Why I Wish I Would Have Went Into Horticulture

Last Saturday, I spent the day with industry experts at the Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza, which conveniently happened to take place just outside of Grand Rapids. The day kicked off with some door prizes. I just so happened to win the first prize right out of the gates, a vibrant tangerine watering can, which was perfect because I always used a makeshift milk jug (not glamorous, but practical and recycled.)

John Gaydos, director of Proven Winners product development, got us started with an engaging discussion on trends for 2012, the role of plant breeders and how Proven Winners develops plants to "work for you." Meaning, it's one thing to develop and test in controlled environments, but how will they work in your own backyard? Proven Winners' goal is to develop strong performers that are more disease resistant, pest resistant (insect and animal) and drought tolerant with continuous blooms, making less work for the rest of us! He also said that some of the best discoveries can happen in our own backyard, so be on the lookout.

Rebecca Finneran, Horticulturalist and MSU/Kent County Extension Specialist, gave us a virtual walk-through of some of the top-rated public gardens across the country, known for their environmentally-sensitive features and timeless design. Inspirational yes, but public gardens are also educational power-houses, or as Rebecca said they "share truth." 
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, has quite the history dating back to the 1700s, you just have to check it out for yourself.
Olbrich Gardens, Madison, WI, was voted one of the top 10 most inspiring gardens by Horticulture Magazine.
The Oregon Garden, Silverton, OR, is known for their environmental and sustainable focus.

I hope I'll be able to work with and learn from Rebecca when I begin the MSU Master Gardening Program in August. I also see some public garden road trips in my future.

Susan Martin, Marketing Director for Walters Gardens in Zeeland, kicked off the afternoon with an old-versus-new approach to perennials. Susan had a great story-telling vibe to her presentation with historical nuggets intertwined. From hostas to day lilies and grasses to peonies, she really got me thinking about trading up some of my old-fashioned varieties for more modern picks with prolonged blooms, decorative foliage and expansive colors. The names are half the fun, too. (e.g., Primal Scream daylily, T. Rex stone crop, Bartzella peony, Empress Wu hosta...) Susan also played a large role in the development of PerennialResource.com, a site dedicated to all things perennials, including a library of 2,000+ varieties, articles, care tips and a glossary.

To cap off the day, P. Allen Smith, horticultural and lifestyle expert, and self-proclaimed plant geek (his words!), joined the crowd as the last presenter for the day. Because of my stellar stalking skills, I was able to catch him just after lunch for a brief meet-and greet. Being the geeky fan-girl that I am, I was totally gushing, but landed an autograph and picture with the Garden Home Retreat mastermind, and left happy (and with minimal embarrassment!)

Allen was charming, surprisingly funny and very down-to-earth, even when he was talking about rubbing elbows with British royalty. Big on design, Allen's advice spoke about outdoor spaces or, in his terms, "carving out spaces to enjoy the beauty we create." By creating these outdoor garden rooms, Allen encourages the gardener to become more intentional with design--flanking a patio with containers, composing a "color echo" (I interpret this to mean using monochromatic colors) and overall, just being creative. "There's no end to where we can grow things," Allen said, speaking to the versatile types of containers and vertical spaces that exist.

A common theme throughout the day was the importance of sharing knowledge, especially with new generations and getting them started (and excited) early. Every day, these four presenters, and the rest of the team that produced the seminar, get to work with plants, flowers, garden planning and horticulture, and I have career envy. Gardening is not just a hobby, it's art, science, design, geography, history, it's multi-cultural, and at times, compulsory. I suppose it's never too late for a career change, right?

A final big thanks to the teams that put the event together. It was very well done and I look forward to sharing what I learned with others.

Tons of swag: Proven Winners giveaway bag included a water bottle, trowel, idea books, coupons from local sponsors, among other goodies. Each attendee also went home with a Cherry Star Calibrachoa, and a choice between a watering can or a hanging basket. I opted for the latter (see my orange workhorse above!)