Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 2nd 2007, 12:59pm By Elena Cala Buscarino

We had a visit today from Stanley Swisher, Grounds Supervisor of the Erie Basin Marina. Swisher, who looks more sea captain than landscaper, came in to tell us about today's event at the marina (yeah, he's been busy) that should be of interest to anyone and everyone who likes flowers, gardening and beautiful vistas.

The marina's flowers are ready for viewing, and though the 'event', a judging of the flowers by Panam Seed Company, is planned for today, the flowers will be performing all summer long and into the fall. Early in the season, Stanley receives plants in the city-owned, county-managed and Olmsted Conservancy-manned MLK greenhouses, under the direction of Jonathan Holyfield. These are not just any plants and flowers; they are the forerunners of the 2008 offerings of plant hybridizers from national producers in California, Colorado, New Hampshire and Chicago, and international suppliers in Israel and Germany.

The world's largest seed company, Ball Seed of West Chicago is sponsoring today's 'trials', a display of 260 varieties of hybrid plants that are propagated vegetatively for attributes such as fast growth rate, color and habit, noting characteristics from strength of stem to fullness. This first look at the prototypes from the various companies cloning efforts is a boon for garden suppliers and private gardeners alike. As explained by Swisher, "It will be a bit of a stretch for the public to buy these verities. It's up to the public to let greenhouse growers know what to supply."

During the recent Garden Walk and then again with small groups from the WNY Nurserymen's Association and greenhouse growers, Swisher's staff gave out around 700 flags that were meant to be placed with each participant's favorite variety. The hands-down winner was the Mystic Illusion dahlia pictured above.

These trials are a learning tool for the suppliers and Swisher and staff, as well. "The challenge is to take [the plants] out of the greenhouse and use them, which is hard because you don't know how they'll perform," Swisher said. He explained the uniqueness of the marina as testing grounds, saying that the others are the University of Cornell, Penn State and Ohio State. "We give extra care than they do, deadheading and preening, while they just let nature take its course."

If you attend, bring a pad and paper and write down the names of all of the flowers and plants you covet so you can give your local greenhouse a nudge on what you want next spring. And, like Swisher said, "It's all free."