US (MI): Growers, landscapers, garden centers open doors

The 14th annual Michigan Garden Plant Tour is from July 24 to Aug. 4, 2017. The tour is a free, coordinated open house of leading producers of propagative materials and Michigan State University gardens, allowing you to observe performance of plants grown under different conditions, both in the ground and in containers. The tour is meant to educate commercial growers, landscapers and gardening professionals about new and recently introduced plant selections and how they perform outdoors.

Photo by Mast Young Plants

The participating tour sites are C. Raker and Sons in Litchfield, Michigan; Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton, Michigan; Mast Young Plants in Walker, Michigan; Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan; and Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan.

Some participating companies offer a light lunch or refreshments during the two-week tour.

In addition, the following special events are planned.

July 25: The MSU Plant Trial Field Day. This half-day program features presentations from MSU faculty and staff about a range of production topics and garden plant performance.
July 25: Customer Appreciation Day at Walters Gardens. The first of two days in which you can enjoy lunch and ask your growing questions to their panel of experts.
July 27-28: The Connection at Rakers. This two-day event features conversation, food, concerts, greenhouse tours, kids’ activities and, of course, the expansive Raker Trial Gardens.
Aug. 1: Customer Appreciation Day at Walters Gardens. The second of two days in which you can enjoy lunch and ask your growing questions to their panel of experts.

Photo by C. Raker and Sons

There is no cost to visit the tour sites, although there is a registration fee for the MSU Plant Trial Field Day on July 25. You should contact the tour sites in advance so they can prepare for your arrival.

For more information:
planttour.hrt.msu.edu/fieldday