May 10, 2023

Trial Gardens open house at Metrolina Greenhouses scheduled for June

Metrolina Greenhouses will host its annual Trial Gardens open house for members of the floriculture industry from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. The event will include a walk-through and breeder presentation beginning at 9 a.m. The annual open house is part of the Southern Garden Tour, which includes stops at Young’s Plant Farm in Auburn, Alabama, on June 6 and the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on June 7. See the attached information for additional details on the other stops.

Metrolina Greenhouses will open its Trial Gardens to gardening consumers for the Home Garden Panel consumer research event on Friday, June 9. This invite-only event will only be open to advocate-level industry members of Metrolina Greenhouses’ Home Garden Panel to interact with gardening consumers in research discussions and focus groups.

This year, Metrolina Greenhouses’ Trial Gardens will evaluate more than 2,000 items:

•  1,900+ annuals
•  449 perennials
•  383 second-year perennials
•  150 hanging baskets
•  100+ planters

A second-year heuchera trial will be the subject of Metrolina’s perennial genus trial. Additionally, the research and development team will evaluate several varieties of portulaca in the gardens for an annual focus.

Attendees should RSVP at https://metrolinagreenhouses.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39nYvsSdCykwmwK.

Metrolina Greenhouses has held plant trials for more than 40 years. Today, Metrolina’s expert research and development team evaluates more than 15,000 varieties in both public and private trials each year. The team’s work provides critical analysis of varieties that will grow best in the Southeast region.

For more information on Metrolina Greenhouses Trial Gardens, contact Kayla Gibson, research and development manager, 980-266-0011.

Metrolina Greenhouses is committed to understanding consumer perceptions and buying behaviors. By gathering and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, Metrolina’s Home Garden Panel conducts annual consumer gardening research that informs Metrolina and its partners about gardening consumers’ purchasing habits, decision drivers and item preferences. This knowledge guides product development focused on meeting gardeners’ needs while promoting their continued success and satisfaction.

To learn more about Metrolina’s Home Garden Panel, contact Laura Drotleff, marketing communications manager, ldrotleff@metrolinagreenhouses.com.

More details on the Southern Garden Tour 2023:

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Young’s Plant Farm, 1166 Lee County Road 9, Auburn, AL, 36832

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

RSVP Required: https://youngstrialgarden.online-rsvp.com; Questions: trialgarden@youngsplantfarm.com

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

University of Georgia Trial Garden; 1030 W Green Street, Athens GA 30602

8 a.m, – 12 p.m. – No RSVP Required

On Campus Parking: South Deck Parking in front of Snelling

http://ugatrial.hort.uga.edu