The Garden Center Group judges chose 12 products from 10 companies as their favorites at the Portland, Oregon, show.
The Garden Center Group's garden retailer judges hit Farwest 2022 this year, voting for their picks for the Retailers’ Choice Awards. The organization awarded 10 companies awards for 12 "amazing plants and products."
Here's a quick review and links for more details on products awarded listed in alphabetic order by company:
Little Hottie Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bailpanone’ PP32549) by Bailey Nurseries
Judges said this will be one of the best-selling hydrangeas in coming seasons. A compact hydrangea with great branching, deep green leaves and late summer flowers that are initially green and open to a creamy white, which are held up on sturdy stems.
More info: https://firsteditionsplants.com/product/little-hottiepanicle-hydrangea/
Shadow Magic Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Bailagtwo’ PPAF) by Bailey Nurseries
A crapemyrtle with dark rosy blooms and dark purple leaves, offering disease resistance and compact size (7–9 feet tall and 5–7 feet wide).
More info: https://shop.baileynurseries.com/Product/Detail/13811
Goldblitz Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldblitz’) by Ball Seed
A strong, low-maintenance variety for borders and landscapes, featuring tight foliage with shiny, dark green leaves that hold back weeds and flower abundantly from summer well into fall. Golden yellow horizontal petals contrast nicely with the black center disc.
More info: https://www.ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=053800604046271
Nightfall Snowbell (Styrax japonicus ‘JFS 6SJ’ PPAF) by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Nightfall Snowbell was chosen by the Retailers’ Choice Awards Judges but also as the Best in Show winner during the 2022 Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase. The plant, bred by Keith Warren and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., combines the deep purple foliage of Evening Light Snowbell with the gratefully weeping form of green-leafed cultivars such as Fragrant Fountain. It features purple emerging leaves with green undertones, which contrast with pearly white flower buds in spring. They open to reveal creamy white, bell-shaped blooms. The leaves darken as the season continues.
Wood Tag and Bamboo Plant Stakes by Hip Labels
Judges were thinking, "Move over, plastic! This eco-friendly tag breakthrough offers a smaller carbon footprint than plastic tags and it is fully recyclable! It has a water-based, solvent-free coating for water resistance. To complement this new Wood Tag, Hip Labels offers a bamboo tag holder in three sizes.
More info: http://hiplabels.com/wood-tag/
Bendable Plant Poles, Trellis and Mistr by Mossify
Mossify was quite busy for their first appearance at Farwest 2022 as they introduced their new bendable coir and moss plant poles that are completely bendable. Available in two thickness with one with smaller coir covering and the other larger with moss, each available in three sizes. During the presentation, Lucas Picciolo founder of Mossify said, “with Mossify poles, it puts creativity in the hands of the plant owner.” During the presentation Picciolo also shared details on their new wooden trellis as well as their cordless plant mister Mossify Mistr.
Weigela Midnight Sun (Weigela florida 'Verweig9' PPAF, Can PBRAF) by Proven Winners
A neat and tidy bun-shaped weigela with glossy, blazing orange and red summer-autumn foliage, Midnight Sun works well at the front of borders. It bears pink flowers in spring, however, this plant’s form and colorful summer through autumn foliage are its standout element.
More info: https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/weigela/midnight-sun-reblooming-weigela-weigela-florida
Bushel and Berry Scarlet Belle Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa ‘Ruby Ann’) by Sester Farms
This addition by Bushel & Berry is an ornamental and edible strawberry plant is beautiful and delicious. Remember typical strawberry blooms are white with yellow center? Scarlet Belle has unique scarlet red blooms with yellow centers produce berries all season long, and is ideal for patio pots, hanging baskets or garden beds.
More info: https://www.bushelandberry.com/scarlet-belle
Glowing Hearts Pieris (Pieris japonica ‘Piesid2’) by Sidhu & Sons Nursery
Color is what caught the eyes of The Garden Center Group's judges here. This glossy Pieris shrub has glossy evergreen foliage that emerges in strikingly brilliant, glowing scarlet hues.
More info: https://www.sidhunursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/GLOWING-HEARTS-FLYER.pdf
Velveteeny Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Cotsidh5’ PPAF) by Sidhu & Sons Co.
This smokebush has silky smooth, deep burgundy foliage with large, feathery plumes of dove gray to pink blooms, and a compact form, maturing at 4 feet.
More info: https://www.briggsnursery.com/plant/cotinus-coggygria-usppaf-cpbraf-velveteeny/
Fanfare Showtime Gaillardia (Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Fanfare Showtime’ PP33438) by Walla Walla Nursery Co.
If you have trusted Fanfare then you will love this new offspring with more color! This gaillardia has the same pinwheel flowers you know and love but now in bold fire tones, with a compact mounding habit of 21 inches tall by 16 inches wide. It goes well in containers, beds and borders.
More info: https://planthaven.com/plant/gaillardia-fanfare-showtime/
Leprechaun Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Leprechaun’ PP33840) by Woodburn Nursery and Azaleas Inc.
A compact selection of T. ‘Green Giant’, hardy to Zone 4, holds excellent green color through the winter. It was discovered by Frank Kogut, Kogut Nursery, in Connecticut, and matures at 10–12 feet.
More info: https://www.oan.org/resource/resmgr/gr22/ThujaLeprechaunTecSheet.pdf
Arborjet's Taking Root scholarship program offers up to $10,000 to students who plan to pursue full-time studies in forestry, plant sciences, horticulture, landscape architecture, entomology or a related major at an accredited two-or four-year college.
Arborjet, a leader in tree and plant health care is pleased to announce that it has awarded the 2022 Taking Root Scholarships. Now in its ninth consecutive year, the program offers up to $10,000 in scholarship to students who plan to pursue full-time studies in forestry, plant sciences, horticulture, landscape architecture, entomology or a related major at an accredited two-or four-year college. This year, Arborjet will award scholarships to the following two deserving students.
Danielle Hewitt from Mundelein, Illinois will attend Purdue University in the fall, where she plans to major in Landscape Architecture, with a minor in Horticulture. “With this career, I can combine my love for plants with my artistic talents and eye for detail.” Hewitt studied botany as a young student and collected 75 native plant species. She says that a past school trip to Costa Rica, where she toured the Cloud Rainforest, is where she developed a passion for plants and the potential to discover and study as many different species as possible.
Ryan Malloy of East Thetford, Vermont is the second scholarship recipient and plans to major in Turfgrass Science and Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which is one of the top schools in the country that offers this major. He states that he decided to pursue this course of study from the years that he spent working on a golf course. "One of the things I'm considering on becoming is a golf course superintendent or turfgrass producer after my four years of school.”
“We want parents, educators, counselors and the tree care community to join us in encouraging young students to transform their ingenuity and passion into a career in this important industry. Through this scholarship program, we recognize dedicated students whose philosophy aligns with our company’s mission to help save trees and to preserve urban forests. This year’s winners have demonstrated achievement in their schools and want to lend their skills and talents to help grow our industry,” said Russ Davis, Arborjet President and CEO.
Recipients for the scholarship program must be graduating U.S. high school seniors planning to major in forestry or a related major for the entire academic year at an accredited two-or four-year college or university. For further information on this year’s recipients and to find out more about the scholarship, please visit Arborjet.
RISE members and other industry leaders were honored with a variety of awards.
RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® members gathered for the association’s 32nd annual meeting on shoreline property of Lake Oconee, Georgia.
More than 150 attendees met for three days to actualize the five-year strategic plan goals of collaborating, engaging and convening as an industry that serves as the voice of specialty pesticides and fertilizers.
Attendees included RISE members who are manufacturers, formulators and distributors of specialty pesticides used in public health, aquatics, consumer, forestry, nursery & greenhouse, structural pest control, turf and ornamental and vegetation management.
The theme of the meeting was Gather, Connect, RISE with Megan Provost, RISE President, emphasizing that joining together as an industry was key to advocacy success.
“We speak as the voice of our industry and advocate for regulatory and legislative certainty,” Provost told annual meeting attendees. “We work to help you be better advocates and spokespeople for our industry.”
Connecting Through Speakers and Panels
RISE hosted two keynote panels. The first in which leaders from partner associations in pest management, golf and landscape joined Provost to share what the industry can do to speak with a unified voice.
The second panel discussion featured top industry communicators who discussed how to implement messaging using RISE public opinion research.
The keynote speaker was Timothy Caulfield from the University of Alberta, Canada, a communicator, professor and scientific researcher who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation for the benefit of the public and decision-makers.
Recognizing Board Members and Committee Chairs
The RISE Governing Board elected two new members, Steven Farrington, Gowan Company, and Jeff Bunting, GROWMARK, Inc.
The Board’s 2023 Executive Committee is:
Also continuing their terms on the 2022-23 Governing Board are:
Completing their terms on the Governing Board are Daryl Allen, Corteva Agriscience, and Brian Rowan, SiteOne Landscape Supply.
RISE Members, Others Honored with Awards
RISE members and other industry leaders were honored with a variety of awards.
The recipient of the 2022 E. Allen James Leadership Award was Wendell Codner, FMC Business Manager of Global Consumer Solutions and past Chair of the Strategic Oversight Council.
RISE’s most distinguished volunteer honor named for its first president recognizes exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry and to RISE.
“Since joining RISE, Wendell has been an active member on our committees,” said Provost. “He’s helped attract and retain members and provided input to deliver the best possible programs for our members. He has been proactive in stewarding RISE activities and thinks about our industry first.”
The 2022 RISE Grassroots Excellence Award was given to two honorees this year, Matthew Johnson, President of Aquatic Control, for his federal grassroots work, and Pete Gorman, Chair of the Connecticut Environmental Council, for his work in the state.
Created in 2012, the RISE Grassroots Excellence Award is presented annually to an individual, group or allied association that demonstrates outstanding effort and contributions to furthering the mission, vision and goals of the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry’s public policy advocacy through grassroots.
The 2022 Strategic Driver Award, recognizing the work of RISE volunteer leaders and their impact of helping RISE achieve its strategic plan’s mission and vision, was awarded to:
RISE founding member, long-time volunteer leader and Governing Board member Bill Culpepper, SePRO Founder/Chairman, was recognized for his 31 years of service to the association during his last RISE Annual Meeting before retirement. RISE leaders shared their sentiments and best wishes in a video and Bill was gifted a set of RISE?pickleball paddles.
For more information, visit the RISE website at www. pestfacts.org.
Winning the overall 'Best in Show' booth award was Hopper Bros. of Woodburn, Oregon, for its booth containing specimen size conifers and more.
Farwest Show exhibitors are known for pushing limits to promote the green industry and for the 2022 edition of the show, that certainly didn’t change.
Judges walked the floor to find the best of the best, recognizing several winners with the Ted Van Veen 'Best in Show' booth awards. The show runs through Friday, Aug. 26, at the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland, Oregon.
“The exhibitors at Farwest this year really are representing the industry well,” Show Director Allan Niemi said. “There are some dazzling displays where people pushed creativity to a new level.”
Winning the overall 'Best in Show' booth award was Hopper Bros. of Woodburn, Oregon (Booth #12010), for their booth containing specimen size conifers, frosted Christmas trees, Halloween pumpkins and gourds, a model train and more.
The 'Best in Show' booth award comes with a free 10×10 booth space for the 2023 Farwest Show. Other 'Best of Division' award winners included the following:
The show also recognized exhibitors who put extra creativity into their booths with three 'Far From Ordinary' booth awards. Winning that award this year were Cascade Tropicals, Snohomish, Washington (Booth #7073), Sound Horticulture, Bellingham, Washington (Booth #17027) and A & R Nursery Sales, Boring, Oregon (Booth #11037).
For more information about the 2022 Farwest Show, visit www.farwestshow.com.
Nightfall Snowbell (Styrax japonicus ‘JFS 6SJ’) was chosen by judges as the Best in Show winner in the 2022 Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase.
Nightfall Snowbell (Styrax japonicus ‘JFS 6SJ’) was chosen by professional judges as the Best in Show winner in the 2022 Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase.
The plant, bred by Keith Warren and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. based in Boring, Oregon, is one of 61 outstanding new selections on display at the 2022 Farwest Show and available from at least one show exhibitor.
The show opened Wednesday, Aug. 24 and continues through Friday, Aug. 26 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. The show also presents People’s Choice awards, which are chosen by attendees voting on the show floor. Those awards will be announced on Friday, the final day of the show.
“The best place to find the full range of new plant introductions is at the New Varieties Showcase,” said Heather Cyrus, manager of events and education for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, which produces the show. “Growers and breeders have brought out their best, most exciting new plants, so the industry can see where future plants are headed.”
Nightfall Snowbell combines the deep purple foliage of Evening Light Snowbell with the gratefully weeping form of greenleafed cultivars such as Fragrant Fountain. It features purple emerging leaves with green undertones, which contrast with pearly white flower buds in spring. They open to reveal creamy white, bell-shaped blooms. The leaves darken as the season continues. It is available from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.(Booth #19026) as #10 containers and multiple bare root sizes.
In addition of the Best of Show award, judges gave Awards of Merit as follows:
Click here to view all of the New Varieties Showcase selections.