Summer travels

Plantpeddler Variety Day

Plantpeddler Variety Day has been one of the biggest events to occur in the tiny community of Cresco, Iowa, for the last 44 years. And Aug. 2, 2024, was no exception as the massive young plant grower opened its sprawling complex and gardens for tours, informative talks and a trial that Plantpeddler describes as “Testing the Best in the Midwest.”

It was a mild, cloudless morning when the event opened. Coffee and kolaches sourced from a local baker were provided by owner Mike Gooder to celebrate his Polish heritage. Attendees were provided the obligatory trial flags to vote and directed toward a technicolored trial area bursting with 1,500 varieties of vegetative annuals in large containers, hanging baskets and beds from a global array of breeders.

The Top 25 varieties picked by the visitors were dominated by begonias, with nine winning varieties including I’Conia First Kiss Del Sol (#2) and Orange (#4) from Dümmen Orange; Belove Peach (#11) from Koppe; and Encanto Pink (#12) from Beekenkamp.

The remaining 16 represent a mix of 12 spring annuals, including trial winner Sunfinity Double Yellow helianthus from Syngenta Flowers; 4-D Blue Ice osteospermum (#3) from Selecta One; TerraScape Queen coleus (#5) from Kientzler/InnovaPlant; and Lia Abstract Lemon Cherry calibrachoa (#7) from Danziger.

But plants weren’t the only show in town. The massive, hangar-like interior of the Plantpeddler greenhouse also hosted informative talks. Presentations this year focused on two primary topics. The day began and ended covering the global young plant supply chain with Nathan Sell of Kientzler/InnovaPlant, Pablo Corzo of Kapok Plantas and Brian Krug of Syngenta Flowers. Mid-day featured disease management presentations from Janna Beckerman, the newest member of Envu’s Green Solutions Team, and Chris Currey of the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture.

“We greatly appreciate all of the breeders for submitting genetics, supporting vendor partner sponsors, the team at Plantpeddler for all their efforts and hosting,” said Plantpeddler Sales Manager Stacy Bryant. “And especially everyone who attended.”

Perennial Plant Association National Symposium

The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) hosted its annual national event July 29 – Aug. 2 in Asheville, North Carolina. As in years past, PPA packed the week full of tours, education and the wildly popular plant auction. PPA also announced Pycnanthemum muticum as its 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year. Carolina Native Nursery, Willow Creek Nursery and retailer Reems Creek Nursery were part of the three tours presented on Wednesday, July 31.

Carolina Native Nursery, founded by Bill Jones in 2003, specializes in growing native azaleas and rhododendrons from seed. The nursery also grows more than 200 species of perennials, ferns, grasses and other shrubs for independent garden centers, landscape designers and contractors, landscape architects and rewholesalers.

The nursery spans 22 acres, which includes a recent expansion. The nursery also incorporated some automation, including a Javo potting machine (pictured) and a Javo Easytopper for rice hull application.

The shrub operation consists of 60 cold frames and seven outdoor growing areas for primarily 3-gallon finished stock and 1-gallon native azalea and rhododendron sales. Jones says sales have increased some 25% annually during the past four years.

The perennial operation is made up of 22 cold frames and five open production areas. Perennials, ferns and grasses are grown in 1-gallon pots, 30% of which are in biodegradable containers from HC Company. Carolina Native also operates a small retail shop on site with a 200-mile service area, although Jones says “clients come in from all over the eastern U.S.”

The retail portion, which “happened organically and was never part of the original plan,” has also experienced 25% gains in sales annually since 2020. Jones operates the nursery with Shelby Jackson, who became a partner in 2012.

Willow Creek Nursery is a charming family-owned business that specializes in ornamental and native perennials. Willow Creek supplies plants primarily to landscape contractors and landscape architects. Plants are grown without pesticides, and the nursery maintains a strong focus on growing native plants and plants that attract wildlife.

Reems Creek Nursery is a 5-acre garden center that offers a broad selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, tropicals, edibles and gardening supplies. Reems’ plant palette includes many natives and pollinator plants, and there’s a certified pollinator habitat outside the garden shop.

Reems Creek Nursery is also a monarch waystation and a certified wildlife habitat. Along with the retail garden center, Reems Creek Nursery operates a propagation farm that was built to furnish plants to the garden center. It’s located near the original nursery location.

Reems Creek Nursery was launched in 1979 in Bill and Wilma Penland’s front yard. By 1985, the business had outgrown their front yard. The founders have mostly retired, and their children, Susan Penland Reavis and Dave Penland, are currently involved in every aspect of the business.