Metrolina Greenhouses announces Trial Garden Open House

2021 TRIAL GARDEN BREEDER WALK

Metrolina Greenhouses will hold its annual Trial Gardens Open House for members of the floriculture industry from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday 8 June. 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 6 June and the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on 7 June. See the information below 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 9 June. 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

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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.

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, 6 June, 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, 7 June, 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

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Metrolina Greenhouses is an industry-leading wholesale greenhouse producer of ornamental plants and services. Established in 1972, today Metrolina Greenhouses includes two locations in Huntersville, North Carolina and York, South Carolina. It spans 1,000 acres, including more than 200 acres of greenhouses, nearly 300 acres of outdoor growing space and its Huntersville, North Carolina headquarters is the largest single-site heated wholesale greenhouse operation in the U.S. A privately owned company, Metrolina Greenhouses employs up to 1,200 people annually, including 800 full-time and 400 seasonal employees. The highly automated operation grows 70 million plants per year, serving more than 1,400 retail outlets for Lowe’s Home Improvement, The Home Depot and Walmart. Metrolina also fulfills online orders for these retailers, shipping plants directly to consumers in 50 states. Metrolina Greenhouses strives to provide a world-class employee experience and excellent customer service through continued innovation and sustainable practices. Learn more at www.metrolinagreenhouses.com. Follow Metrolina Greenhouses on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.