2006 Southern California Plant Tour Days

The 2006 Southern California Plant Tour Days (PTD) is coming up on February 22-24, 2006, and growers from all over the country are headed to Southern California for the seventh-annual event showcasing regional cut flowers, foliage, ornamentals and more. The 3-day event is an opportunity to check out area growers and suppliers, learn about hot topics in the industry, and catch up with friends and colleagues.

“Plant Tour Days is getting bigger and better every year,” said Todd Ingham of American Aloe Nurseries, committee chair of the 2006 event. “The energy and enthusiasm on the part of both buyers and growers always makes this a valuable experience for everyone. We’re extremely excited to be part of an event that truly highlights the quality products in Southern California.”

The PTD Showcase, held February 22 at the San Diego Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif., is a 1-day trade show featuring a cross-section of nurseries and hardgoods suppliers representing a diverse group of specialties that include cut flowers, outdoor color and ornamentals, indoor flowering and specialty patio plants, tropical foliage, and cactus and succulents.

With booth space for more than 60 exhibitors, buyers are able to get a preview of the operations and products they will see and experience during the following two days of self-guided open houses. The Plant Showcase is an essential part of the event, allowing buyers to perform side-by-side comparisons, plan their visits, and network and exchange information and ideas with growers and other industry professionals. The Showcase also features two seminars on what’s hot in horticulture.

A 2-day open house and self-guided tour follows the Showcase on Feb. 23-24, allowing buyers to visit host nurseries and see their product.

“Plant Tour Days is an ideal opportunity for buyers to source new suppliers and discover new specialty products,” said Ingham. “For nurseries and growers it is the perfect event to get their product.

Registration for Plant Tour Days is easy and free of charge, and can be completed online by visiting www.planttourdays.org .