This Summer’s Can’t Miss Tours And Events

July and August are packed with events, from greenhouse tours and seminars, to the new Summer Vegetable Trials in California. Check out the list of events for dates and times, as well as information on how to plan your visit.

Bailey Nurseries

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Bailey Nurseries will hold its Minnesota Expo 2015, a jam-packed event showcasing its farm and plants, on July 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn. In addition to farm tours, participants can enjoy new varieties, hot picks and merchandising displays, as well as attend various seminars throughout the day. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served during the event. Visit the Bailey Nurseries website for the complete schedule and to register online, or contact Sue Gundersen at [email protected] or 651-768-3372 for more information.

Ball Seed Field Day & Landscape Day

Ball Seed’s Field Day & Landscape Day will take place July 31, at 8 a.m. in West Chicago, Ill. The event includes tours of the Ball Premier Lab and seed distribution, as well as guided garden tours. There will also be presentations, demonstrations and a mobile app showcase. Visit the event’s website for more information and online registration.

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California Summer Vegetable Trials

Vegetable breeding companies will come together August 20-21 to host the Summer Vegetable Trials in California. Like the long-standing California Spring Trials held annually in California, attendees will have the opportunity to visit breeding companies’ trial sites in seven locations throughout the state. National Garden Bureau (NGB) is organizing and publicizing this event on behalf of its members. Visits will focus on observing new varieties in a field or garden setting, and learning about new breeding and marketing opportunities from the respective hosts. Participating companies include PanAmerican Seed, Sakata Seed, Seeds By Design/Terra Organics, Seminis/Monsanto, Syngenta and Vegetalis/Floranova. Customers, growers and the media should contact each company to arrange their visit. Click here for more information.

C. Raker And Sons

C. Raker and Sons in Litchfield, Mich., will host its open house July 30-31 at the Raker Trial Gardens, displaying more than 65,000 individual plants in comparison trial and landscape environments. Raker serves the plants, food, music and activities, you bring your staff and family. Visit the Raker Trial Gardens’ website for more information.

Four Star Greenhouse Inc.

This summer’s events at Four Star Greenhouses Inc., in Carleton, Mich., includes the 2015 Michigan Garden Plant Tour, sponsored by Michigan State University (MSU) and area growers. The event will run for two weeks from July 27 through August 7. Participants can visit Four Star, meet with staff and see the facilities, including the Four Star Display Garden. Four Star will also hold its Grower Open House August 3-7. The event will include facility and display garden tours, where growers can see many of the new Proven Winners and Proven Selections annuals, perennials, grasses and shrubs growing in realistic landscape conditions. Management and growing staff will be available to meet with growers during this event. The Four Star Display Garden is open to the public from June through September, and features hundreds of new and classic Proven Winners and Proven Selections plants in a stunning landscape that includes water features, trellises and more. For more information, contact Four Star at 734-654-6420 or [email protected].

Green Leaf Plants

Green Leaf Plants will hold its second open house event on July 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to give the public a chance to view trial gardens, take guided tours and learn about new varieties and programs. The event will be held at Green Leaf Plant’s facility in Lancaster, Pa., and coincides with Penn State University Extension Trials in nearby Manheim (only 12 miles from Smoketown). Visitors will be able to attend both events. To RSVP or for more information, contact [email protected] or 800-321-9573.

Michigan Garden Plant Tour

The 12th annual tour, sponsored by Michigan State University (MSU) and area growers, will run for two weeks from July 27 through August 7. Greenhouse growers, landscapers, garden center operators and nurserymen are invited to visit each of the participating tour sites. Expect to learn about a wide range of ornamental crops, including popular commercial brands of annuals and perennials. This is a terrific way to observe plant performance at different locations and grown under various conditions, both in the ground and in containers. The Michigan Garden Plant Tour is free, but growers would appreciate a call ahead to know you’ll be coming. For more information, contact tour coordinators Jennifer Sweet (517-353-0443) or Erik Runkle (517-353-0350), or visit the event’s website.

Plantpeddler Variety Day 2015

Plantpeddler in Cresco, Iowa, will hold its Variety Day August 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can stroll through the trial gardens and vote for their favorite varieties, take tours of both main production facilities and listen to speakers, including keynote speaker Dr. Chris Currey from Iowa State University. To RSVP or for more information, contact 800-827-1654 or [email protected].

Pleasant View Gardens And D.S. Cole Growers

Pleasant View Gardens and D.S. Cole Growers are holding their annual open houses on July 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The operations are located a short distance from each other in Loudon, N.H. Lunch and refreshments will be served at both facilities. Admission is free, but registration is required. Greenhouse and nursery growers, retailers, landscapers and brokers will have the chance to view a broad range of plant genetics displayed at two convenient locations. For more information or to register, contact D.S.Cole Growers at 603-783-9561 or [email protected] and Pleasant View Gardens at 603-435-8361 or [email protected] or pwpvg.com.

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