The buzz at this year’s California Spring Trials was Ball FloraPlant’s black petunia, Black Velvet. Is it truly black? Both industry members and the public may see it first-hand at the open houses at the Landscape Ontario trial gardens. Black Velvet is among the 500 plants that are being evaluated this year.
The gardens will open to members of the industry on Aug. 20, while the public will have an opportunity to see the new plants on Aug. 21, and as part of the Milton Horticultural Society’s annual garden tour.
Industry open house (9 a.m. to 12-noon)
The open house for the horticultural industry is co-hosted by Landscape Ontario, Ontario Parks Association and University of Guelph.
- Educational Speaker Sessions:
Soils Amendments for Healthy Plants – The basics of soil enhancement – Keith Osborne
Understanding Soil Nutrition – Getting the most out a soil analysis report – Jack Legg
- Plant material from: Ball Horticulture, Blooms of Bressingham, Dummen, Floranova, George Sant Greenhouses, Goldsmith Seeds, Jelitto Seeds, Ontario Seed Company, PanAmerican Seed, Proven Winners, Seeds of Change, Suntory, Syngenta, and American Takii. You can vote for your favourites.
- Ontario Parks Association – view and vote for your favourite hanging basket from participating municipalities.
- Test your plant ID skills – compete against yourself and others in the Friend or Foe seedling identification display.
- Light Refreshments (12-noon) sponsored by the Gro-Bark (Ontario).
Afternoon in Guelph (1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.)
Guelph Trial Garden at the Turfgrass Institute,
328 Victoria Rd. S., (at College Avenue, Guelph)
Flower Program
- All-America Selections Flower and Bedding Plant Trial
- New plant cultivars for containers and ground beds
- Perennials from Blooms of Bressingham, Jelitto Seed, Vanhof & Blokker and Ball
Turf Program
- Research for residential and public park turf maintenance in conjunction with the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. Note: attendees must provide own transportation from Milton to Guelph.
This is a free event, but an rsvp would be appreciated to Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@landscapeontario.com
The day is sponsored by Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd., A.M.A .Plastics Ltd., Goldsmith Seeds, Inc.
Agri-Food, Agrium Advanced Technologies, Fafard, KAM’s Growers Supply,
Perlite Canada Inc., Plant Products and Land Source Organix.
Public open house and Garden Tour following day
Landscape Ontario is also holding a public open house the following day on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be a stop on the Milton Community In Bloom Garden Tour the same day. The open house is free to the general public and tickets for the garden tour are $25 and include lunch at Landscape Ontario.
