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.
From camp nostalgia to the Hort Couture runway stylings of Louisville fashion week, Susie Raker debuts a hot 2010 spring collection! She raves about her tomatoes, but do the judges say 'Tomaccio' is not tasty? And what two hot debuts are "sexy as hell?" Judge Justin wants them in his garden.
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
Susie Raker
Susie Raker-Zimmerman is the marketing and product support manager at C. Raker & Sons, Inc. Since graduating from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Horticulture, she has worked for a number of industry leaders. Her multi-faceted experience includes greenhouse, laboratory, and front office positions.
In her current role with her family’s business, Susie leads all aspects of program management from plant selection to pricing and manages broker/supplier relations. Susie lives on a small lake near the greenhouses with her husband, Matt, and their two dogs, Hub and Roggen.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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).
|
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.
|
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.
|
Company Info
Hort Couture Founded as an independent brand for independent retailers, Hort Couture has remained true to its roots. In a few short years, Hort Couture has grown from an idea into a revolution. By partnering with independent, like-minded individuals and businesses, Hort Couture provides unique, exclusive genetics that cannot be found at mass merchants. Stylish, sophisticated packaging, unique plant material and creative displays make Hort Couture the luxury brand for the independent garden center. Hort Couture allows independents to create an exclusive, boutique effect that provides the essence of high fashion in the garden center. Hort Couture embodies the spirit of its core demographic: independent, unique and sophisticated. Phone: 517-542-2316
Episode Directory
Round 2: Bailey Nurseries
Round 3: Monrovia Growers
Round 5: Spring Meadow Nursery
Round 6: Ball Ornamentals
|
Round 7: Hort Couture Voting
Your vote counts towards keeping a contestant in the competition so make it count.
The votes are in.....
|
|
Vinca Tu-Tu Series
The original variety from this groundbreaking breeding program. Angel TuTu is very floriferous with very dark green foliage that loves the heat! The overlapping ruffled petals give this plant a very distinct look.
|
|
|
Gerbera Crazy Daisy Sophisticata
These exclusive genetics will excite your customers and command good margins. Perfect for 4” to 6” pots with early flowering, multiple first bud set and excellent leaf quality.
|
|
|
Colocasia 'Mojito'
'Mojito' is a delicious mix of dark purple leaves mixed with chartreuse. The stems are also brightly streaked. A clumping form that will not run in pots or the garden. ZONE 8. Grows to 36".
|
|
|
Tomato Tomaccio
Tomaccio grows to over 12 feet tall if properly staked and supported. The potential yield from one single plant is equal to that of over 10 regular patio cherry tomatoes. Easily dried in the oven, the flavor intensifies with drying.
|
|
|
Calibrachoa Catwalk Series
The collection has grown in 2011 to offer an excellent selection of colors that all have the compact habit, large flowers and early flowering that make the Catwalk Calibrachoa so special.
|
Resources
 |
Learn more about this new Vinca series from Hort Couture.
|
|
Learn more about this new Gerbera from Hort Couture.
|
|
Learn more about this new Colocasia from Hort Couture.
|
|
Learn more about this new Tomato from Hort Couture.
|
|
Learn more about this new Calibrachoa series from Hort Couture.
|
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
|
