Garden Center Magazine

From patented branding exclusively for IGCs to over 1,000 plant varieties in production, find out everything you need to know about The Perennial Farm at the link below:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/article/top-10-things-know-the-perennial-farm-sponsored/

Lakeville, Minnesota, has been formally announced by Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA as the location for the United States' first A1 International Horticultural Exposition.

The organizers project that the site will see around six million visitors over the course of its six months, from May to October.

The theme for the expo, commonly known as a "World’s Fair" in the United States, is "Human/Nature: Where Humanity and Horticulture Meet."

In order to ensure the expo has the backing of the horticulture community, Expo 2031 has been reaching out to the industry at events like Cultivate’26. There, organizers made the pitch that the expo could help growers, breeders, greenhouses and retailers showcase innovation, technology and creativity.

Learn more:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/news/expo-2031-location-set-united-states-international-horticulture-exposition/

Horticultural distributor Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc. has been named the stalking horse bidder for assets associated with its former competitor BFG, which declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

Learn more at the link below:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/news/griffin-greenhouse-supplies-named-stalking-horse-bidder-bfg-assets/

The American Rose Trials for Sustainability (A.R.T.S.) has added 13 roses to the family of 107 award-winning cultivars proven to have superior hardiness (disease/pest tolerance, heat/cold/drought tolerance, soil and nutrient adaptability) and plant performance in various regions of the country.

A.R.T.S. is an independent, nonprofit organization that conducts two-year scientific studies to evaluate the newest roses coming to market and is designed to identify the toughest and most beautiful roses available.

The research team (four Ph.D. university scientists, public horticulturists and nursery growers) have decades of experience in conducting plant trials, including at least 40 collective years of scientific rose research.

Meet the 13 award-winning A.R.T.S. roses for 2027 at the link below 🌹

https://www.gardencentermag.com/media/american-rose-trials-for-sustainability-top-performers/

In our latest edition of our "10 Questions With" series, we asked Michelle Castañeda, retail operations manager of Van Putte Gardens, questions ranging from what keeps her up at night to something most people don’t realize about running an IGC.

From the animal-related industry trend she's most excited about to her favorite Ontario IGC, find out how Michelle answered our 10 questions:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/media/10-questions-with-michelle-castaeda-van-putte-gardens/

Plant Development Services Inc. is welcoming Groundbreaker Hydrangea and Living Creations Hydrangea to its portfolio, with a combined 16 new varieties.

The Groundbreaker collection reaches only 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide, while Living Creations features bolder colors atop strong stems, 100 days in bloom and winter resilience.

Liners of Groundbreaker and Living Creations Hydrangeas will be available for sampling and purchase beginning in January 2027, direct through Plant Development Services and designated brokers throughout North America. The collections will expand their retail distribution in 2028.

Learn more at the link below 🪻

https://www.gardencentermag.com/news/plant-development-services-two-new-hydrangea-brands-north-american-consumers-2027/

In our latest episode of The Growth Industry podcast, Growscape Director of Sustainability Solutions Tom Marting joins the GIE Media Horticulture Group to discuss findings from Growscape’s inaugural Sustainability Report, plastics regulation updates and the latest in plantable pot technology.

Listen to the podcast now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️

https://www.gardencentermag.com/media/growth-industry-podcast-growscape-tom-marting-sustainability/

In August 2025, Bailey Nurseries announced the appointment of Jorge Becerra as CEO. Fourth-generation family member Terri McEnaney would transition from CEO to board chair. It was a stunning move, marking the company’s first-ever non-family CEO in its 120-year history.

For Terri, the change was a way to step back and set the business up for a future in which the family isn’t active in the business but maintains ownership.

“It’s hard as an owner to step aside and say, ‘Someone can do this better than I can,’ but it’s the perfect timing,” Terri says. “My interests are really in being more on that cheerleader side, being in a role that is more of governance and setting direction, but allowing a leadership team that can really focus on the day-to-day and implement the strategy, the goals that we want to see carry forward.”

Learn more about why Bailey Nurseries hired its first non-family CEO and what it means for the 120-year-old company at the link below:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/article/bailey-nurseries-new-ceo-jorge-becerra-terri-mcenaney/

Too often, it’s easy to forget that providing appealing content to customers is far more effective than telling them what’s being discounted or what they can come in to buy.

It’s by remembering who they are and what they care about, and providing content that speaks to those interests, that IGCs develop the personal bonds that draw them into the store.

Demonstrate that their dreams can come true by showing examples and then stocking the plants and products that will help customers achieve those aspirations.

Read more in our Retail Revival column by The Garden Lady C.L. Fornari:

https://www.gardencentermag.com/article/garden-center-content-marketing-retail-revival-cl-fornari/