The 2013 Michigan Garden Plant Tour

Welcome!

Welcome to the 10th annual Michigan Garden Plant Tour, which is a free, coordinated open house of leading young plant producers of ornamentals and Michigan State University.  The objective of the Tour is to educate growers and industry professionals about new and existing plant selections and how they perform in different settings.

Greenhouse growers, landscapers, garden center operators, and nurserymen are invited to visit each of these participating Tour sites during the two-week period, from July 29 to August 9, 2013.

Expect to learn about a wide range of ornamental crops, including popular commercial brands of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. This is a terrific way to observe plant performance at different locations and grown under various conditions, both in the ground and in containers.

Take a day trip to visit a couple of sites, or complete the entire loop for the full tour.  The Michigan Garden Plant Tour is completely free, but growers would appreciate a call ahead to know you'll be coming.  Use the map above to help locate the sites and plan your route.

You are also invited to participate in the MSU Plant Trial Field Day in the Horticulture Gardens on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. You'll hear the latest on new annuals and perennials, see unbiased garden performance of ornamentals, and hear directly from many of the breeding companies about their favorite plants.  Dr. Art Cameron (MSU Gardens Director) and Katie McCarver (MSU Trials Manager) will present the top-performing plants in this year's MSU trials.  Check back in May for more information.

Also this year, BloomaPalooza will be held during the Plant Tour at the Raker Trial Gardens in Litchfield on August 1-3.  This event brings together independent garden retailers with breeders, growers, educators, and suppliers from throughout North America.  This 3-day business event will feature presentations, live music, diverse plant materials, and a trade fair that's sure to be fun and informative.

For more information on the Michigan Garden Plant Tour, please contact Tour coordinators Jennifer Sweet (phone 517-355-5191 x1339) or Erik Runkle (phone 517-355-5191 x1350).

Highlights from recent years of the Michigan Garden Plant Tour

			Mast Young Plants	Spring Meadow Nursery
			Four Star Greenhouse	C. Raker & Sons
Tour de Michigan, from the November, 2012 issue of Greenhouse Management magazine. By Kristy O'Hara.	Summer Trials - More from Michigan, from the November, 2010 issue of GrowerTalks magazine. By Chris Beytes.		Michigan State University	Walters Gardens
			These short videos were created by Garden Center Magazine and are from the 2012 Michigan Garden Plant Tour. Each opens into a new window.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products, companies or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.