2012 Farwest Show announces lineup

The 2012 Farwest Show, one of the nation’s largest horticulture trade shows, has announced the lineup for this year’s event, including a featured celebration of the genus Acer, according to Farwest Show director Allan Niemi.

“Everything that Farwest attendees love about the show will be back this year,” Niemi said. “We’ll have an excellent selection of nursery tours, a full docket of seminars, our showcase featuring close to 50 new plant varieties, a new Retail Marketplace, and for 2012 our genus focus will be on the Acer.”

From petite Acer palmatums to stately shade trees, many different species and cultivars will be installed in special displays at this year’s Farwest, whose host, the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), plans to showcase the breadth of Acer plants grown in the region for use in residential, municipal and commercial landscapes. “We want to inspire and educate attendees and persuade our industry to see the design value the Acer family brings to the landscape,” OAN director of marketing Ann Murphy said.

Various Acer attributes, including different forms (shrubs, specimen shade trees, single- and multi-stem, low and high grafts), shapes (vase, broad, columnar, weeping, etc.), bark color and texture, different leaf size and shape, and a mix of leaf color will be featured. “We intend to showcase Acer species, crosses and cultivars from small to large growers, encouraging as many Farwest Show exhibitors to participate as possible,” Murphy said.

This year’s show will also include two days of nursery tours, networking events, 30 hours of seminars, a New Varieties Showcase with nearly 50 new plants, a New Products Showcase, a Demo Stage, and a Retail Marketplace offering gift items geared to garden centers.

The 2012 Farwest Show, now in its 40th year, will take place August 23-25 at the Oregon Convention Center, in Portland, Ore.

The Farwest Show is produced by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), a trade organization that represents and serves the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry. Any revenue realized by the OAN is reinvested into the industry through education, research, marketing support and government relations. For registration and more information about the 2012 Farwest Show seminar schedule, nursery tours, show hours and other features, visit www.farwestshow.com, or call (503) 682-5089.