Floral

Winston Flowers and Whole Foods Market said they are collaborating to open a new retail venture called “Winston Flowers at Whole Foods Market” at the new Whole Foods Market in Lynnfield. …

Kitayama Brothers (KB) is Akiyama Nursery's largest customer and the Kitayamas and Akiyamas go back a long way. Sam’s brother Sadatoshi worked for KB as a grower for over 14 years before retiring.  Sadatoshi’s wife Nobuko will retire from KB this year after 29 years. Ben went to Watsonville High School with my cousin John Kitayama, and Ben is now a PE teacher at Watsonville High as well as a part time carnation grower. Isamu and Ben are trying to hold on as carnation growers, Isamu who is 82 years old said, “I’m not ready to retire.”  Ben said he would also like to continue growing, but they cannot get carnation plants.

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Astilbe 'Look At Me' (Arendsii Group) has been declared the best new plant at Plantarium 2013. The plant was entered by Compass Plants BV in collaboration with Mts Lucassen, both from Hillegom. The jury felt that the plant was innovative as it combined an unusually compact growth habit, short and well-filled panicles in a fresh pink colour and an abundance of flowers. …

In the Garden Plants category, Clematis ‘Diamond Ball’ by Clematis Marczynski Container Nursery from Poland has won the Plantarium Press Award. Plants of the World by Bremmer Boomkwekerijen v.o.f. from Waddinxveen won this award in the Concepts category. It was a particularly close finish, as the winner was only 1 point ahead of "Rose Hip Marmalade" by Rozenkwekerij Gebr. Seuren BV from Lottum. …

Syngenta Flowers, Inc. is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Goldsmith Scholarships. Caitlin Davis was awarded the Goldsmith Seeds Floriculture Business Advancement Scholarship, and Chris D’Angelo won the Glenn Goldsmith Breeding Excellence Scholarship. Both were awarded $7,500 for future educational use. …