Hold on to summer

As I write this column, it feels like summer’s winding down. My hydrangeas are in full bloom, my kids’ baseball teams have finished their seasons and I keep getting emails from their school asking me to fill out more online forms. I’m not ready to give up on summer just yet though, so let’s do a little recap.

Last month, we headed south from the GIE Media world headquarters to Columbus, Ohio, for Cultivate, the big summer trade show for the horticulture industry. Nice work, as always, by AmericanHort to plan the show and keep exhibitors and attendees happy. The trade show felt healthy, with good foot traffic, interesting educational sessions and plenty of networking opportunities. Watch for more from the show in our next issue.

It was a pleasure to host the Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards reception once again. There’s no better way to end the first day of the trade show than to spend some time honoring the finest leaders in the industry. This year’s event was particularly meaningful as one of the recipients was David van Wingerden. Many in the industry grieved the loss of David, a leader with Express Seed Company, when he passed in January after a 19-month battle with leukemia. As his family accepted his award and his eldest son, TJ, thanked the attendees on his father’s behalf, the air was thick with emotion.

We have already begun accepting nominations for the HILA Class of 2025. Visit hila.hortgroupevents.com to read all about past winners, and nominate that mentor who deserves to be recognized.

Getting back to my hydrangeas (which really are all I want to talk about this time of year), I’m excited to share Nursery Management’s first State of the Hydrangea Market Report. I learned a lot while putting this report together. For instance, did you know that the word hydrangea comes from the Greek words for “water” hydros, and “jar,” angos, due to the plant’s resemblance to an ancient water pitcher? Quite a fitting name for those thirsty shrubs.

Thanks to the fine folks at Bailey for sponsoring this package, which includes the results of a massive survey. Also thank you to the 240 nursery pros who took the survey. Our data wouldn’t be worth much without you. Once you’re done parsing the data and comparing it to your own operations, let us know how we could do it better next year. We’d love your feedback, so if you have suggestions for improving the market report, please send them my way.