Jun 22, 2017

Set Your GPS for Michigan By Tim Hodson

The 14^th annual Michigan Garden Plant Tour will take place July 23 through Aug. 4 at five different locations in Michigan.

During the two-week event, growers, landscapers and retailers will have the opportunity to visit the gardens of some of Michigan’s leading growers and young plant producers as well as Michigan State University to see how different plants perform in different growing conditions.

This year the participating locations are: Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton; Michigan State University in East Lansing; Mast Young Plants in Walker; C. Raker and Sons in Litchfield; and Walters Gardens in Zeeland.

If you’ve never attended the tour or haven’t visited any of the participating companies, you really ought to take advantage of this opportunity. The Michigan Garden Plant Tour is educational and entertaining. All of the exhibiting companies do an amazing job with their display gardens, so be sure to bring your camera with you.

There is no charge to visit any of the sites, but the exhibiting companies would appreciate a call or an email in advance to let them know you are coming.

On July 25, Michigan State University will present its annual Plant Trial Field Day. The half-day program will feature presentations from MSU staff and faculty on different production topics and as well as variety performance.

Walters Gardens will be holding the first of two Customer Appreciation Days on July 25. During Customer Appreciation Day, visitors are invited for lunch and will have a chance to ask their growing questions to a panel of experts. The second Customer Appreciation Day will take place Aug. 1.

On July 27 and 28, C. Raker and Sons will present The Connection, a two-day event that will feature conversation, food, concerts, greenhouse tours and kids’ activities — and, of course, the comparison trials in the gardens.

You can find all of the contact details, schedules and additional information on the different locations by visiting planttour.hrt.msu.edu.

So, set your GPS for Michigan at the end of July if you are looking to learn and have a little fun at the same time!

— Tim