August 29, 2014

The 2014 edition of Landscape Ontario’s Industry Auction was hosted by Canadian Grower of the Year winner Winkelmolen Nursery in Lynden.

The nursery is also celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
 
Tours of the 600-acre facility were conducted before the event. Most of the industry members in attendance took the opportunity to view the beautiful nursery.

The annual auction raises money for horticultural research and scholarships. An exact total was unknown at press time. Lots were donated by generous growers and suppliers.
 
The Growers’ Awards of Excellence entries were judged in the morning and the winners announced at the end of the auction. An Awards of Excellence certificate went to each of the 12 winning lots, which were then auctioned. The winners will be recognized at Expo’s garden centre event held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Oct. 23.

Special appreciation goes to the dedicated members of the Grower Awards of Excellence judging panel, who offered their time and expertise: Jen Llewellyn, OMAF (chair); Michael Pascoe CLT, Fanshawe College; Rita Weerdenburg, CNLA; Glen Lumis, University of Guelph; Sean Fox, Arboretum, University of Guelph; Perry Grobe, Grobe’s Nursery; Len Mancini, Holland Park; and Jim Lounsbery, Mohawk College. See the complete list of winners below.

On hand to welcome visitors to the event was Landscape Ontario president Dave Braun, who represented LO and Growers Sector Group. He thanked the Winkelmolen family for hosting the event and providing lunch.
“I would like to thank our generous host and lunch sponsor, Winkelmolen Nursery for providing this excellent facility to hold our auction,” said Braun. “We appreciate all of the effort from their outstanding staff, and would like to take a moment to present them with a certificate of appreciation,” said Braun.  Accepting the certificate were second generation family members, Nick and Jeff Winkelmolen.

Industry volunteers who worked to run the auction included John Moons, - Brandon Lovegrove, Gerwin Bouman, John Mantel, Dave Braun, Jen Llewellyn, Glen Lumis, Fred Somerville and Dave Tillaart.

Organizers offered a special thank you to John Moons, Connon Nurseries NVK Holdings, for his continued commitment with operations at the auction. “The event would not be the same without him,” said LO conference and event manager Kristen McIntyre. She also offered a thank you to, “our outstanding auctioneer, Jim McCartney. He always adds sense of humour and fun to the event.”
 
A special bidders’ prize this year was an iPhone 5, donated by Plant Products. It was won by David Onofree of Erin Mills Gardening and Landscaping in Mississauga.

Generous donors  to the 2014 auction include, Acti-Sol, Braun Nursery, Canadale Nurseries, Connon AVK, Connon CBV, Connon NVK, Direct Solutions, Dutchmaster Nurseries, Grindstone Creek Nursery, Gro-Bark, Hillen Nursery, JC Bakker & Sons, JM Peeters Nurseries, Kobes Nurseries, Langendoen Nurseries, Millgrove Perennials, Mori Essex Nurseries, Plant Products, Paul Boers Ltd., Sheridan Nurseries, St. Williams Nursery and Ecology Centre, Timm Enterprises, Tunpetti Corp, Willowbrook Nurseries and Winkelmolen Nursery.