Farwest 2011
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PlantHaven always enjoys visiting Portland – excellent plants, great people and delicious food. The PlantHaven Team had a fantastic Farwest 2011. To everyone who helped by providing the plants for our displays – we could not do this without your support. THANK YOU! This year our new introduction for 2011/2012 Hydrangea You-me Passion was the front cover shot for the New Varieties Showcase booklet.
We had heaps of people enquiring about how to change the color from bright pink to the elegant blue tones of some of the plants on display. Time for a little horticultural magic and no there is not food coloring involved!!
The PlantHaven booth was a picture in Pink with our new larger than life backdrop of Salvia Wendy’s Wish. This amazing image was captured by local Santa Barbara Photographer Mark Nagel. You can check out some of his other work here: www.marknagel.com
Our new PlantHaven Collection 2011/2012 booklet was a real hit. Over 100 copies handed out on the first day of the show. The Retail folks and Landscapers were particularly keen to talk about key benefits of our PlantHaven selections to help reduce maintenance schedules in the commercial landscape / home garden. Maybe a specific booklet is needed to highlight some of our top performers??? It would be great to hear your feedback. For those of you who would like a copy of the current booklet – please contact Denise who will be happy to post one out to you. Also for those you who need things “now” an electronic version is available direct from the PlantHaven homepage: www.planthaven.com.
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New Varieties Showcase Booklet
PlantHaven Booth at Farwest
See our Farwest video here!
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Whetman Pinks New Tag Concepts
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We invited comments from growers and licensees at Farwest on our new Tag Concept for Whetman Pinks USA. The Tag concept has been designed to help medium to smaller growers have a fresh new lifestyle look for their retail presentation.
With PlantHaven working with HIP to coordinate orders for printing twice per year this will also allow medium to smaller growers to gain maximum pricing advantage of purchasing their tags as part of a larger combined order.
A link to the new concept tags is below and we would be really delighted to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
Dianthus Tag Concept at Farwest
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Dianthus 'Sugar Plum'
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Trends – Trees Please
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One of the Top Trends from Farwest 2011 was the growing interest in smaller trees for the ever decreasing size of American yards and commercial landscapes.
Two trees that are ideal for this purpose are Denny Werner’s two new redbuds, Cercis ‘Merlot’ and Cercis ‘Ruby Falls’, both of which are in super hot demand. Jeanette has been busy helping licensees out with contacts for procurement of bud wood for fall budding. It is a truly busy time for the bud wood folk.
Also, hot on their tails and featuring strongly on licensees wish lists where Styrax ‘Evening Light’ our new dark foliaged Styrax from European breeder Henny Kolster and Magnolia ‘Genie’ from New Zealand, breeder Vance Hooper. ‘Genie’ really turned some heads with it’s summer flower buds.
Crispin from Crispin’s Creations was only too happy to talk to licensees about availability of material for budding. Crispin also provided the excellent specimen plants of trees for our Booth – Thank you Crispin.
Magnolia 'Genie'
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Cercis ‘Ruby Falls’
Styrax 'Evening Light'
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Fall Trials
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August 2011 saw the first PlantHaven Fall Comparison Trial. The PlantHaven Team were all delighted by how many key licensees spent the morning with us absorbed in this year’s Mystic Dahlia and Whetman Pinks Trial.
Dr Keith Hammett the breeder of the Mystic Dahlia’s joined us for the day to hear first hand your “wishes” for the future direction of the program.
Keith was absolutely delighted with the feedback from everyone and is all inspired from your hard work here in North America. Thanks everyone for your great work. New experimentals will be arriving hot off the plane from New Zealand in October. Watch this space for more info. |
Plant Lovers at Work!!
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What a Picture!
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The marketing team has been busy with a number of photo shoots, getting us all ready for the 2012 season. Our aim is to expand our image library, and provide new lifestyle shots to inspire retail and end home and garden usage.
Check out a few of the new Mystic Dahlia images. The reverse of these elegant single blooms are as colorful as a stained glass window. They are beautiful with their dark eyes head on and as elegant as stain glass from the reverse.
We also shot some fall inspired entrance shots – featuring the warm apricot tones of Mystic Spirit. Ideal for mixing with seasonal produce: pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn.
Robert is excited about the potential of new Halloween color tone experimental Mystic Dahlias arriving this October for pre-commercial deep trials during 2012. |
Mystic Dahlia Photo Shoot
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PlantHaven International – Four Oaks Exhibit
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As we go "to press", Geoff and Maureen are manning our first PlantHaven International Booth at the Four Oaks Trade show in the UK.
At Four Oaks PlantHaven International will be showcasing Gaillardia Fanfare Blaze. Check out the pic of Fanfare Blaze being showcased by Florensis on their booth at Plantarium 2011.
International Trade shows are a great way to showcase breeder clients’ products, connect with our licensees, breeder clients and explore new relationships. More next month. |
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Good Eats!
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Cherry Lambic – OK so this is not a cocktail. However it is the most amazing Cherry sorbet.
Everyone who attended our fall open house at GroLink Oxnard got to sample this with their fruit salad dessert.
We found this gem at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Ohio during OFA 2011. No fear if you are a long way from Ohio. You can check out their website at: Jenisicecream.com
And yes they deliver!!
The perfect treat for a special birthday or the family Thanksgiving dinner.
Have a great September, enjoy the first signs of fall.
Kind regards
Geoff, Maureen & The PlantHaven Team |
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream |
