Monday I attended the tradeshow at the OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio.
This was only my second visit and I again traveled with Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp -the Hoosier Gardener and fellow GWA member. It’s nice to have another plant geek along to help me see things I might miss in my rush to see everything in one day – which sadly I did not do. You may be wondering what in the hell the OFA Short Course is. Well, to quote their website – “For more than 80 years, the horticulture industry has met at the OFA Short Course. Considered the largest and most important industry event, attendees from across the world come to learn, be inspired, and connect with peers, great ideas, and business solutions.”
My favorite part is seeing all the new plant varieties. This is where the high rollers display all their latest botanical creations. I’m so ecstatic over all the new varieties I’m like a cat in 40 acres of catnip – or am I like a cat in heat rubbing against everything and yowling “I want it! I want it!”? Anyway, the point is I really like seeing all the new stuff. Time is still at a premium so I can’t go into a lot of detail about every plant so I’m gonna throw a few highlights at you with little detail. That’s the best I can do for you.
From the Proven Winners Graceful Grasses program is a new Pennisetum purpurpeum called VertigoTM.
The ones in the showroom were wonderfully fountain-like. The ones in the Ohio State trial gardens less so but they were smaller. I like the look of this plant both for the color and the architecture. You might say it makes me dizzy.
Begonias make great patio plants for the summer and are generally easy winter houseplants. I loved the size of this one called ‘Gryphon’. Great texture and color. This introduction from PanAmerican Seed’s Fantastic Foliage collection will be available next spring.
I found a Celosia I loved but it is only available as unrooted cuttings, and you have to buy 3,000. I’m hoping some retailers will carry this appropriately named ‘Flame’.
I nearly flamed when I saw it!
A freaky African violet really caught my eye. It’s from Optimara but I forgot to write down the name.
If you are going to have a poinsettia, why not have a variegated one? Remember the red color is from the bracts, the plant looses those eventually. But the leaves….. I think this would look great in garden through the summer.
Another member of the Bonfire begonia family – Chocolate Red. I think this was mislabeled and is in fact Chocolate Pink (Choc Pink). Flower color is quite a change from the bright orange of the other members of the family.
I have found images of Choc Red at the Tesselaar website and it is red flowered and apparently there is a Choc Orange (stop salivating!). Further investigation is required.
And petunias, yes, petunias. A new series with very dark flowers from Ball Flora Plant. I can’t decide who I love the mostest between ‘Black Velvet’ and ‘Phantom’ but ‘Phantom’ does have chartreuse in the flower.
Then there were all the Gerbera daisies. Oh my my. I’ve no idea who introduced these but lawdy mercy.
I could barely touch on all I saw here in this blog. There’s just so much! And yet not enough.
Filed under: Horticulture
July 16th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I saw ‘Phantom’ growing in Buffalo, NY. I want it. I want that African violet, too.
July 17th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Thanks for the review of your plant observations. You saw several plants that I must have missed, such as Flame celosia. Thanks for being such a great travel companion, Irvin. I’m looking forward to next year…and thanks to OFA for inviting garden writers to attend.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Carol that African violet was something. They were promoting it for florists to use in arranements with other flowers, baskets, bird’s nests, wreaths, etc. ‘Phantom’ is a beauty and I really want the ‘Black Velvwet’ too.
Next year we have to get there even earlier I think Jo Ellen, 9 on the dot. Or walk faster! And talk less!
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