Aug 25, 2022

Farwest Chooses Best in Show Variety, Booth

The Farwest Show, Aug. 24 to 26, 2022, in Portland, Oregon, has announced a number of best in show awards. ‘Nightfall Snowbell’ (Styrax japonicus ‘JFS 6SJ’) was chosen by professional judges as the best in show winner in the 2022 Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase.

The plant, bred by Keith Warren and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., based in Boring, Oregon, was one of 61 outstanding new selections on display at the 2022 Farwest Show.

‘Nighfall Snowbell’ combines the deep purple foliage of ‘Evening Light Snowbell’ with the gratefully weeping form of greenleafed cultivars such as ‘Fragrant Fountain’. It features purple emerging leaves with green undertones, which contrast with pearly white flower buds in spring. They open to reveal creamy white, bell-shaped blooms. The leaves darken as the season continues.

In addition of the Best of Show award, judges gave Awards of Merit as follows:

• ‘Vinho Verde’ weigela (Weigela florida ‘Smnwfbgv’ PPAF), introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery. It was discovered as a variegated sport on a seedling whose parents were golden ‘Briant’s Rubidor’ and burgundy ‘Naomi Campbell’. It has lime green leaves set off with a bold, black margin. A light crop of red-pink flowers appears in late spring, but the foliage is the main draw. The plant is available in 2-gallon containers from Walla Walla Nursery Co. .
• ‘Invincibelle Sublime’ hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHRL’ PPAF, CPBRAF), bred by Tim Wood and introduced by Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs. It is a full-sized smooth hydrangea with cloud-like mophead flowers on sturdy stems. The plant is available in 2¼-inch, 4-inch and quart containers from Walla Walla Nursery Co., Oregon Pride Nurseries Inc., Alpha Nursery Inc. and Fisher Farms.
• ‘Pretty Parasols’ coneflowers (Echinacea ‘JS Engeltje’), introduced by Concept Plants. It is a low-maintenance, high endurance coneflower with strong stems that flowers from July through November, with flowers appearing one after another, not opening at the same time. They appear at different heights, giving a “wild” look with multiple flowers on each stem. The plant is available in 1-gallon containers from Walla Walla Nursery Co.

All of the New Varieties Showcase selections are viewable at the Farwest Show and at https://farwestshow.com/new-varieties-showcase/.

Best in Show Booth Awards

Judges walked the floor to find the best of the best, recognizing several winners with the Ted Van Veen Best in Show booth awards.

“The exhibitors at Farwest this year really are representing the industry well,” Show Director Allan Niemi said. “There are some dazzling displays where people pushed creativity to a new level.”

Winning the overall Best in Show booth award was Hopper Bros. of Woodburn, Oregon (Booth #12010), for their booth containing specimen size conifers, frosted Christmas trees, Halloween pumpkins and gourds, a model train and more.

The Best in Show booth award comes with a free 10-by-10 booth space for the 2023 Farwest Show. Other Best of Division award winners included the following:

Grower

• Best 10-by-10 Booth – Serendipity Nursery, Canby, Oregon (Booth #19055)
• Best 10-by-20 or Larger Row Booth – Hopper Bros. (Booth #12010)
• Best Island Booth — Alpha Nursery, Salem, Oregon (Booth #18019)

Service/Supply

• Best 10×10 Booth – Earthlight Technologies, Silverton, Oregon (Booth #9008)
• Best 10×20 or Larger Row Booth – Root Pouch, Portland, Oregon (Booth #16009)
• Best Island Booth — Papé, Eugene, Oregon (Booth #15063)

The show also recognized exhibitors who put extra creativity into their booths with three Far From Ordinary booth awards. Winning that award this year were Cascade Tropicals, Snohomish, Washington (Booth #7073), Sound Horticulture, Bellingham, Washington (Booth #17027) and A & R Nursery Sales, Boring, Oregon (Booth #11037).