What Are Spring Trials?

One of the reasons I love gardening so much is because there's always something new to learn and experience. If I lived longer than anyone on earth, I would never run out of challenges, surprises, and adventures.

This weekend, I'll be the guest of Proven Winners at Spring Trials in California. Sunday morning, I'll leave the cold and windy unseasonably warm March weather of Ohio and wing my way to San Diego. Not only will it be my first time attending Spring Trials, it will be my first time in California! I'm pretty excited.

But what's the big deal about Spring Trials anyway? Just what are they?

According to their website:

This premier event is where the world's prominent plant breeders, propagation specialists, growers, marketing professionals and plant enthusiasts present, share and discuss the floriculture industry's bounty.

Participants in California Spring Trials set the standards for the finest of plant introductions and new breeding. From California Spring Trials, thousands of trial gardens around the world test and evaluate Spring Trial introductions in their locale, determining the Best of Floriculture^TM.

I've seen smaller trial gardens before, at Michigan State University, the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo, NY, and those at The Ohio State University. Most recently, I visited the trial gardens at Costa Farms in Miami, and saw some Proven Winners plants being grown there.

There's nothing quite as colorful as a trial garden, and it's fun to see the new and current plants that are being grown and tested in the various locations.

Costa Farms Trial Gardens

California Spring Trials is a week-long event that takes place at 25 different locations in The Golden State. I'll be at the Proven Winners Trial Gardens at Euro-American Propagators, LLC, in Bonsall, CA. You can be sure that I'll be snapping photos and taking notes and reporting back with what I see there!

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My trip to Spring Trials in California is provided by Proven Winners, including transportation, hotel, and meals. I'm grateful for this opportunity to experience this event in the world of horticulture.