Raker Trial Gardens Highlights
August 16, 2010 
Greenhouse Grower visited C. Raker & Sons and the Raker Trial Gardens last Thursday during Hort Couture Day. Representatives from McHutchison, Eason Horticultural Resources and Fred C. Gloeckner Co. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 – all three of which have formed an alliance as Hort Couture brokers Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 – were on hand to check out Hort Couture varieties for 2011 and compare them to material from other breeders.
Hort Couture highlights were just one component of Greenhouse Grower’s Thursday visit, though. Breeder-sponsored beds, container trials, hanging calibrachoa basket trials and comparison row trials are all part of the Raker Trials Gardens, as are other C. Raker & Sons programs.
One interesting program Raker showcased is Living Roof, which the operation has been researching for the last two years. Raker has been trialing several green roof types, including sedums, grasses and natives. The operation is approaching green roofs as an emerging opportunity here in the United States, both from a sustainability and business standpoint.
Another program highlight in the Raker Trials Gardens is Living Color, a fundraising program that was established about four years ago. At the time the program was established, Raker was looking for production additions. Today, Living Color serves more than 400 different schools and non-profit organizations, and it has grown to serve more than 400 groups exclusively through internet marketing.
For more highlights from the Raker Trial Gardens, including photos of Living Roof and Living Color, check out the photo slideshow below. You can also check out a more in-depth slideshow on Facebook.
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