March 2023 - 8

HEADLINES/CALENDAR
Gain Key Insights at Cultivate'23
By Jennifer Gray, research programs administrator at the Horticultural Research Institute; and
Celina Young, marketing communications specialist
The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) will once
again take the stage at Cultivate with a full slate of
tHRIve Sessions, July 15-18, in Columbus, Ohio. These
educational sessions provide all segments of the green
industry an opportunity to hear key insights from leading
researchers nationwide.
HRI, the AmericanHort foundation, was created to help
improve the green industry through research that addresses
critical issues and provides solutions and innovations.
tHRIve
sessions
at
Cultivate
feature HRI-supported
research endeavors representing all four of HRI's strategic
focus areas: quantifying plant benefits, creating innovative
solutions, gathering consumer insights, and producing
practical and actionable solutions.
tHRIve sessions at Cultivate are grouped around key
topic areas. The first group of sessions explores plant
breeding research. Growers want to breed and market
plants that have spectacular appeal and beauty, but also
want them to be durable, resilient, pest resistant, and noninvasive.
Speakers in these sessions will address important
considerations for the next generation of nursery crops,
including breeding hardy hibiscus and asclepias, as well as
taking a closer look at the art and science of sterility and
regulation in buddleja breeding.
Technology is at the heart of solving problems and
creating innovative processes for many production
systems; tHRIve sessions at Cultivate will provide a look
at some of the latest technology projects. First up is a
look at how semi-transparent solar power cell design has
the potential to both generate electricity and transmit
light for crop production. Next, attendees will learn how
fluorescence imaging can be used as a low-cost method
for early stress detection in plants. Finally, if you've ever
Industry Mourns Passing
of Mandy Gerace
The horticulture industry as a
whole was saddened to hear of the
death of Mandy Gerace on Feb. 4.
Gerace grew up in the horticulture
industry, third generation of Welby
Gardens in Colorado.
Welby Gardens posted the
following tribute on social media:
been curious about drone technology applications in
horticulture, you won't want to miss three back-to-back
sessions introducing drone usage for everything from
scouting to disease control, from fungicide applications
to pest management, and the application of beneficials
and bioinsecticides.
Pollinators and native plants continue to be popular
topics with consumers. A series of tHRIve sessions
at Cultivate will include a look at the data behind
consumer perceptions on native plants, provide practical
tips for building a better monarch butterfly garden, and
demonstrate how to identify annual and perennial plants
for pollinators.
HRI has a long history of supporting projects that help
the industry tackle the most persistent and tricky pest and
disease management issues. A series of tHRIve sessions
will focus on the latest research in these areas. Come hear
updates on spotted lanternfly, red-headed flea beetle and
the curious vascular streak dieback. Experts will discuss
what is known and dive into the challenges the industry
continues to face.
Finally, a new addition to the tHRIve session lineup at
Cultivate'23 is a half-day program on Saturday focused on
the essentials of hydroponic production. Our speakers will
cover technologies such as lighting and lighting control,
hydroponics systems,
nutrient rootzone management,
plant response to the environment, and more. This program
wraps up with an open panel discussion with internationally
recognized scientists and engineers in academia and the
industry sector, ready to set you up for success.
Cultivate'23 general registration opens March 15.
Learn more at www.americanhort.org/cultivate. Explore
HRI-funded research and tHRIve webinar recordings at
www.hriresearch.org.
" On February 4, the green industry lost one of its most
dynamic young leaders with the passing of Mandy Gerace.
Mandy was currently serving as the president of the Colorado
Nursery and Greenhouse Association board, which she had
been a part of since 2017. She graduated from Colorado
State University in 2009 and worked for the Shane Co. for
nearly 10 years in sales and marketing/advertising.
" Mandy was the youngest member of the Gerace
Mandy Gerace
8 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | MARCH 2023
family's third generation and had worked at Welby
Gardens for 13 years. Initially, she joined Welby Gardens
on the Hardy Boy sales and marketing team and her role

http://www.americanhort.org/cultivate http://www.hriresearch.org

March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023