From meeting the needs of a whole new fleet of gardeners to providing nearly one-fifth of the nation’s flowering trees, Oregon growers and retailers are set to impress this spring. This issue also explores the effects of cold storage on trees, and Peoria Gardens President Ben Verhoeven shares his story in a Meet the Leader profile.

In this issue:

• Cultivating the curious: How retailers can engage with a flourishing generation of new gardeners
• Past, present and future: Flowering cherry trees remain popular, from old mainstays to new selections, with more on the way.
• Meet the Leader: Ben Verhoeven: After exploring a career in print design, Ben Verhoeven felt a calling to come back home and now runs Peoria Gardens.

Columns:

• Making every step count: President’s Message by Kyle Fessler
• Going halfway: Directors Desk by Jeff Stone

Growing Knowledge an ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the USDA and in partnership with OAN.

• The cold shoulder season: Nursery growers effectively use cold storage to support sales of deciduous trees.

Please send your comments on the issue to editor Curt Kipp at ckipp@oan.org.