May 29, 2009

Cornell Announces Field Day EventSource: Cornell University

On July 21, Cornell University will host its annual Field Day event, an occasion for networking, education, inspiration and the sheer enjoyment of floriculture.

The morning program will include educational seminars by industry professionals:

• “Coloring the Landscape” by Jim Diermeier and “Exciting Landscape Perennials” by Bill Miller
• “Insect and Disease Management on Herbs and Tomatoes” by John Sanderson and Margery Daughtrey, and “Cornell Research Update” by Sarah Braun, Sarah Jandricic, Chris Cerveny and Chad Miller.

In the afternoon, participants will tour the extensive plant trials at Blue Grass Lane, which include more than 1,000 different annuals and perennials, led by Cornell professionals. New this year are a vegetable trial and a shaded perennial bed. The annual beds are sponsored by American Takii, Inc., Ball FloraPlant, Oro Farms, PanAmerican Seed, Proven Winners, Syngenta Flowers Inc. and W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Some seminars and tours are eligible for DEC pesticide recertification credits.

Discover creative uses of plant material while viewing entries in the sixth annual Kathy Pufahl Memorial Container Design Competition, or submit a container of your own. Mixed containers will be displayed and judged; all proceeds will benefit Crohn’s disease research. To enter the container contest, contact Karen Hall, New York State Flower Industries, at (716) 941-3502.

For additional information or to register for these educational opportunities visit the Cornell website or contact Dolores Higareda at (607) 255-1789 or dh29@cornell.edu.

Before the field day event, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on July 20, there will be a hands-on workshop for ornamental producers on the Cornell Campus IPM In-Depth. Participants will receive 3.0 DEC for this workshop. For more information, contact Betsy Lamb at (607) 254-8800 or eml38@cornell.edu.