Michigan plant tour expands to 7 companies

Michigan Garden Plant Tour, Aug. 2-13, will enable attendees to learn about new crop introductions and plant performance under Midwest conditions from 7 companies and Mich. St. Univ. Joining this year’s tour for the 1st time is Spring Meadow Nursery. The addition of this operation expands the tour to include annuals, herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs and even some tropicals.

Participating companies this year are: C. Raker and Sons, Four Star Greenhouse, Mast Young Plants, Pell Greenhouses, Spring Meadow Nursery, Walters Gardens and Zylstra Greenhouses along with Mich. St. Univ.

Tour attendees can choose the number of sites they wish to visit. The tour is free, but participating companies would appreciate an advance call from visitors.

In addition to the tour, Mich. St. Univ. is holding its annual Garden Plant Showcase on Aug. 10. Participants will be able to tour the university trial gardens, which include annuals, perennials, vegetables and now native plants. Representatives from some of the major breeding and propagating companies, including Ball Horticultural Co., Benary, Danziger, Dummen, Ecke Ranch, Floranova, Plug Connection, Proven Winners and Sakata, will present highlights of their new introductions. Mich. St. faculty and staff will provide information on the top performing plants in this year’s trials.

Registration cost for the showcase is $42 (by July 30) and includes lunch, parking, a trial book and program.