November 15, 2012
Awards honour garden centres and growers
Receiving Garden Centre Awards of Excellence for display of hardgoods are from left, Susan Richards of New North Greenhouses of Sault Ste. Marie, Terry Vanderkruk of Connon Nurseries/CBV, Waterdown, Phil Charal, LO president who handed out the award, and Sonja Reardon of Sheridan Nurseries.
The best of the best were honoured Wednesday morning when Landscape Ontario named the winners of the Awards of Excellence for Garden Centres and Growers at Expo 2012.

Landscape Ontario created the awards to recognize the growers of the best plant material, and retailers who showcase excellent products and provide outstanding services.

It’s a celebration of the fact that Ontario nurseries and garden centres consistently provide quality and outstanding service to consumers.

This year, executive director of the Toronto Botanical Garden Aldona Satterthwaite was the master of ceremonies.

The following are the winners of the 2012 Awards of Excellence for Garden Centres.

Baseline Nurseries and Garden Centre, London: Display of plant material — annuals and/or perennials.

Canadale Nurseries, St. Thomas: Display of plant material — evergreens and/or broadleaf evergreens; Display of plant material — plant material your business is noted for; Display of plant material — annuals and/or perennials; Merchandising techniques — outstanding promotional event.

Connon Nurseries/CBV Holdings, Waterdown: Display of plant material — deciduous shrubs and/or trees; Display of goods — hardgoods.

Cudmore’s Garden Centre, Oakville: Display of plant material — deciduous shrubs and/or trees.

DeGroot’s Nurseries, Sarnia: Merchandising techniques — promotional event.

Georgina Garden Centre, Keswick: Display of plant material — annuals and/or perennials.

Landale Landscape Management, Thunder Bay: Permanent display gardens — under 500 sq. ft.

New North Greenhouses, Sault Ste. Marie: Display of goods — hardgoods; Merchandising techniques — promotional event; Display of plant material – specialty your business is noted for.

Parkway Gardens, London: Display of plant material — annuals and/or perennials; Display of plant material — specialty your business is noted for.

Pathways to Perennials, Kettleby: Display of goods — hardgoods.

Peter Knippel Nursery, Gloucester: Permanent display gardens over 500 sq. ft.

Sandhill Nursery, Huntsville: Merchandising techniques — website development; Merchandising techniques — promotional event; Merchandising techniques –print advertising; Display of goods — seasonal; Merchandising techniques — promotional event; Display of goods —giftware.

Sheridan Nurseries, Georgetown: Display of Goods — hardgoods; Display of goods — giftware; Merchandising techniques — promotional event; Merchandising techniques — creative P.O.P. area (Cash register or immediate surrounding area); Merchandising techniques — print advertising.

The Pond Clinic, Ottawa: Merchandising techniques — promotional event.

Vermeer’s Garden Centre and Flower Shop, Welland: Display of plant material — annuals and/or perennials.

The 2012 list of Growers Awards of Excellence winners was published in the August issue of Landscape Ontario magazine.