Dallas, Texas – Internationally known as one of the premier places to test plants for extreme weather conditions, especially high heat and humidity, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden held its annual Plant Trials Field Day on June 27, which more than 300 industry professionals attended. Thousands of plants are tested annually including bulbs, perennials, shrubs, trees, groundcovers and vegetables.
Jenny Wegley, Dallas Arboretum vice president of horticulture, welcomed guests and introduced the various speakers. She shared results of the Trial Gardens’ All American Selections for vegetables as the garden is one of the few places testing various vegetables as part of a national vegetable trial. These vegetables that have been trialed are then transplanted and used in A Tasteful Place (ATP), a 3.5-acre garden dedicated to growing, harvesting and preparing fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits in a healthful manner.
Wegley also shared unique landscaping plants, showed how they used plants throughout the seasons in creative displays, and announced the annual and perennial winners that received FlameProof or Arboretum Approved awards– for plants that have thrived and outperformed others. FlameProof is awarded only to plants that survived extreme conditions in the Texas summer. Arboretum Approved is awarded to plants that scored the highest in its class and are the best of its kind during that season. (For a complete list, see attachment).
For more information on Dallas Arboretum’s Trial Program by visiting the plant trials website.
A special thanks to the following sponsors:
Gold: ABI, Ball, Calloway’s Nursery, Green Lake Nursery, J Berry Nursery, Plant Development, Proven Winners
Silver: Dummen Orange, Living Earth, Southwest Landscape Wholesale, Sygenta Flowers
Bronze: Express Seed Company, Greenleaf Nursery, Magnolia Gardens Nursery, Suntory Flowers
Copper: Benary, Berger Peat Moss, Eason Horticulture, Griffin, KBW, Steve Leaves, Texas Nursery Landscape Association, The Garden Shop.
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