November 2020 - 36

vaughn's view
BY VAUGHN FLETCHER
1
Plant Celebration
IN THE NORTHLAND
These vivacious designer recipe combination baskets were standouts at the
Plantpeddler trial this summer.
I
Vaughn Fletcher
is president of
Fletcher Consulting.
He has been in the
horticulture industry
since 1971, working in
many areas including
landscaping, garden
center and greenhouse
production, greenhouse
and nursery sales and
sales management.
He can be reached at
vfletcher9@gmail.com.
n August, I attended the
annual Plantpeddler flower
trial in northeast Iowa to
evaluate many current and new
introductions for 2021. I returned
three weeks later, following
extremely hot and humid weather
conditions, to review the recipe
combination baskets I had chosen
for this article.
This was a significant year for
Plantpeddler with a reorganized
trial site and a 40th anniversary
celebration of the company.
Plantpeddler has become one of the
largest liner producers in the country
representing multiple breeding companies
and offering a large selection of varieties
and product sizes.
I focused this article on single and multispecies
recipe combination baskets with
different textures and color schemes that
were displayed in a full sun exposure. The
12-inch baskets I selected consisted of
Kwik Kombos, Trixis, DuraBellas and Passion
Combos. I traveled to trial sites from
Colorado to New Jersey this year, and of all
these trials the Plantpeddler recipe basket
trial was the most extensive. I selected
current and new designer recipes that
met the criteria for a successful and eyecatching
display, including balance, proper
timing, compatibility, longevity, creative
color combinations and retail appeal.
I would like to thank Mike and Rachel
Gooder and the Plantpeddler team for
sharing information and insight, and
36 NOVEMBER 2020 GPNMAG.COM
creating an impressive and informative
summer trial.
1. DURABELLA MAUI WOWIE
Danziger
This single species mixture of
calibrachoa Colibri Lemon, Plum and
Cherry Lace manifested all the qualities
you expect in the Colibri series. I was
impressed with the vibrancy, timing,
balance and floriferousness of the three
varieties in this combination. Colibri was
introduced as a compact, controlled
growth series in 2017, and it has
application in quarts, mixed containers,
and baskets. It demonstrated exceptional
flower power and excellent weather
resistance. Malibu Pink and Mellow Yellow
are new to the Colibri series for 2021,
and both varieties have received trial
recognition this summer.
2. DURABELLA RED WHITE &
BLUEBERRY
Danziger
Danziger has entered the designer
recipe market with the introduction of the
DuraBellas for 2021 consisting of 28 mono
and multi-species combinations. This trial
offered the best opportunity to evaluate
many of these mixes. The components
of Red White & Blueberry are petunia
'Cascadia Red', petunia 'Ray Pistachio
Creme' and calibrachoa 'Lia Blue'. The
timing, uniformity and flowering of the
three separate varieties was remarkable.
The primary colors of red and blue with
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the neutral and unusual flower pattern and
tones of the Pistachio Creme created an
energized combination.
3. DURABELLA SPRING HAS
SPRUNG
Danziger
I have never highlighted a designer
recipe comprised entirely of nemesia. I
have, however, focused on specific Nesia
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http://www.GPNMAG.COM
November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2020
