ANLA Clinic drew more than 500 attendees

For decades, the American Nursery & Landscape Association Clinic in Louisville, Ky., has been a premier educational event for the horticulture industry. The 2012 Clinic, Jan. 25-28, was attended by more than 500 nursery growers, garden center retailers, landscapers and landscape distributors.

The bulk of the education was centered around business management themes, but this year’s Clinic had a healthy dose of new-plant content. The New Plant Pavilion, hosted by Nursery Management magazine, showcased 18 of the most exciting new varieties hitting the market.

Hydrangea paniculata Sweet Summer (‘Bokrathirteen’) from Ball Ornamentals, was voted the best new plant in the Pavilion.  Summer Sweet is a mid-sized, full hydrangea that produces an extreme number of dense panicles. Flower color is lime green, maturing to white in summer and finally pink in fall. Sturdy stems make Sweet Summer great for cut flowers. It’s hardy to Zones 3-8 and grows 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

With ANLA’s new joint venture with OFA-The Association of Horticultural Professionals, the future of the Clinic is uncertain. The event could move from its long-standing Louisville location, and could move from winter to another time of year.

“Rest assured, there will be a clinic in one way shape or form in the future. We don’t know what that is yet, but we’re dedicated to creating an educational event second to none that will benefit both ANLA and OFA members,” said ANLA president Bob Lyons, owner of Sunleaf Nursery in Perry, Ohio.