CONTENTS JULY 2023 | VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 7 16 Touring the Prairie State 22 Taking on Trends at CAST 2023 On the Cover: Photo courtesy of Syngenta Flowers DEPARTMENTS 04 Editor's Letter 08 Headlines/Calendar 14 Editors' Picks 42 What's Trending for the Holidays FEATURES FROM THE ROAD Touring the Prairie State These Chicagoland garden centers and their creative staffs know what it takes to be successful. By Abby McGarry GREEN GOODS Taking on Trends at CAST 2023 New combinations, bright colors, better growth habits and more were found at many California Spring Trials stops this year. By Heather Machovina MANAGEMENT Success Strategies for Succession Planning BEST Human Capital and PivotPoint's Chris Cimaglio shares tips to prepare for your exit and the transition of your garden center - and the best time to get started. By Teresa McPherson 32 22 16 Safety First Staff training on safety procedures is essential for worker safety, as well as the safety of customers. By Teresa McPherson TRADE SHOWS Garden Center Show Returns to Milwaukee The 2023 event includes a garden center tour, several keynotes, a trade show and opportunities to network with other green industry professionals. HOLIDAY What's Trending for the Holidays Four holiday merchandise suppliers share their predictions of what customers will want to deck their halls with this Christmas. By Teresa McPherson ECO-FRIENDLY Green Gifting Reduce, reuse, recycle are at the heart of sustainable and eco-friendly trends. By Hilary Daninhirsch 6 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | JULY 2023 50 Miss our June Issue? It's now available to view on lgrmag.com 42 54 40 Product Focus: Garden Accents and Décor 58 Pohmer On ... Setting Customer Expectations By Stan Pohmer 36 62 Marketplace 64 Ad Index 66 5 Minutes with ... Jennifer Hatalski By Teresa McPherson 30 Product Focus: Plant Materials and Amendmentshttp://www.lgrmag.com