Garden Centers of America recently announced that Raleigh, N.C., would be the host city for its 2008 summer tour. Scheduled for June 22 to 25, the annual event promises to be rewarding for attendees, featuring superb garden center locations throughout the region.
“Raleigh is a great place to have our annual summer tour. We have selected a fantastic group of both retail garden centers and growers to visit,” said Ken Long, tour co-chairman and president of L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase. “Not only will our attendees be inspired by these fabulous locations, but they will also have the added benefit of Raleigh’s rich cultural history and unbeatable Southern hospitality to add to the mix.”
The event kicks off on Sunday evening with a reception at the host hotel, the Embassy Suites Raleigh-Durham/Research Triangle. A dinner awards ceremony will follow the opening reception on Sunday night, highlighted by the presentation the “Garden Center of the Year” award.
Monday’s tour stops include Garden Supply Company and Trader Joe’s grocery retailer in Cary, N.C.; and Plants Delight Nursery and Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center, both in Raleigh, N.C. Dinner will be held Monday evening at the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University and will feature a speech from Robert Hayter of the Garden Center Group.
On Tuesday, the tour group will visit New Garden Gazebo and New Garden Village, both in Greensboro, N.C. Other stops include Piedmont Carolina Nursery in Colfax, L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase in Winston-Salem and RCR Racing in Welcome. The afternoon wraps up with a visit to Border Concepts Distribution Center in Lexington, N.C., followed by a dinner at Childress Vineyards.
The event concludes on Wednesday following another full day of touring. Stops include Logan Trading Co. and Homewood Nursery and Garden Center in Raleigh, and Zelenka Nursery in Sims. An afternoon visit to DeWayne’s Home and Garden Showplace in Selma and a dinner and tour at Monrovia Growers of North Carolina – La Grange wraps up the day.
Registration for the 2008 Summer Tour is now open. Spaces are limited. For more information, contact Shanan Molnar at (888) 648-6463 or smolnar@asginfo.net or visit the website at http://www.gardencentersofamerica.org.
