EVENT: AHT2021
2021 AUSTRALIAN HORTICULTURAL
TRIALS WEEK 7 – 10 DECEMBER
PRESENTED BY
A look back at the 2021 Australian Horticultural Trials Week For four wonderful days in December, NGIV, Australia’s top breeders, growers and allied businesses, delivered the 2021 Australian Horticultural Trials Week presented by Powerplants. This year’s Horticultural Trials Week took place between 7 –10 December. “The general sentiment was that the 2021 Australian Horticultural Trials Week was a great week and visitor numbers were certainly u on last year. There were some beautiful exhibits, stunning new plant lines, and whilst the weather wasn’t always as bright as the flowers, it didn’t stop the visitors from enjoying the exhibits,” says Craig Taberner, CEO, Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) The week started off as it traditionally does with a very busy NGIV Trade Day on Tuesday. Trials Week got off to a great start with guest of honour, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development, cutting the ribbon at Ball Australia to officially open the event. The next generation of horticulturalists, studying at Swinburne, were treated to educational tours of exhibitor sites. And industry members enjoyed the opportunity to relax and socialise at the Wednesday Trials Week Celebration Dinner, sponsored by Garden City Plastics. Having adapted their offering for Trials Week 2020 to accommodate travel restrictions for interstate visitors, exhibitors were well prepared to deliver a range of digital experiences for interstate parties that did not wish to travel. Video tours and live presentations were deployed to ensure everyone could enjoy this year’s event.
Minister Thomas breaking ground with Carl Van Loon, Director of Powerplants, watching on
10
GROUNDSWELL FEBRUARY 2022
Ball Australia Ball Australia knew that trials this year would require the same protocols and diligence as in 2020. Not wanting to let customers down, it was front of mind for the team who pull our Trials Week together, to make sure customers were exposed to a maximum collection of new varieties and choices that wouldn’t disappoint. ‘You Can’t Stop the Flowers’ was the theme being re-enforced and Ball was conscious that despite the last two years of restricted visitations, customers would see ‘Colour’ as the standout for this year’s Ball Grower Trials. Again, virtual on-line visitations gave interstate customers a front row seat of what was on display, focusing particularly on the ‘What’s New’ collection. Several new releases: Begonia ‘Megawatt – White Green Leaf’, Heucheras in six colours and Coleus ‘Spitfire’, all added great interest. Two strong performing petunias with outstanding colour appeal: Petunia ‘Circus Sky’; a vibrant-rich pink with white speckles giving the flowers a celestial appearance and Petunia ‘Bee’s Knees’; a refreshing, bold, look at me yellow, will delight home gardeners in spring 2022. The Coleus ‘Heartbreaker’ was used as a central display making up a Christmas tree and was a constant talking point, with customers impressed with seeing a product used in a different, creative way.
