CULTIVATE ’20 VIRTUAL in the rearview
The first (and hopefully last) virtual Cultivate is history -- almost. If you registered in time, you can visit through August. Take a stroll down our “aisle,” and be sure to check out our new product display.
How was it for you? We found it successful, mostly. Awkward in places, some navigation difficulties, but easier than battling the hotel booking system, right?
All kibitzing aside, kudos to American Hort. They pulled off a tough trick with little time to prepare, no beta-test grace period, and lots of skeptical guinea pigs. We all dove into the deep end, and we all learned to swim. A big Thank You! to all who visited our booth, chatted with us and peeked at our new catalog.
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Did he say “new catalog?” He did! Our
2020-2021 starter plant catalog
has debuted at Cultivate since long before it was Cultivate. Opening that first box and flipping those fresh, crisp pages was the payoff for months of researching, writing descriptions and intros, sourcing images, leaving no nit unpicked. It will be so this year, too, but (sniff!) without the gratifying Ta-Dah! unveiling in Columbus.
But what the heck? It’s still a brand new book, and it’ll soon appear in a mailbox near you, assuming you’re an ECG customer. And why on earth would you not be?
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The ROCK STAR is in the house!
Our Rock Star award honors ECG employees who demonstrate a sustained high level of performance and inspire others. Our latest recipient: Nick DiBernardo, the first honoree from our northern location in Lancaster, PA.
Nick has been a full-time employee since 2013. Officially, he’s in charge of the PA trial garden and shipping logistics – an unusual combination, but Nick has an unusual skill set. In the Air Force he specialized in electrical installation and maintenance. Back in civilian life, he earned an accounting degree.
Our northern trial garden has flourished under Nick’s care. He’s reorganized it, increased varieties tenfold, installed irrigation, and established a whole new section from scratch. When his hands are clean, Nick coordinates customer pickups and transfer truck material. He delivers to local customers, reports weekly production, adjusts inventory, and uploads availability daily.
Thanks, Nick, and congratulations!
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WHAT'S HOT!
Fresh Picks 2020-2021!
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The aforementioned catalog is still hot off the press (careful, don’t burn your fingers), but some of its three dozen-plus new varieties are already showing up on
Availability
.
PERENNIALS
Echinacea
Artisan™ Red Ombre
: The first F1 hybrids from seed! Single flowers open rich red, then mellow to a medley of subtler shades.
Lewisia
‘Sunset Strain’
rounds out our selection of this semi-succulent native genus. Great in rock gardens – or on the windowsill. It’s a hot houseplant in Europe. Try it!
Monarda
Balmy™ Rose
(PP26567) nicely complements our other Balmy™ colors. Collect the whole set!
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Echinacea
Artisan™ Red Ombre
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GRASSES
Andropogon
‘Holy Smoke’
PPAF: Flower stems rise straight up, like incense on a windless day, over 30” clumps of basal foliage. Gorgeous purple & pink fall color.
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Andropogon
‘Holy Smoke’ PPAF
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IN MEMORIAM:
George Cavano, 1932-2020
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We’ve lost another good one.
Cavano’s Perennials
in Kingsville MD, founded by George and his late wife Marlene in 1972, has been an ECG customer for many years. In a previous life, this author drove a truck delivering finished plants and starters throughout the MidAtlantic. Cavano’s, a true mom & pop operation then, was a regular stop. Now a major multi-state wholesaler, it’s thriving in the capable hands of owners and former long-term employees Ferenc Kiss and Taylor Pilker. Our condolences to George’s family and many friends.
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Most ornamental grasses thrive in full sun. But shaded landscapes also benefit from the graceful form and movement that only grasses bring.
Hakonechloa macra
, "Japanese forest grass," is the go-to genus for less-than-sunny sites. It grows like water flows, welling up and showering down in a supple cascade of pendant bamboo-like leaves.
H. m.
'All Gold' looks like it sounds, with solid chartreuse-gold foliage dazzling the dappled border. Unlike yellow-leaved forms of many plant species, this one is probably the most robust grower of the four we offer!
Don't leave your customers in the dark. Bring a new shade to the shade with
Hakonechloa
‘All Gold’. It comes in fast-finishing 50s – and you know where to find ‘em!
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Final Cultivate contemplations: The virtual experience was almost like being there, right? Um, no. Nothing is like being there except being there. Chatbox text will never replace your smiling face. But one does what one can.
Special thanks to Theo’s Theoretical Nursery, whose avatar materialized in our virtual booth and reserved every pixel of our virtual samples, to be uploaded when we tear down August 31. They still look great after weeks in the vacuum of cyberspace, which is
even
colder
than an actual convention center, because our image files are tough. Almost like our real starters.
Until next time: Stay safe, sane and serene. And keep growing.
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John Friel
Marketing Manager
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