Jul 11, 2012

Are You Ready for Short Course?

Many of you are probably packing and getting ready to head over to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2012 OFA Short Course. Some of you may be there already getting a head start on the big event.Either way, the event will surely be a success – More than 500 companies will fill up 1,500 booths on the the trade show exhibit floor for you to check out the latest new varieties, products and services.If you missed the OFA Short Course “Product Preview” in the June issue of GPN, here’s a snapshot of some of the newest innovations to be on the look out for while walking the show floor:New EverLast gives gardeners more days of color than any other dianthus. It combines the hardiness of a perennial with continuous flowering. It is a Zone 4, cold-hardy plant that will not die in the heat. Blooming in short and long days, it is a low-maintenance premium annual or perennial offering. Selecta. Booth 1553.Create a new market with the first bedding plant mandevilla. ‘Sun Parasol Garden Crimson’ can be sold as a 4-inch item or in premium baskets. This dark red mandevilla mixes nicely with ‘Sun Parasol Original White’. Plants are naturally compact but produce large 3- to 4-inch flowers. Suntory Collection. Booth 1357.Great Balls of Fire is a new series of ivy geranium. They are heat tolerant with big, double flowers and strong foliage. Eight striking colors are available in the series. Dümmen USA. Booth 0921.‘Superbells Lemon Slice’ features a totally unique color pattern never seen before in calibrachoa. It has a mounding habit and will reach 6 to 10 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. Use in containers, monoculture hanging baskets or combinations. EuroAmerican Propagators. Booth 1158.Blankets are great landscape petunias because they have great weather tolerance. They were bred to maintain great color in hot and damp conditions. A single plant will “blanket” 4 square feet with color in a single growing season. Green Fuse Botanicals. Booth 1639.Click here to learn more about some of the products that will be featured on the show floor at the 2012 OFA Short Course.And don’t forget to stop by Booth 1501 to chat with me and the other GPN and Lawn & Garden Retailer staff. I’d love to catch up with you!–Jasmina