Flower Test Garden Combines Research and Beauty

Flower Test Garden Combines Research and Beauty

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
There is a garden at Colorado State University unlike any other in Colorado, where research and education meet beauty and community.

Amy Posten Lentz is a Weld County Horticulture extension agent.

"The Flower Trial Garden is set up with the purpose to evaluate the performance flower varieties under the unique conditions that exist in the Rocky Mountains. High altitude, intense solar radiation, large fluxuations in temperature. The CSU Flower Trial Garden is in place to test flowers in those conditions and then take that research and give it to the industry and the public to know which varieties are going to perform really well in our area."

Over 800 plant varieties at the garden are evaluated from 19 different companies; including annuals, perennials, patio-type vegetables and novelty varieties. Those evaluating were asked to rate the plants on traits such as health, uniformity, color, tolerance to environmental conditions and susceptibility to disease.

Once the data is evaluated, a summary of the results will be published in a Garden Performance Report available for use by the horticulture industry and the public.

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