Don’t “cage yourself in.” Ball Ingenuity wants you to “spread your wings” with this new Begonia ‘Canary Yellow’ variety. The giant cage, feather boas, and Peeps were a nice added touch to the display showing off the chartreuse foliage and complementary red flowers on this variety.

Ball FloraPlant put together a wall of foliage items the company carries as a visual reminder to attendees. Seeing the trend among young consumers moving from succulents to houseplants, Ball FloraPlant wants to keep that interest in foliage going by stepping them in to outdoor foliage with plants like ipomoea and other items like coleus and coleus combinations in the MixMasters line. Global Product Manager Kristopher Carlsson says young consumers tend to be less confident in using flowers but if we continue their interest in foliage as a gateway into gardening, their confidence will improve and evolve toward different types of plants.

Ball FloraPlant’s firehouse and police station display ideas were quite elaborate, showing off Cadet verbena and Firehouse verbena.

Moooo! Got Dianthus? Green Fuse Botanicals does, with three series of Constants - Beauty, Cadence, and Promise.

Plug & Play has been developing interspecies combos and mixes for Southern growers, as well as more Thriller, Spiller, Filler combos, which research shows younger customers gravitate toward. A fun candy display offered some easy fun and interest.

Darwin Perennials and Kieft Seed have done all the homework for growers, with predictable, programmable perennials for early spring, spring, summer, and fall sales. Growers and retailers don’t have to continue to do perennials the way they always have, says Darwin Perennials’ Mike Klopmeyer. Instead, use the timed, programmed resources available from Kieft and Darwin to grow perennials from seed and cutting to provide fresh plants each season, rather than cut back leftovers from spring. The payoff will be worth it, Klopmeyer says, when consumers see fresh product available in stores all season long, and load up on fall décor items. In a trial program, one grower in the Northeast sold out of this product immediately, and his retailer customer put in an order for new product weekly.

Fall color and predictable, programmable perennials is what it’s all about at Darwin Perennials. Mike Klopmeyer says it’s time to evolve our approach when growing and selling perennials.

PanAmerican Seed’s new Corona dianthus may be the new “king of spring.” This display highlighting the large-flowered series would be fun for kids of all ages to try out being royals with its red carpet, throne, and crown jewels.

Laura Drotleff ran into her friend Susie Raker, at Floranova!

Mike Klopmeyer of @DarwinPerennials explains how perennials breeders and growers need to expand and adapt perennials similarly to how the vegetative annuals market, to provide better plants, safer and season-long sales. #CAST2018 #CASpringTrials

The Greenhouse Grower team got tatted up at PanAmerican Seed’s Tattoo vinca display. The Tattoos provide plenty of visual interest to catch young consumers’ eyes – and the tattoo idea opens the door for young customers in a relatable, approachable way.

Scott Rusch of PanAmerican Seed discusses the company's efforts toward new product development in providing more ready made product at retail, as well as developing indoor plants like veggies and succulents, and focusing on breeding for better disease resistance.

This display from PanAmerican Seed’s HandPicked Vegetables line showcases a brilliant way for consumers to grow veggie crops in small spaces.

Who doesn't want their front door to look like this, all dressed up for autumn? Ball Ingenuity's Ball for Fall display uses Morgana mums and a variety of perennials and annuals in trendy pinks, purples and whites for a refined fall look.

Florence Vaux of Ch. Morel is a master merchandiser with her creative display ideas. This year, it was Christmas in the greenhouse as she showed California Spring Trials attendees how to use different sizes of cyclamen varieties to create décor items with ideas that customers will love.