Renewal
By Marvin Miller, AIB President
In many ways, spring is the start of the year. After winter’s challenges for our landscapes and, perhaps, our souls, the greening of the grass, the swelling of the buds, the first garden or woodland blooms yield a bit of renewal.
In similar ways, our America in Bloom cycle takes off with spring’s arrival. In many communities, litter pick-ups, spring cleaning, and planting new trees, shrubs and flowers, all signals of spring, herald that cities are putting out the welcome mats for citizens and visitors.
As you read this, the horticulture industry is engaged in its main business season. In the spirit of renewal, spring is also the season that horticulture unveils its newest varieties. Whether totally new species, new colors, or improvements on mainstay garden favorites, the industry showcases its newest wares for all to appreciate.
The floriculture industry has its own version of its “curtain opening” in its annual California Spring Trials. Showcased at breeder open house locations spread from San Diego to San Francisco, the global industry introduces new breeding to the trade which will be available at retail a year later. Many of the new varieties have been “in the making” for five to seven years or more. And all vie for a little space in a producer’s greenhouse, a little space in the garden center display, and a little corner of the consumer’s garden.
Yet, the payback for any breeding effort is far from assured. A competitor’s new variety can “scoop” the market just as a breeding company unveils what it thought would be a winner. Or the marketplace may welcome the new breeding with a “ho hum” attitude. Still, with all this risk, breeders worldwide vie for the opportunity to interest gardeners in their latest advances. Each hopes to win the hearts of gardening fans.
It’s all part of the horticulture’s spring renewal. With each spring comes the query as to “what’s new?” So, share the bounty – and embrace spring!
In many ways, spring is the start of the year. After winter’s challenges for our landscapes and, perhaps, our souls, the greening of the grass, the swelling of the buds, the first garden or woodland blooms yield a bit of renewal.
In similar ways, our America in Bloom cycle takes off with spring’s arrival. In many communities, litter pick-ups, spring cleaning, and planting new trees, shrubs and flowers, all signals of spring, herald that cities are putting out the welcome mats for citizens and visitors.
As you read this, the horticulture industry is engaged in its main business season. In the spirit of renewal, spring is also the season that horticulture unveils its newest varieties. Whether totally new species, new colors, or improvements on mainstay garden favorites, the industry showcases its newest wares for all to appreciate.
The floriculture industry has its own version of its “curtain opening” in its annual California Spring Trials. Showcased at breeder open house locations spread from San Diego to San Francisco, the global industry introduces new breeding to the trade which will be available at retail a year later. Many of the new varieties have been “in the making” for five to seven years or more. And all vie for a little space in a producer’s greenhouse, a little space in the garden center display, and a little corner of the consumer’s garden.
Yet, the payback for any breeding effort is far from assured. A competitor’s new variety can “scoop” the market just as a breeding company unveils what it thought would be a winner. Or the marketplace may welcome the new breeding with a “ho hum” attitude. Still, with all this risk, breeders worldwide vie for the opportunity to interest gardeners in their latest advances. Each hopes to win the hearts of gardening fans.
It’s all part of the horticulture’s spring renewal. With each spring comes the query as to “what’s new?” So, share the bounty – and embrace spring!
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