It’s time to put those thinking caps on!

I stumbled across an interesting finding when strolling through the perennial gardens this past weekend. It was enjoyable and rewarding ... until I looked down at a lupine and my heart dropped. Check it out:

In the past couple of issues I covered many great trade events taking place in June and July. Here’s just a brief reminder of two upcoming events I find to be extremely beneficial to the industry.  

 

Rather than dreading trade events and thinking of them as unnecessary evils, I find them to be quite the opposite. Trade events are absolutely beneficial and filled with opportunities. I feel that if I come home with just one nugget from a trade event, it was well worth the time and cost to attend. I look at it this way: just one take-home message might enable me to fix a problem, improve a crop, prevent a loss, increase customer interest, become more efficient, cut my costs or improve my profits. Think about that for a moment ... that's great payback!

Here's the second article I've shared in the past. These tips have served me well over the years when walking trade show floors.   

• Schedule some of your “must see” meetings in advance. Don’t leave it to chance that the individual(s) you need to see will be available when you arrive at their booth.  
• Many trade events have apps that are useful in helping you to know when things are happening, how to find them, and often include trade show maps and planners to help you manage your time at the event. Download it! 
• Some of the trade events are really large, so bring comfortable shoes.   
• Only pick up or accept literature that you need and intend to use. Picking up every piece of literature isn't necessary and can be heavy to lug around for hours. I've had good intentions so many times when collecting information. However, more often than not, I find the literature sitting in the trade show bags many months and even years later. Be selective in what you choose to take with you.  

• Don't be intimidated or afraid of approaching the salespeople working the booths at the trade show. Introduce yourself, and when someone approaches you, compliment their booth or their product(s). Then ask specific questions, such as "How does your product work?" or "What’s new?"  
• Bring lots of business cards and take them everywhere you go. You can meet an important contact anywhere—the elevator, hotel, lobby, restaurants, the bar. You never know, so be prepared.  
• If you don't already have a contact person with the company you have an interest in, be sure to get a business card. It's not enough to only give someone your contact information.  
• Follow up. About a week after the trade show, follow up with the companies you intend to work with. Following up is key to successfully maximizing your new contacts. And remember: In this day and age, relationships are everything! 

The folks at Terra Nova have done it again. They have a knack for introducing potentially game-changing perennials to the industry. In this case, they have two incredible new nepeta introductions. Check them out!

I shared this image of a problem I observed on a lupine in my landscape at the top of this newsletter and asked if you could determine what was going on. Do you think this appearance is being caused by diseases, insects, an act of God or is something else causing it?  Still on the fence? I think this next image will clear it up: