See our gallery of hot new flowers
Slideshow: 4 great ways to use the year's most exciting new plants
Designer genes: Read about a professional plant breeder
Fashion shows and spring plant previews have one thing in common: showmanship that creates excitement and sets trends. When buyers show up in Paris or Milan to view the latest clothing lines, they try to identify the hot new looks. What colors feel fresh? What silhouettes catch the eye? Are styles drifting toward minimalism or ornamentation? And will this be the year something truly original appears on the runway and sets the industry abuzz?
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| Thomas J. Story |
| Nursery buyers check out new
bedding-plant varieties. |
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That is also the mindset of wholesale nursery buyers who visit pack trials (named for the containers that bedding plants are often sold in) held in California at major wholesale breeders and seed companies such as Ball, Goldsmith Seeds, and Proven Winners. The buyers scrutinize for color, shape, and level of detail. They look for the next new thing that will generate excitement among retail nurseries and home gardeners. Which plants are creating a stir this year? We went to the shows to find out:
Hot new flowers
Slideshow: 4 great ways to use 2006's hottest new plants
Designer genes: Read about a professional plant breeder
