First Five
Welcome to Lawn & Garden Retailer @ California Spring Trials! Our team started in northern California on Saturday and is making its way down the coast. Here we want to provide you with a taste of what we’re seeing. It’s my first time at California Spring Trials, and I’m loving the merchandising and retail focus at many of the stops.
First up was Proven Winners. With a new expanded location, the Proven Winners team had plenty of room to display new varieties as well as programs for garden centers. Each “store within a store” featured customizable signage and a focus on incorporating annuals, perennials and shrubs all into one display.
Our next stop was Syngenta Flowers, which had some standout displays of its own. A beehive drew visitor attention and also pulled together their strong focus on pollinator plants.
At Danziger, there were more than 50 new varieties on display, so between lots of annual color and complementing pots, they were sure to shine.
Starting on Sunday, we went Speedling in San Juan Batista, which featured new introductions from six different breeders.
We then headed to Golden State Bulb Growers to get a look at their new calla introductions.
Here’s some snapshots from our first five stops. Also, make sure to visit our sister publication GPN at www.gpnmag.com to view new variety coverage from California Spring Trials. Jasmina Dolce, managing editor of GPN, gave her Day 1 recap here.
Are you at Spring Trials this week? What’s catching your eye? Send me an email at [email protected].
Cheers,
2017 National Plant of the Year Display (Proven Winners)
Proven Winners has named Supertunia ‘Vista Bubblegum’ the 2017 National Plant of the Year. It’s easy to grow, hard to kill and plays well in nearly everywhere in both landscapes and containers. This display shows how to make a splash with pink.
Seasonal Focus (Proven Winners)
Proven Winners hopes to help garden centers create their own captivating, inspirational signage by customizing these seasonal messages with store logos. Above, “Fall is Magic” and “It’s okay to sit and daydream.” Other customizable signs include messages such as “Welcome Home” and “Spend time with your friends.”
Bright Tags (Proven Winners)
You didn’t have to look close to see these messages that would give customers a little more confidence about what they are getting with each plant. Along with “great container plants,” tags read “attracts butterflies,” “sun or shade,” “thrives in landscapes,” and “I show my pretty colors all season.”
Pollinator-Friendly Gardens (Syngenta Flowers)
The entrance at Syngenta Flowers gave just a taste of what we were to find inside by featuring a pollinator-friendly landscape concept. Trailing pentas were then displayed against a honeycomb backdrop and a very active beehive got everyone talking.
Upcycling Ideas (Syngenta Flowers)
Syngenta Flowers got creative with shovels, watering cans and colorful pails for its displays this year. They were the perfect backdrop to display its hanging baskets and some of its most popular combinations.
Color, Color and More Color (Danziger)
Colored pots caught everyone’s attention at Danziger. The pots were picked to complement the new variety colors and make a statement as soon as you walk in the door.
Grab-N-Go Strawberries (ABZ Seeds)
The Delizz strawberries from ABZ Seeds were on display in a complete package ready for customers to take home. Also, as one of the AAS Winners, it was important for them to show it off with corresponding tags.
Calla Companions (Golden State Bulb Growers)
The possibilities are endless with callas at Golden State Bulb Growers. The concept of “calla companions” showed the possibilities for container planters with other plants such as coleus. Minis can also make a strong impulse purchase.
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