Bell’s keynote presentation will open the show at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Nationally renowned transformation consultant and trainer Greg Bell will be the keynote speaker at the 2022 Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon, producers of the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) have announced.
“Greg is an electrifying speaker who connects with people and inspires them,” said Heather Cyrus, events and education manager for the OAN. “He will provide unique ideas and lasting perspective that nursery industry professionals can take back to their companies to drive personal, professional and organizational improvement.”
The three-day trade show and conference takes place Wednesday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 26 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. It will welcome and unify a broad swath of green industry professionals, including nursery and greenhouse growers, lawn and garden center retailers, landscaping professionals and designers, suppliers, service providers, students, researchers and many others.
Bell’s keynote presentation will open the show at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. He will discuss how individuals and organizations can unleash their potential by adopting a high-performance mindset, and focusing their attention on their core values and the things that matter most.
Bell is a Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association and the International Federation of Professional Speakers. Only 10% of speakers have earned this designation. He holds degrees in political science and law from the University of Oregon, and has served as a consultant and trainer for nearly 500 organizations around the country.
Following Bell’s keynote presentation, the trade show floor will open from noon–5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. It will be open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26. Conference seminars will run all three days starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the famous Farwest nursery tours will happen Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Registration for the show and conference is live at www.farwestshow.com/register. Discounted early bird prices for expo admission, nursery tours and educational seminar passes are available until July 31.
Attendees and exhibitors come from around the world to see Farwest and its host state of Oregon, which sold $1.19 billion in nursery material in the most recent year tabulated. The show floor will be packed with nearly 400 exhibiting companies, including wholesale growers, re-wholesalers, garden centers, landscape designers and service providers, allied service providers and suppliers, and more.
Complete details on events, daily schedules, speakers, and education for Farwest are posted at www.FarwestShow.com. For further questions, contact: Allan Niemi, Director of Events, at 503-582-2005 and aniemi@oan.org.
Details on lodging options can be found online at https://farwestshow.com/hotel-travel/. Participants are advised that the Farwest Show has not partnered with any travel agency for the 2022 show. Do not give credit card information to anyone claiming to be a Farwest travel agent, as show organizers have not arranged for any business or individual to be directly contacted for lodging reservations.
For more information about the 2022 Farwest Show, visit www.FarwestShow.com or call 503-682-5089.
The St. Louis-area garden center is Hoffmann's third nursery acquisition this year.
The Hoffmann Family of Companies has acquired Hillermann Nursery & Florist in an expansion of the Florida-based company’s agricultural business holdings.
According to the company's newsletter, the Hillermann family does not have a third generation succession plan, and so the family all agreed to the sale when the opportunity to sell arose. Scott Hillermann will remain president, there are no plans for changes and all employees will remain on staff.
"The Hillermann Family and Staff are grateful to the community and customers that have supported the business over all the years. We are excited to continue to offer the high quality products and services that have always been a priority to the family. We hope to continue to see familiar faces and grow the business with the community," Hillermann wrote.
The St. Louis-area independent garden center was No. 89 on Garden Center magazine’s 2021 Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List and just celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The company was founded by Don Hillermann in 1951 and managed by the family throughout its history. You can read more about Hillermann here.
"It is bittersweet yet very exciting as Hoffmanns are doing wonderful things here in wine country!" said CEO Sandi Hillermann McDonald in an email to Garden Center magazine.
Hillermann Nursery & Florist follows Hoffmann’s acquisition of Town and County Nursery and Ferguson Valley Nurseries over the past year.
Learn more about Hillermann's in this 2017 feature story.
The 81-year-old garden center will shutter its two locations at the end of June, citing increases in operating costs and staffing shortages.
Bayer's Garden Shop is permanently closing its doors at the end of the month, citing "dramatic increases in operating costs, combined with a staffing shortage." With two locations in the St. Louis area, the garden center spanned three generations of family ownership over 81 years.
In a June 6 press release, the IGC announced it will close permanently on June 30.
The company thanked its customers, adding, "So stop on by with those unused gift certificates, say goodbye, and own a piece of Bayer's Garden Shop history."
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, customers flocked to the shop in Lindenwood Park on Tuesday, the day after the company announced its plans to close.
Loyal customers and former employees also took to the company's Facebook page to share their favorite memories of the garden center.
"A little piece of my heart will be closing down with you guys. Thank you for 81 years of helping customers like me fall in love gardening. You will be sorely missed," said one customer.
"Oh, man. Bayer’s is like home away from home for me. So much nostalgia at the Hampton location. Thanks for all of the years, plants, bulbs, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and birdseed, and for such a fantastic team of employees. Frank and Dale (and Herb, rest in peace), you guys have been the best part of every shopping experience. Thank you," said another.
And, "So sorry to hear this. Worked there for a few years Ron Bayer was the best person I’ve worked for. Everyone I worked with where like family. The whole family are such great people," said one former employee.
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has adapted to the changing market and demands of the consumer while maintaining its family atmosphere.
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, a long-standing establishment in the heart of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is currently celebrating its 60th spring in business. This independent garden center is a local favorite with loyal customers and dedicated employees.
Glenn and Mary Ellen Gross founded Ashcombe in 1962 as a roadside vegetable stand. The business thrived as a small farm market manned by one or two employees. Between 1970 and 1978, the business underwent a major expansion into a garden center. As the business continued to expand, more departments were added, including garden supplies, a gift shop, a café, and a bakery. Unfortunately, along with its flourishing, Ashcombe faced many hardships, including two fires. The most devastating occurred on May 22, 1989, destroying the retail store. However, the employees of Ashcombe rallied and continued to operate out of tents in the parking lot. Following the fire, the Ashcombe you see today was born.
Each spring, Ashcombe is home to local gardeners looking to fill their gardens with colorful annuals, perennials, garden supplies, and more. In the production department, Ashcombe grows annuals, vegetables, herbs, and hanging baskets. Springtime fills the greenhouses with thousands of flowers, including dozens of varieties of spring favorites like petunias and dahlias. In the past 60 years, the business has adapted to the changing market and demands of the consumer while maintaining its personable, family atmosphere.
Ashcombe is a local favorite for Mechanicsburg gardeners and families. The business offers classes and events every week to help teach the wonders of gardening to its customers. In its 60th year, Ashcombe is bringing back its garden-themed summer camp, Ready, Set, Grow, which is designed to immerse children into the wonderful world of gardening.
Other classes include floral arrangements, potting classes, and informative demonstrations by Ashcombe’s knowledgeable managers and local gardening experts. Ashcombe is also home to Fern, the mobile plant bus bringing plants to those who can’t always make it the brick-and-mortar store. Fern is a renovated mini school bus that visits local nursing homes and retirement communities as a pop-up shop. During its 2021 tour, Fern visited seven living centers in the Mechanicsburg area.
Reserve your visit this summer to The Gardens at Ball in West Chicago, Illinois, and experience the newest products for 2023 live and in-bloom.
Ball Seed is pleased to welcome visitors once again to The Gardens at Ball in West Chicago, Illinois, during Ball Seed Customer Days, Thursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29. Registered guests will spend a full day engaging with Ball team members on ideas to optimize their production for next season, and stroll The Gardens filled with hundreds of new introductions for 2023 from across the industry representing over 77 breeding companies.
The event will also offer plenty of opportunities for continued education and inspiration. The popular Container Solutions Demonstration with Joan Mazat of Ball Ingenuity will once again show new ways to mix the latest genetics, and educational showcases will share trends, resources and best-practices.
Additionally, guests can sign up for guided tours of the Ball campus, including the Ball Premier Lab, Seed Distribution, and the new Ball Helix Center for Research and Development.
"Ball Seed is ready to help you and your team optimize plans for 2023. Scheduling your summer visit to The Gardens at Ball is a great first-step to business success," says Jim Kennedy, Sales Director for Ball Seed. "From the inspirational mixed containers and in-ground comparison trials to one-on-one demonstrations with Ball Seed WebTrack, there’s plenty to explore in this year’s showcase of 'All the Best.' We can’t wait to see you here."
Registration is open now! Reserve your visit today and see the full schedule of activities online at www.ballcustomerday.com.
For questions, please call 800 879-BALL or email fieldtrial@ballhort.com.