’ Shrub line.

For more, visit www.hgtvhomeplants.com

Australian International Garden Centre show set for October

THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL GARDEN CENTRE ASSOCIATION CONGRESS in Australia will be held Oct. 6 to 11 in Melbourne.

The event includes a welcome reception at Eureka 89, a tour of five of Melbourne’s best garden centers, lunch at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground and a visit to Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria’s Trade Day to see plants produced in Victoria. The congress continues with a visit to the beach and two more garden centers, followed by a visit to the National Sports Museum and the IGCA Information Meeting at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The trip wraps up with a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to see native flora, afternoon tea at the country’s best production nursery, a trip to Australia’s largest shopping center and a closing dinner.

Web registration and the online payment system are the preferred method of payment. Hotel information is also available online.

Anyone interested is encouraged to email organizer Leigh Seibler at leigh@gravity.net.au to be added to the Congress’ eNews update list.

There is also a paper form available at www.igccaustralia2013.com/registration.

For MORE, visit www.igccaustralia2013.com

Growers and garden centers win Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence

Landscape Ontario announced the winners of the Awards of Excellence for Garden Centers and Growers at EXPO 2012, Landscape Ontario’s garden and floral fall trade show. The awards were created by Landscape Ontario to recognize the growers of the best plant material, and retailers who showcase excellent products and provide outstanding services.

The 2012 Garden Center Awards of Excellence winners are:

Baseline Nurseries & Garden Centre: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Annuals and/or Perennials

Canadale Nurseries, Ltd.: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Evergreens and/or Broadleaf Evergreens; Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Your Specialty: Plant Material Your Business is Noted For; Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Annuals and/or Perennials; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event

Connon Nurseries/CBV Holdings Inc.: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Deciduous Shrubs and/or Trees; Outstanding Display of Goods — Hardgoods

Cudmore’s Garden Centre Inc.: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Deciduous Shrubs and/or Trees

DeGroot’s Nurseries Ltd.: Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event

Georgina Garden Centre: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Annuals and/or Perennials

Landale Landscape Management: Permanent Display Gardens — Under 500 square feet

New North Greenhouses, Inc.: Outstanding Display of Goods – Hardgoods; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event; Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Your Specialty: Plant Material Your Business is Noted For

Parkway Gardens Ltd.: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Annuals and/or Perennials; Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Your Specialty: Plant Material Your Business is Noted For

Pathways To Perennials: Outstanding Display of Goods — Hardgoods

Peter Knippel Nursery Inc.: Permanent Display Gardens — Over 500 square feet

Sandhill Nursery: Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Web Site Development; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Print Advertising; Outstanding Display of Goods – Seasonal; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event; Outstanding Display of Goods — Giftware

Sheridan Nurseries (Georgetown) Ltd.: Outstanding Display of Goods – Hardgoods; Outstanding Display of Goods – Giftware; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event; Merchandising Techniques — Creative P.O.P. area; Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Print Advertising

The Pond Clinic: Merchandising Techniques — Outstanding Promotional Event

Vermeer’s Garden Centre & Flower Shop: Outstanding Display of Plant Material — Annuals and/or Perennials

For more, visit www.loawards.com
 

Syngenta to expand research, development and seed production facility

Syngenta will be doing a major expansion at its Woodland, Calif., facility for seed production and research and development. Construction is set to begin this fall, with a completion date in 2014.

The new facility will allow for expanded research and development in the California Central Valley for cereals, corn, cucurbits and tomatoes.

The expansion will include:

• New greenhouses and specialized plant growth environments
• A new plant pathology laboratory
• Expanded work space for research and development activities. The location will be headquarters for Syngenta North American cucurbit research and development, said Scott Langkamp, head of vegetables for Syngenta North America. Vegetables grown at the facility will be shipped globally.

For more, visit www.syngenta.com
 

Nursery brands expand patent and trademark monitoring program

Proven Winners Color Choice, Encore Azaleas, Endless Summer Collection, First Editions, The Knock Out Family of Roses, Drift Roses and Southern Living Plant Collection have expanded the Plant Watch nursery inspection program aimed at protecting their plant patents and branded programs across the country. Inspections are underway from New Jersey to Oregon and from Michigan to Louisiana.

“Each year we do this inspection program, the value of the brands and patents becomes more clear to growers,” said Jacques Ferare of Star Roses and Plants/The Conard-Pyle Company, developers of The Knock Out Family of Roses brand. “We’ve worked hard to establish our brands and spend tens of thousands of dollars on patents. Enforcing these intellectual property rights is necessary to support our customers and licensees, and ensures that compliance is improving.”

Nurseries across the country have undergone inspection by Plant Watch representatives to see how they are meeting the requirements of these branded programs and respecting the patents. Growers who comply with patent and branding requirements are at a disadvantage when infringers undercut prices, Plant Watch says. In order to support their network of compliant growers, Spring Meadow Nursery, Bailey Nurseries, Conard-Pyle and Plant Development Services Inc. have hired Plant Watch to inspect nurseries, report on their findings, and collect fines where warranted.

Plant Watch has intervened with infringers to curtail their illegal activities for more than seven years. The organization assesses nurseries a significant fine when found to be non-compliant, based on the number of unauthorized plants, and requires the destruction of those plants.

“It’s obvious our industry needs to sell more plants to more and different kinds of people,” said Plant Watch Managing Director Peggy Walsh Craig. “Marketing new varieties helps make consumers aware of exciting new colors and sizes of plants and homeowners have more satisfying ways to beautify their gardens. When a few growers unfairly take advantage of the investment made by other nurseries in new varieties, the whole industry suffers from depressed prices.”

For more, visit www.plantwatch.org

Spring Trials reservation site launched

OFA ANNOUNCED the launch of the official central reservation website for the 2013 California Spring Trials. This year more than 30 companies are exhibiting at 19 locations. Attendees can arrange appointments through the website to create personalized itineraries, which can be printed or viewed via a mobile site. There is no fee for attendees to use the service. The registration service is available now through the official California Spring Trials website at www.ofa.org/springtrials.
 

New England Grows sets 2013 schedule

New England Grows is ready to kick off the 2013 show with seminars designed specifically for the landscape, nursery, arboriculture and other horticulture fields. The green industry educational conference and exposition offers contact hours and credits, as well as a connection to the industry’s suppliers.

In addition to a host of horticultural and green industry design topics, important business issues like effective horticultural marketing, social media and green industry customer retention will be addressed.

The show starts off with the Garden Success seminars aimed at independent garden centers on Feb. 6. Keynote speaker Dan Pink, author of “Drive” and “A Whole New Mind” will offer a fresh look at the art, science and power of selling.

Throughout the three days, there will be Ask the Expert sessions with Extension researcher at the Great Ideas Pavilion and many educational seminars.

The show runs Feb. 6-8 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

For more, visit www.newenglandgrows.org

International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society announces winners of 2012 New Waterlily Competition

The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) has announced the winners of the 15th annual New Waterlily Competition. Waterlily hybrids were grown out and photographed at the Denver Botanic Gardens under the supervision of aquatic horticulturist, Tamara Kilbane. Entries from around the world were judged by an international panel of aquatic plant experts. Online and on-site voting was also open to the public for the People’s Choice Awards.

This year’s international panel of judges consisted of James Allison of Aquapic Solutions, Craig Presnell of Luster Aquatic Nurseries, Tim Jennings of Longwood Botanical Gardens, Jim Purcell of Oregon Aquatics, Kelly Billing of Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Stu Schuck of Charleston Aquatic Nurseries, Deb Spencer of Water’s Edge, Dave Brigante of Hughes Water Gardens and Danny Benjamin of Hazorea Aquatics.

The winners include:

Best New Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Tropic Punch’ by Florida Aquatic Nurseries, U.S. (see photo)

Second Best New Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Kiss the Sky’ by Mike Giles, U.S.

First Place Hardy Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Manee Red’ by Pairat Songpanich, Thailand

Second Place Hardy Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Pink Pom Pom’ by Tony Moore, U.S.

First Place Tropical Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Tropic Punch’ by Florida Aquatic Nurseries, U.S.

Second Place Tropical Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Sand Pearl’ by Lonestar Aquatic Nursery, U.S.

First Place Intersubgeneric Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Kiss the Sky’ by Mike Giles, U.S.

Second Place Intersubgeneric Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Florida Aquatic Nurseries’ Deep Purple’ by Florida Aquatic Nurseries, U.S.

Results of the People’s Choice Awards include:

First Place Hardy Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Pink Pom Pom’ by Tony Moore, U.S.

Second Place Hardy Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Razzberry’ by Tony Moore, U.S.

First Place Tropical Waterlily: Unnamed by Lonestar Aquatic Nursery, U.S.

Second Place Tropical Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Tropic Punch’ by Florida Aquatic Nurseries, U.S.

First Place Intersubgeneric Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Florida Aquatic Nurseries’ Deep Purple’ by Florida Aquatic Nurseries, U.S.

Second Place Intersubgeneric Waterlily: Nymphaea ‘Kiss the Sky’ by Mike Giles, U.S.

To see more photos of the 2012 winners, visit http://iwgs.org/2012-nwc-thank-you

For more, visit www.iwgs.org
 

GCA Summer Tour to feature garden centers in Ohio

The Garden Centers of America (GCA) Summer Tour will hit four major cities in Ohio this June, highlighting the best practices of garden centers in the area. The guided bus tour starts in Cleveland June 23 and will include stops at Cleveland, Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus stores.

“Ohio is right in the middle of what I call the ‘Garden Center Belt,’ which stretches from the Upper Midwest to New England,” said GCA Chairman Jeff Morey in a news release about the event. “It offers some of the best examples of independent garden centers at their finest in the U.S.”

The tour, which will include a reception in Cleveland Sunday night and dinner in Amish country Monday, is not exclusive to GCA members. Monday’s tour will focus on Cleveland garden centers, Tuesday’s trip will feature stores in Dayton and Cincinnati and the tour will end with stops in Columbus Wednesday, June 26.

More tour information will be available soon.

For more, visit www.gardencentersofamerica.com
 

New Vision Summit set for January

Retail and horticulture industry consultants John Stanley and Sid Raisch are joining forces for the two-day New Vision Summit, focused on giving independent garden centers advice and ideas to help them respond to future changes in the industry and provide direction.

Stanley and Raisch said that IGCs must adapt and adjust to the changing times now, “because the average sale per customer of a typical American garden center is lower than many countries with developed garden center industries,” according to the press release about the event.

OFA will host the event, set for Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. The retreat is limited to the “35 leading thinkers and non-competing garden centers from Canada and the United States.”

“This is not a series of lectures by two consultants,” Stanley said. “Instead, the aim is for each of the presenters to bring forward [his or her] ideas and then allow the group to debate those ideas to come up with new strategies for their business and the industry.”

For more, visit www.YourNextLevel.org/NVF

English Gardens closes Brighton location

English Gardens closed its Brighton, Mich., location after the 2012 Christmas season. English Gardens President John Darin says that the business did not renew its building lease.

“It was a business decision to maximize profits for our shareholders, associates and vendor partners,” Darin said. “This will allow us to focus our resources on our existing stores and potential new stores.”

Darin stated that the garden centers will remain dedicated to southeastern Michigan.

The Brighton location opened five years ago and includes a nursery, garden center, outdoor living department and seasonal Christmas store.

In its 58 years in business, English Gardens has never closed a non-seasonal location, according to an email sent to customers by Darin.

The Brighton store officially closed Jan. 1. English Gardens has six other locations in the area.

For more, visit www.englishgardens.com
 

Kogut Florist & Garden Center closes after 82 years

KOGUT FLORIST & GARDEN CENTER in Meriden, Conn. has closed after 82 years in operation. The owners, the Kogut family, said they could no longer keep the business financially viable.

The family posted this note to the business’s Facebook page:

“To our valued customers & loyal friends: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closing of our family business, Kogut Florist & Garden Center. Many factors have impacted our decision, but mainly it was a financial one. Established in 1935, we have fallen victim of the economy. We thank those of you that supported us throughout the years. We will miss you. Sincerely, The Kogut Family- Ronnie & Robin, Stephen, Dana, & Robyn”

The garden center delivered flowers for all occasions in the Meriden area, and offered landscaping and plowing.

A wholesale operation owned by other Kogut family members will remain in business.