"CAN: "This might be the start of an annual event"

On Thursday, July 5th, Deb’s Greenhouse, in Morinville, Alberta hosted the first New Blooms for Canadian Growers and Retailers. The full day event was attended by 96 growers, retailers and plant brokers from Western Canada.

The two part event included a plant trial grown out by High Q Greenhouses in Alberta, as well as a schedule of presentations from breeding companies Elsner PAC, Florist Holland, PlantHaven International, Vegetalis and Westhoff, as well as presentations from unrooted cutting producer, Vivero Internacional.

New Blooms Hosts, left to right: Chris Berg (Westhoff & PAC), Debbie Foisy (Deb’s Greenhouse), Robert Bett (PlantHaven International), Judy Born (Florist Holland), Amy Gard’ner (Floranova & Vegetalis), Dominik Neisser (Vivero Internacional), Michiel Verheul (High Q Greenhouses)

The plant trials grown out by High Q Greenhouses included hundreds of containers grown as a true row trial of varieties showcasing natural plant habits and flower power. Attendees were asked to rate each variety through the trial and a few of the top contenders were Lobelia Hot Waterblue, Calibrachoa Chameleon Sunshine Berry, Petunia Crazytunia Cosmic Purple, Cucumber Petipikel and Dianthus Georgia Peach Pie.

Lobelia Hot Waterblue

Calibrachoa Chameleon Blueberry Scone

Petunia Crazytunia Cosmic Purple

Cucumber Petipikel

Tomato Sweet 'n Neat

The Gerbera Garvina Series and the Dianthus American Pie Georgia Peach

Geranium Cassiopeia

“Everything came together”, Deb Foisey of Deb’s Greenhouse says. “The growers showed their new products, it was a true flower trial. Many of these growers could not attend the California Spring trials, because it was too busy in their companies. Our company is only opened in May and June. A trial like this was a great wind up for the spring season. We had a big turnaround, and it was a good day of learning too. 96 growers attended and that was more than I expected. Lots of them are not huge companies. This event was a perfect size for them to show their new products. This might be the start of an annual event, many of the attendees requested for next year."

One of the attendees, Geoff Wood from Ball Seed said, “The 2018 New Blooms was an excellent grass roots event and provided a leg up to the many growers who attended. Growers got to actually see locally grown 2019 new variety samples as well as interact in person with the breeder product representatives. What could be more effective! This hopefully is just the start of an annual event based in Alberta supported by growers. Nicely done!”

For more information:

Deb’s Greenhouse
Deb Foisy
T: +1 780.515.1253
Email: debfoisy@hotmail.com