August 15, 2011
Bidders competed for great plant material.
Auction in wine country raises over $20,000 to help industry
The best of plant material, cash give-aways, free draws, wine samplings and over $20,000 to help with horticultural research and scholarships was all part of the annual Industry Auction.
Formerly known as the Growers Research Auction, this year the name was changed to reflect more of the industry. It took place on July 14 at Blue Sky Nursery in Beamsville.
The Growers’ Awards of Excellence entries were judged in the morning and the winners announced at the end of the auction. An Awards of Excellence certificate went to each of the 12 winning lots, which were then auctioned off. The winners will again be recognized during the Retail Garden Centre program luncheon held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Oct. 19, in conjunction with Expo.
Special appreciation goes to the dedicated members of the awards judging panel, who offered their time and expertise: Jen Llewellyn, OMAFRA; Glen Lumis of the University of Guelph; Len Mancini of Holland Park Garden Gallery; Michael Pascoe, Fanshawe College; Rita Weerdenburg, CNLA, and Jim Lounsbery, Vineland Nurseries.
Each auction lot was assigned a raffle number, with all winning bids entered into a draw for a 40-inch LCD TV, donated by Plant Products, won by Dolores Delvecchio of Entire Landscapes who held the winning ticket.
With the auction being held in wine country, a special attraction this year was the wine sampling courtesy of Vineland Estates. Lunch was generously sponsored by the host, Alice Klamer of Blue Sky Nursery.
John Wright from the LO Foundation supervised the special fund-raising raffle draw. The grand prize of $5,000 went to Helmut Zgraja, while second prize of $1,000 was won by Maria Bau-Coote, and Del Cressman picked up the third prize of $500.
Organizers are grateful to Fanshawe College students and teachers for all of their help at the event. Appreciation also goes to Blue Sky Nursery for hosting the event, LO’s Growers Group and LO staff for all of the hard work and support at the auction.
The next event for the growers is their annual tour, scheduled for Sept. 15. At press time, no location had been determined.
Formerly known as the Growers Research Auction, this year the name was changed to reflect more of the industry. It took place on July 14 at Blue Sky Nursery in Beamsville.
The Growers’ Awards of Excellence entries were judged in the morning and the winners announced at the end of the auction. An Awards of Excellence certificate went to each of the 12 winning lots, which were then auctioned off. The winners will again be recognized during the Retail Garden Centre program luncheon held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Oct. 19, in conjunction with Expo.
Special appreciation goes to the dedicated members of the awards judging panel, who offered their time and expertise: Jen Llewellyn, OMAFRA; Glen Lumis of the University of Guelph; Len Mancini of Holland Park Garden Gallery; Michael Pascoe, Fanshawe College; Rita Weerdenburg, CNLA, and Jim Lounsbery, Vineland Nurseries.
Each auction lot was assigned a raffle number, with all winning bids entered into a draw for a 40-inch LCD TV, donated by Plant Products, won by Dolores Delvecchio of Entire Landscapes who held the winning ticket.
With the auction being held in wine country, a special attraction this year was the wine sampling courtesy of Vineland Estates. Lunch was generously sponsored by the host, Alice Klamer of Blue Sky Nursery.
John Wright from the LO Foundation supervised the special fund-raising raffle draw. The grand prize of $5,000 went to Helmut Zgraja, while second prize of $1,000 was won by Maria Bau-Coote, and Del Cressman picked up the third prize of $500.
Organizers are grateful to Fanshawe College students and teachers for all of their help at the event. Appreciation also goes to Blue Sky Nursery for hosting the event, LO’s Growers Group and LO staff for all of the hard work and support at the auction.
2011 auction donors
Product for the auction was generously donated by the following companies: Agrium Advanced Technologies, ASB Greenworld, Blue Sky Nursery, Braun Nursery, Canadale Nurseries, Canadian National Exhibition, Connon Nurseries/NVK Holdings, Downham Nurseries, Dutchmaster Nurseries, Engage Agro Corporation, Gro-Bark Ontario, Ground Covers Unlimited, Hillen Nursery, JC Bakker & Sons, Kam’s Growers Supply, Langendoen Nurseries, Laurel Forest Farms, Living Carpet, M Putzer Hornby Nursery, Maple Leaf Nurseries, Mori Nurseries, Pieper Nurseries, Plant Products Co., Sheridan Nurseries, Somerville Nurseries, Syngenta Canada, Timm Enterprises, University of Guelph Laboratories, V Kraus Nurseries, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Willowbrook Nurseries and Winkelmolen Nursery.The next event for the growers is their annual tour, scheduled for Sept. 15. At press time, no location had been determined.
Growers Award Winners, 2011
| Category | Plants | Company | Judges' comments |
| Category 1 Evergreens - Field Grown Upright and Spreading |
Picea pungens ‘Neon Blue’ | Mori Nurseries | Great colour, good uniformity, great impact, vigorous root system for establishment in landscape. |
| Category 2 Evergreens - Container Grown Upright and Spreading |
Assorted evergreens | Mori Nurseries | Judges impressed with plant health, very clean, good colour, instant impact. |
| Category 3 Broadleaf Evergreens |
Assorted broadleaf evergreens | Mori Nurseries | Nice colour, good impact, wonderful assemblage of colour, great scale. |
| Category 4 Deciduous Shrubs |
Assorted deciduous shrubs | Mori Nurseries | Nice presentation, great quality, very good colour mix, great retail package. |
| Category 5 Deciduous Ornamental Trees 300 Cm Or Less |
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ | Connon Nurseries/NVK | Good uniformity, great colour, interesting trees. |
| Category 6 Deciduous Ornamental Trees Top Grafted/Worked |
Syringa meyeri palibaniana | Langendoen Nurseries | Excellent head, good uniformity, these are more mature trees and are more difficult to grow. |
| Category 7 Caliper Trees |
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory silk’ | Braun Nurseries | Good size trees, mature, nice form. |
| Category 8 Vines and Groundcovers |
Assorted vines and groundcovers | Mori Nurseries | Well rooted, great quality, nice composition . |
| Category 9 Perennials |
Assorted perennials | Connon Nurseries/NVK | Artistic composition, great quality, unusual perennials. |
| Category 10 Unusual and Rare Plants |
Ginkgo biloba ‘Bejing Gold’ | Connon Nurseries/NVK | Really rare and unusual, unique variegation, great full colour. |
| Category 11 Design on a Skid |
Display of assorted material | Sheridan Nurseries | Unique! Great presentation, very creative. |
| Judges’ Choice | Assorted perennials | Connon Nurseries/NVK | Outstanding quality – well done! |