Sunflowers and Smiles at California Spring Trials
If you've never been to a flowers trade show before, I highly encourage it. Beyond the obvious loveliness of the plants on display, I'm always impressed by the incredible coordination it takes to grow countless varieties of different flowers that all bloom perfectly at the same time, even as their growth cycles drastically vary through the year.
The California Spring Trials event series draws industry experts from around the globe to this westernmost American state, where seed and young plant breeders up and down California show off their newest genetics and most vibrant offerings for the upcoming year. Looking for a pansy that lives longer than its competitors or a geranium with higher disease resistance than the rest? Here's where you'll find them.
These photos were taken at Syngenta Flowers in Gilroy, California, during CAST 2019. Though Syngenta Flowers is but one of many plant breeders along the event trail, it's safe to say they are one of the largest and most respected in the industry. The flowers speak for themselves, as you can see. And I'm not just saying that because my husband works in the marketing department at Syngenta, or because my company creates all the event signage every year. Syngenta Flowers is truly a wonderful group of people who produce gorgeous things. We're honored to play a small part in this incredible annual celebration of cultivated beauty, pared with scientific magic.
Cora XDR vinca and Imara XDR impatiens
XDR stands for Xtreme Disease Resistance. Flowers that are genetically altered to include XDR last longer in the garden, are more resistant to disease than other varieties, and have improved branching and more flowers on each plant.
Look at the gorgeous garden outside of the greenhouses! The Syngenta Flowers campus is always beautiful, and some parts of it are even open to the public for photoshoots.
