Janet Sluis, developer with Plant Development Services' Sunset Western Garden Collection•, Introduced new plant material at Spring Open House, hosted by Village Nurseries in Orange, Calif.

Every year wholesale nurseries introduce new plants to the public and professional landscapers. Modifications and adaptations are made to the plant materials in hopes of of building more sustainable and beautiful landscapes.

On May 9 Village Nurseries held a Spring Open House for landscape architects, landscape designers and landscape contractors at its Orange, Calif. Landscape Center. Attendees heard presentations on new and improved plants from three keynote speakers. They strolled through displays from Kellogg, Southland Sod and Plant Haven, to see their products and tour the grounds.

Dan Davids, president of Anthony Tesselaar USA, introduced some new flower carpet roses, making recommendations based on climate, soil and aesthetic considerations.

"We're a licensee, not a vendor," said Davids. "We bring in new plants as a grower. We want you to know us by our plant brand names, as that we promote to the consumer. They in turn will ask for those plants when they talk to the landscape professionals."

Mike Carpenter from ProGreen Synthetic Grass• educated attendees about the technological changes in the artificial turf industry. One of those innovations has been the cool yarn technology of the anti-microbial plastic used on turf.

"SprintTurf Reformulate yarn feels soft, like real grass," said Carpenter. "It's a great idea to use this product to deal with water drought. It pays for itself over the course of 4 1/2 years. A crumb rubber infill will keep the turf from matting."