there is concern about the drip from 

 roof condensation. And in the winter, 

 wind-driven pieces of ice slice the 

 plastic — which has to be repaired with 

 tiny pieces of tape. 



In part of the house are Ro-Flo move- 

 able benches. These can be set up 

 for using the Ebb and Flo watering 

 system. Right now "we're not quite 

 sure how the recycling would work," 

 but it should be running by August. 

 All under-bench heating is hot water, 

 using Alcoa fin. 



Another house is a one-acre twelve- 

 bay Nexus house covered with poly- 

 gal in which plugs are grown year 

 round. Half the benches are heated 

 with alcoa fin; half are biotherm. It 

 will be filled with stock for next 

 spring and cool-crop liners — cycla- 

 men, primula, cineraria, calceolaria.... 

 Outside are pot mums, among them 

 new varieties from California Plant, 

 on an automatically-timed drip sys- 

 tem. 



Changes continue. Polygal, when it 

 first came out, had no solar grade on it 

 and its staying quality was disappoint- 

 ing — it lasted six years rather than the 



expected ten. With the newer polygal, 

 this problem has been solved, but 

 the Huntingtonsplan togo with Exo lite. 



Another change may be in the heating 

 system, now oil. The Huntingtonsare 

 thinking of going to L.P. gas. They 

 feel it would be cleaner and less ex- 

 pensive — and the tanks would be a- 

 bove ground. 



Connected to the Nexus house is an 

 areas where the seeding is done. 

 Both a Hamilton seeder, with a ver- 

 miculite hopper, and a Blackmore 

 seeder, with a wider choice of orifices, 

 are in use. 



Along with the two large houses, 

 there are twelve free-standing poly 

 houses — Nexus, X.S. Smith, Olmeson 

 Superlite, Harnois — filled with stock 

 plants and hangers. 

 In August, the fall crops — poinsettias, 

 zergocactus, cyclamen, fall mums — 

 will be in production. Although these 

 are traditional crops, the scale and 

 techniques may be different than 

 those of a smaller grower. Seeing the 

 problems and successes of an opera- 

 tion as large as Pleasant View could be 

 helpful. 



John Bryant of Millican Nursery 

 ' is one of this year's co-hosts. At 

 Millican, the changes tend to develop 

 from ideas inspired by what is already 

 in place. Gardens showcasing new and 

 underutilized plants were being fin- 

 ished last fall and a new "conifer 

 garden" was created this year. For the 

 first time, perennials are being sold— 

 creating "one-stop shopping" for 

 John's customers; in the field-grown 

 stock, there is greater emphasis on 

 Syringa: lilac varieties introduced by 

 Fr. John L Plala, founder of the 

 American Lilac Society, are being of- 

 fered for the first time. 

 The variety of plant material in the 

 fields and holding areas and rows of 

 potted stock is always worth seeing. 

 And the "Cadillac of winter storages," 

 one of the legacies of Mr. Millican's 

 ownership, remains as impressive as 

 ever. 



The 1992 All-America Selections Winners 



Reprinted from Greenhouse Manager, May, 1991. 



An unusually interesting gioup of All-America Selections winners for 1992 has been announced. They include: 



Canna 'Tropical Rose'. Tropical Rose.'an AAS Flower Award winner from American Takii of Salinas, California, is an 



improved dwarf canna with soft rose-colored blooms. It is grown fi'om seed rather than rhizomes. The large scarified seeds 



fit into bedding plant production. Sow seed 6-8 weeks before selling as green plants in small pots. Tropical Rose' will flower 



in a one-gallon container if grown at tropical temperatures. In the garden, Tropical Rose' will thrive in full sun and grow to 



2 1/2 feet. Flowers unfold on a spike held above lush foliage. 



Salvia 'Lady in Red' . "I^dy in Red' is an improved dwarf red salvia that produces flower spikes above the foliage. Crop time 



from sewing to first color is about 10-12 weeks; mature plant height is 10-12 inches. This AAS Flower Award winner is from 



K. Sahin of the Netherlands. 



Dill 'Femleaf . 'Fernleaf plants are basal branching and grow to 18 inches. This annual herb is easy to grow and is ready 



for sale in 4-6 weeks. Ternleaf is ornamental as well as useful — it's suitable for patio containers; it can be used fresh or dried 



for seasoning. This AAS Vegetable Award winner is from W. Atlee Burpee & Co. of Warminster, Pennsylvania. 



Carrot 'Thumbelina'. Thumbclina,' a round gourmet can'ot from Petroseed of Saticoy, California, is recommended for 



gi'ecnhouse growers who have customer requests for unique vegetables or container gardens. This AAS Vegetable Award 



winner is ready for the salad bowl 60-70 days fi-om sowing. 



Vinca 'Pretty in White'. An AAS Bedding Plant Award and Flower Award winner, 'Pretty in White' showed three major 



improvements over comparisons: blossoms were larger, up to 1 1/2 inches across; flowers had overlapping petals; and plants 



werecompactandbranchingintheflat. This ten-inch-tall sun-lovingannual that wiir'continuetoflowerthroughheat.drought, 



or severe summer storms" is from Denholm Seed of Iximpoc, California. 



Verbena 'Peaches & Cream'. Flowers of 'Peaches & Cream' are a unique pastel blend of apricot and salmon. It can be 



produced as a bedding plant. Plants will spread 10-12 inches, like a ground cover with blooms, and will flower abundantly all 



summer. This AAS Flower Award winner was bred by K. Sahin. 



Dianthus 'Ideal Violef . "Ideal Violet' is the first Fl-hybrid to win an AAS Bedding Plant award. In the greenhouse, "Ideal 



Violet' flowered early on large compact plants. Its large, deep violet bloom is single with a small white eye. Considered an 



annual, it may overwinter in ai-eas without extreme cold. It was bred by Elidia Flower Seeds Co. of Avoine, France." 



These plants should be growing in the trial gardens at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH, this summer — and also at the Fuller 



Gardens in North Hampton. To find the trial grounds nearest you, contact AAS, 1311 Butterfield Road, Suite 310, Downers 



Grove, Illinois 60515; telephone (708) 963-0770. 



16 THE PlANTSM AN 



