The day started on campus with presentations on the latest showstopping flower and foliage annuals and summer bulbs, invasive species, biological pest control, and alternatives to impatiens, a popular shade-loving annual that has been plagued in recent years by a new disease, impatiens downy mildew.
In the afternoon, the action shifted to the Bluegrass Lane Turf and Landscape Research Center adjacent to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course northeast of the Cornell University Campus. There, participants toured annual flower and foliage plant trials and had hands-on sessions to learn more about pests and diseases that attack landscape plants.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the annual Kathy Pufahl Memorial Container Design Competition, which through entry fees has raised more than $10,000 for IBD research at Mt. Sinai Hospital over the last 10 years.
View container contest winners and entries.
Bill Miller (right) talks about uses of summer bulbs — such as dahlias and cannas.
