This year, Welby Gardens held container trials with a record 500 attendees, evaluating more than 700 varieties.

Final variety evaluations will come later in the year, but check out these highlights from one of the 2024 Michigan Garden Plant Tour host sites.

Final variety evaluations will come later in the year, but check out these highlights from one of the 2024 Michigan Garden Plant Tour host sites.

Hosted by Plantpeddler on Friday, Aug. 2, Variety Day 2024 provided insights on new industry trends alongside the Top 25 winners.

BioWorks adds Ron Ostrander as Director of Horticulture Sales and Distributor Relations, IPG adds Lisa Hilgenberg as Plant Trial Manager, and Kientzler adds Nathan Sell as Commercial Director.

Summer field trials for horticulture specialists are in swing, with Colorado and Michigan State partnering with local gardens and growers.

Plant trials are an important way to learn more about how new variety introductions will perform in specific regions and climates.

The event offers two days of educational and networking opportunities with industry leaders from breeding companies, major growers, key trialing sites and more.

While observing new varieties, trial managers have noticed important upgrades, including disease resistance and drought tolerance.

The flower trial garden evaluates the performance of flower varieties under the unique and challenging Rocky Mountain environmental conditions.

Trials were planted during the month of May, and data was collected at regular intervals between the months of June-September.

The company’s partnership with Inflora Cut Flowers/Express Seed allowed it to double the size of its cut flower trials and showcase new additions to the Specialty Cut Flower Program.

Mild spring weather was great for plants that prefer cooler weather, but slowed down heat-lovers such as cannas and caladiums.