Floral

The Retail Division of Dutch Flower Group (DFG) once again held its annual Suppliers' Day on 26 September 2012. The Retail Division Flowers, comprised of five specialized companies who supply the internationally importing wholesalers, invited over 80 of her Dutch suppliers, all growers of cut flowers. …

Nearly 100 people, including industry professionals and consumers alike, packed into a ballroom-turned-design-room Sept. 22, to watch 19 of the country’s top designers vie for the coveted Sylvia Cup in the nation’s longest-running live floral design competition, held at The Breakers for the final day of SAF Palm Beach 2012, SAF's 128th annual convention. Vincent Petrovsky, AAF, AIFD, owner of Heaven and Earth Floral in West Palm Beach, Fla., won the grand prize — a silver cup, $3,000 cash prize and a complimentary registration to SAF Phoenix 2013. …

Invincibelle® Spirit, the pink-flowered ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea from Proven Winners, has met a monumental fundraising goal in its three-year partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). BCRF offers partners the unique opportunity to fund a researcher if they donate $250,000 within BCRF’s fiscal year. Funds raised from sales of the flowering shrub, along with those from Pink Day events hosted by garden centers, will support the work of Dr. Carey Anders of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for all of 2013. …

RED FOX Cupcake portulacas performed beautifully at trial sites around North America this summer, one of the hottest on record in many areas. Cupcake portulacas loved the tough conditions, showing gorgeous bright-colored flowers in abundance. And these were big flowers, too, for this genus. They are sure to be a crowd pleaser in consumer gardens next summer. …

The coveted title ‘International Grower of the Year’ 2012 has been won by Sheridan Nurseries, from Canada. …