Mar 25, 2016

It’s Just About That Time of Year By Tim Hodson

Last week, spring finally arrived in Chicago — followed three days later by a snowstorm followed by predictions for temperatures in the mid-60s less than a week later. You’ve gotta love spring in the Midwest.

Next week, 2016 California Spring Trials arrives. It will take place April 9-14. The weather in California can be unpredictable too — but hopefully it won’t be as extreme as it has been in Chicagoland.

Team GPN will arrive in the Golden State next week too for our annual Spring Trials trek, starting up north on Saturday and making our way to all of the different locations to see what the breeders have in store for the marketplace.

Since January, Jasmina Dolce has been providing us with a preview of many of the new varieties that will be introduced during Spring Trials this year.

If you missed any of her Culture Connection e-newsletters, you can catch all of her sneak peeks right here:

Spring Trials Preview – Part 1
Spring Trials Preview – Part 2
Spring Trials Preview – Part 3
Spring Trials Preview – Part 4
Spring Trials Preview – Part 5

While we are at Spring Trials, Jasmina will also be providing daily updates from the road, and we will be posting additional photos and comments on the GPN Facebook and Twitter pages. Abby Kleckler also will be providing her perspective on the latest retail-ready concepts and inspirational displays for our sister magazine Lawn & Garden Retailer.

If you do not receive GPN’s Culture Connection e-newsletter, you can sign up for it at www.gpnmag.com. To receive Lawn & Garden Retailer’s e-newsletter, just click here to subscribe.

If you are headed to California next week, be sure to bookmark GPN’s California Spring Trials Companion. It has all of the information you need to make it to all of this year’s locations including addresses, phone numbers and even a few dining recommendations along the way. Click here to check it out.

— Tim