Momentum builds for 2012 National Green Centre

Organizers of the National Green Centre, scheduled for Jan. 8-9, 2012 in Kansas City, Mo., aim to “create the next generation green industry.” The group recently offered a sneak peek at the events and education sessions scheduled for the show:

• Horticulture in 2062: What the Consumer Will Buy & What the Industry Will Sell (panel discussion)
• How to Sell Your Green Industry Business with Ron Edmond
• The Flowering Shrub Revolution from Abelia to Zenobia: Our Customers are Telling Us that Green is Not a Color with Dr. Michael Dirr.

The National Green Centre education track also features discussions with Stephen Apfelbaum of Applied Ecological Services, Geoff Needham of PlantHaven, Jeffrey Bruce of Jeffrey L. Bruce & Co, David Yocca of Conservation Design Forum, Laura Lesniewski of BNIM, Jason Griffin of Kansas State University, Bryan Kinghorn of Kinghorn Gardens, Ted Spaid of SWT Design, Bill Calkins of Ball Horticultural Co., Doug Bauer of Pizzo & Associates, Chris Beytes of Ball Publishing, Jason Walker – an independent garden center consumer, Yale Youngblood of Garden Center magazine, Chris Berg of EuroAmerican Propagators, Skip Kincaid of Davey Resource Group, Jeff Gibson of Ball Horticultural Co, Justin Hancock of Better Homes and Gardens and more.

The Sweet Melissa Fashion Show—National Green Centre’s marquee event—will showcase 50 new annuals, shrubs, trees and natives on Jan. 8, 2012. Select runway entries will also be featured in Garden Center magazine, Horticulture and Better Homes and Gardens.

National Green Centre is presented by the Western Nursery & Landscape Association. Click here for full details.