Detail
Garden Idol: the hottest new introductions as you've never seen them before! A no-holds-barred look at new plants and how they fit into your business delivered by your judges from landscape, garden retail, consumer press and municipal development.
Monrovia makes old-school it's own with a series of six new Itoh Peonies. Can a breeding program built on over 40,000 hand pollenations win over judge Katy Moss-Warner who is ready to declare "too many damn peonies?" Discover which introduction won over judge Calvin and made his "top ten" on the industry's most shocking new plant series.
This is Garden Idol!
HOW VOTING WORKS:
Garden Idol airs right here on the ANLA Knowledge Center Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from April 19 and ending May 9. Once released, each company’s voting will remain open for one weeks’ time. You will have to complete a brief (we promise!), free site-registration to vote. Check back frequently to vote for your favorite introductions! Scroll down the page to find more information about these hot introductions.
Based on your votes, one finalist from each company will continue on to the final round where you will pick this year's Garden Idol!
Meet the Cast
Chris Rubino
A graduate of Cornell University, Chris Rubino has been with Monrovia Growers since 1996, currently as sales manager for the Northeast, based in New Jersey. He is an exceptional resource for his customers, and there are legendary tales of Chris going the ‘extra mile’ to make things happen when customers need him most.
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Chris Beytes
Chris “Seacrest” Beytes is editor and publisher of GrowerTalks and Green Profit magazines. A former wholesale greenhouse owner, Chris now travels North America and the world for Ball Publishing, seeking out the latest news, trends and ideas. Although partial to hydrangeas, his favorite plant is Pedilanthus tithymaloides, which will probably never win a beauty contest.
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Katy Moss Warner
Katy spent 24 years developing the horticultural programs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. Before retiring, she was Director of Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives. She has served the American Horticultural Society as Board Chair as well as President/CEO. She is currently President Emerita of the American Horticultural Society. In addition, she serves on the Board of America in Bloom and travels America judging towns and cities for that program.
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Justin Hancock
Justin W. Hancock is the senior garden editor for the Better Homes and Gardens web site, www.bhg.com, and a serious plant lover. He's been a gardener all his life and has worked on garden books, magazines, and web sites for the last fifteen years. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa (where he's also the co-owner of a retail garden center, Loki's Garden).
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Calvin Bordine
After receiving his B.A. and B.S. from Michigan State University, Calvin worked at multiple garden centers and retailers before returning to Bordine Nursery. Those retailers include Crate&Barrel, Hicks Nurseries, Bachman’s, Country Market (now Stauffers) and NordicTrack. His family business is celebrating its 70th year in business and has 4 permanent retail locations and 3 seasonal stores around the metro Detroit area. In addition to retail, Bordine’s has a large growing facility (750,000 ft2 of greenhouse) with a state of the art propagation area. In addition to his professional life, Calvin has biked across the country, run a marathon and is the father of 6. Check out their video marketing on YouTube.
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Joseph Hillenmeyer
Joseph Hillenmeyer, the principle at Joseph Hillenmeyer+ Associates, is a ninth generation nurseryman. His family background in horticulture led him to work with the Don Shadow Nursery (TN) and time working with a nursery in New Zealand and an arboretum in Western Turkey. In 2001 Joseph opened his garden design firm in Lexington Kentucky affording him the opportunity to continue to travel the world studying Garden Design and Horticulture.
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Company Info
Monrovia Growers Distinctively better plants
Monrovia is one of the world’s largest producers of container grown plants, with more than 1,500 different varieties.
Monrovia is committed to enhancing the beauty and value of the North American landscape - one garden at a time. By producing the strongest plants in the industry, we offer you peace of mind and quality assurance that stands behind each and every Monrovia plant. Phone: 626-334-9321
Episode Directory
Round 2: Bailey Nurseries
Round 3: Monrovia Growers
Round 5: Spring Meadow Nursery
Round 6: Ball Ornamentals
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Round 3: Monrovia Growers Voting
Your vote counts towards keeping a contestant in the competition so make it count.
The votes are in.....
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Bartzella'
Very large, bright yellow double blossoms stand above the lush, dark green, deeply dissected foliage. Flowers have a pleasant, slightly spicy scent. An especially vigorous plant, the sturdy flower stems require no staking.
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Cora Louise'
Large, semi-double blossoms, white with striking dark lavender central flares. Flowers have a soft, pleasing scent. It can produce up to 50 blooms in a single season; the sturdy flower stems require no staking.
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Kopper Kettle'
Large, semi-double blossoms, copper-orange with a darker center and occasional yellow streaks, stand above lush, toothed foliage. An especially vigorous plant, the sturdy flower stems require no staking.
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Yellow Doodle Dandy'
The large, double flower, measuring seven to eight inches, is spectacular: a light and very pleasant fragrance. Blooms are held on strong stems just above a compact mound of dark green, trouble-free foliage.
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Pink Double Dandy'
The large, semi-double to double flower measures up to six inches and is held on strong stems above a compact mound of 24 to 30 inches tall and wide. The flower is lightly fragrant.
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Paeonia (Itoh) 'Sequestered Sunshine'
Large, bright canary-yellow blossoms with showy stamens stand above the lush, dark green, deeply dissected foliage. An especially vigorous plant, the sturdy flower stems require no staking and make good cut flowers.
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Resources
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Learn more about this new Peony from Monrovia Growers.
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Publishing Team
Project and Editorial Design: Jonathan Bardzik, ANLA
Visual and Video created by Fresh Brew Studios
Steve Kendall, Producer
Josh Miller, Producer
Graphic Design created by The Design Works
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