It’s all here
I’m excited to share that this issue is once again featuring the Show Guide for The Garden Center Show (co-organized by Lawn & Garden Retailer). We’ve got everything you need to make the most of the conference and show, including session details and a show floor map with an interactive QR code to scan for the most up-to-date information. And if you’ll be at the show, please stop by the Lawn & Garden Retailer Networking Lounge or grab me on the show floor and say hi!
But don’t worry if you’re not attending the show this year — we’ve packed this issue with helpful articles and columns to help your business thrive.
I made an early summer visit to southeast Michigan, where I couldn’t resist popping into a few independent garden retailers to see how things were looking. Click here to see what I saw.
Cut flowers continued to turn heads — ours included — at California Spring Trials. The North American market for cut flowers remains strong as consumers fill their garden beds and patio containers with better breeding. Sunflowers continue to be a favorite, and from what we saw this year, bold colors, bloom sizes and appealing shapes are what the market is demanding. Find some of our favorites here.
Fall will be here before we know it — but before you shift gears into fall/holiday mode, our columnist Stan Pohmer urges you to take a hard look at what really happened this spring. That, he writes, is where your roadmap to 2026 begins. Read more here.
Also in This Issue
I’m delighted to introduce you to this year’s Lawn & Garden Retailer’s Innovator of the Year award honorees. These nine standout independent garden retailers go above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer experiences, stay deeply engaged with their communities and foster supportive, team-driven workplaces. Click here to learn more about these remarkable retailers — and I hope be inspired to incorporate some of their ideas in your own garden center.
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