Visit C. Raker & Sons This Summer
June 17, 2009 The Raker Trial Gardens will be open to the public from July 15 to August 28 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The trial gardens, which cover more than three acres, consist of a variety of annual and perennial flowers used primarily for horticulture comparison trials.
There are three main trials this year: annual comparison, container and hanging basket. The annual comparison trials feature more than 700 varieties of argyranthemum, basil, fibrous begonias, vegetative coleus, diascia, delphinium, gaura, annual and perennial salvia and scented geraniums.
The container trials feature a large selection of 2010 new introductions and mixed culture varieties in large, 20-inch patio containers. The hanging basket trial is a collection of more than 300 varieties of vegetative trailing petunias
In addition to being one of seven stops on Michigan State University’s Michigan Garden Plant Tour, the Trial Garden is also an All-America Selections bedding plant and flower trial site.
An added attraction to the Trial Gardens this year is the Breeder Beds, sponsored by plant and flower breeders from around the world. The 16 beds, designed by professional landscapers, are excellent examples of the newest and best flower varieties. Companies represented include Ball Horticultural Co., Bartel Stek, Goldsmith, S&G Flowers, American Takii, Sakata, Grimes Horticulture, Heuger, Hort Couture, Fides, Floremara-Beekenkamp, Kerley and Company, Living Color Fundraiser, McGregor Plants, Syngenta Flowers and Selecta First Class.
Raker will also offer demonstrations in green roof technology and North American native plants.
C. Raker & Sons specializes in the production of high quality plants for the horticulture industry. Producing plants from both seed and vegetative cuttings, the company formerly known as Raker’s Acres, supplies more than 190 million plants to greenhouses across the United States and Canada.
For more information on C. Raker & Sons, click here.
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