45July 2009

Summer Field DayAugust 13, 2009 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Four Star Greenhouse, Inc., Carleton, MI

a t t e n d e e s r e g i s t e r n o w !attendee registration Kit

ABOUT OUR HOST

LOcATiOnFour star greenhouse, inc. is located at 1015 indian trails rd.,

Carleton, Mi 48117 (see directions).

TimeMnLa summer Field day activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and

conclude at 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. and is included in your registration.

TOURSGuided tours will be offered of the Four Star facilities both in the

morning and afternoon. You will have the opportunity to view our outdoor production

areas and visit the Sigler Road facility to see the latest in greenhouse technology, including flood floors and computerized environmental controls. At the Indian Trails facility, you will be able to observe our new computerized production tracking system. Also included will be a brief history of Four Star and Proven Winners® and a review of our trialing program.

Four Star staff will be available for facilitated tours of the display gardens on an individual or group basis. The gardens include full series and variety plantings, hundreds of combination containers and hanging baskets, a new comparison trial bed, and the newest Proven Winners® and Proven Selections varieties for 2010.

Four Star Greenhouse was originally founded by Tom Smith in 1977 as Smith’s Greenhouse with 60,000 square feet of growing area. In the early years, the focus was mostly on finished crops of bedding plants from seed sold at market. In 1982, Tom and Sharon Smith became the founders and respective President and Vice-President of Four Star Greenhouse, Inc. The company’s focus broadened to producing starter plants or “plugs” to sell to growers. at that time, most of the plants were produced from seed and Four Star had grown to approximately 140,000 square feet of growing space.

In the late 1980s, Four Star began a relationship with Kientzler’s in germany producing new guinea impatiens bred by Ludwig Kientzler. The production of vegetatively propagated annuals from clean stock plants at Four Star began with this relationship. Kientzler was using thermo-therapy as needed and tissue culture reproduction to maintain and produce each cultivar. this allowed for the consistent production of virus free vegetative plant material, which remains one of the cornerstones of Four Star plant production. expansion continued to occur on a regular basis, adding approximately 124,000 square feet of additional growing space.

Because of the relationship with Kientzler, Tom was able to travel to Europe and meet other breeders working on new and unique vegetative annuals. This exposure led to the eventual creation of Proven Winners®. The Proven Winners® brand is owned by three Us plant propagators — euroamerican in Bonsall, Ca, Four star Greenhouse in Carleton, MI, and Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH. These companies founded Proven Winners® in 1992, with the objective to establish a network that could obtain and distribute new and unusual plants with excellent garden performance within the United States. Shortly thereafter, three Canadian companies were licensed to grow and sell Proven Winners®.

At the time, the floriculture industry’s goal was to grow plants that looked great on the retail shelf with a focus on grower performance in packs. This change in focus from grower ‘pack’ performance to emphasis on consumer garden performance was new to the industry. Many growers considered the plants difficult to grow. additionally, these vegetative introductions were more expensive than seed annuals due to the cost of labor to harvest cuttings. That said, Proven Winners® plant brand has become the number one plant brand in north america today by introducing the best, most unique, high performing plants for the landscape and garden. no other plant line goes through the same rigorous plant

selection and trial process which takes two to three years and occurs at facilities in the US and Canada, as well as at trial stations in Europe, South Africa, and Japan. On the retail sales level, Proven winners® and Proven Selections (a complementary brand which consists of regional favorite varieties that complement Proven winners®) sales are greater than a half-billion dollars annually. In 2004, a shrub line was added to the Proven Winners® family and spring Meadow nursery in grand Haven, Mi was added as a propagator licensee of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® shrubs.

In 1997, construction at the Sigler Road location began. As of 2008, the Sigler Road facility has approximately 406,000 square feet of state of the art production greenhouses. These greenhouses are built with all of the newest technology, including heated floors and flood floors to sub-irrigate crops. In combination with the original Indian Trails facility, Four Star now has 16 acres of indoor growing area and four additional acres of outdoor growing space. Four star operations continue to expand. The bulk of unrooted cuttings are shipped to Four Star from Central American cutting stations. Off-site production space is leased from five companies with a total of 350,000 square feet (roughly eight acres) that produces about 50% of the total liners. our display garden opened in 2004 to showcase our “living catalog” of both current and new varieties in action.

While the success of Four Star and Proven Winners® to date has been a result of a focus directed primarily toward wholesale greenhouse growers and the retail market, our latest objective is to successfully define, develop and implement a long term strategy to introduce and integrate Proven Winners products into the landscape market. We are trialing environmentally friendly containers and trays, developing labor saving planting systems, and providing education and training to landscape companies interested in improving or expanding their scope of services to include color installations. Four star is excited to partner with the landscape industry to provide solutions for profitable color in both commercial and residential landscapes.

On behalf of the entire staff of Four Star Greenhouse, we are very pleased to welcome you to the MnLa 2009 summer Field day. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore our display gardens, participate in our facility tour, visit exhibitors, and meet new friends. We hope that you will find the day educational, informative, and inspirational.

aBoUt sUMMer FieLd daYexHiBiTS

One hundred forty nine booth spaces will be filled with dealers exhibiting tractors and equipment, nursery stock, sod, stone, mulch, concrete products, pots and containers, chemicals and fertilizers, and other industry products and services. This is an excellent opportunity to see what is new in the industry, as well as meet current and prospective suppliers.

indUSTRy ReSeARcH AUcTiOnMany exhibitors donate their booth contents to help raise

research funds for the green industry. This semi-annual Industry research auction will begin at 2:00 p.m. all attendees are invited to participate as bidders in this event led by auctioneer Hib Kuiper. Join in the fun and excitement — where attendees get to bid against one another on their favorite items.

new PLAnTS & PROdUcTS SHOwcASeAn annual feature of the Summer Field Day is the New Plants &

Products Showcase. The Showcase is located near the exhibit area and features the newest green industry plants and products that our exhibitors have to offer.

enTeR TO win A HeLicOPTeR Ride!Through the generosity of Four Star Greenhouse, Inc., drawings

will be held during the day of the Summer Field Day for an aerial tour in their helicopter. Be sure to enter this drawing at the MnLa Registration area the day of the Summer Field Day.

eqUiPmenT demOnSTRATiOnSAn equipment demonstration area has been established near the

general exhibit area. Demonstrations will be performed by individual exhibitors upon request.

LUncH menUAs part of your registration, enjoy grilled chicken breast, bratwurst,

hamburgers, kielbasa and assorted side dishes. Luncheon tickets must be presented at the food line.

qUeSTiOnS?Contact the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association office

toll-free at 1-800-879-6652, by fax at (517) 381-0638, or visit our website at www.mnla.org.

diRecTiOnSFrom detroit 1. Starting in Detroit, merge onto I-75 South - go 26.5 mi 2. Merge onto I-275 N via Exit 20 - go 1.9 mi 3. Merge onto Telegraph Rd./US-24 N via Exit 2 - go 0.6 mi 4. Turn Left onto E Labo Rd. - go 0.8 mi 5. Turn Right onto Calkins Rd. - go 1.3 mi 6. Turn Right onto Indian Trails Rd. (Portions unpaved). 7. End at 1015 Indian Trails Rd Carleton, MI 48117-9316

From cadillac 1. Starting from US-131 BR, turn right onto Mackinaw Trail - go 2.1 mi 2. Turn Slight Left onto MI-115 - go 34.4 mi 3. Merge onto US-10 E toward Clare/Bay City - go 7.0 mi 4. Merge onto US-10 E via the exit on the Left toward Bay City Lansing - go 50.3 mi 5. Merge onto US-23 S toward Flint/Detroit - go 78.7 mi 6. Merge onto I-96 E via Exit 60A on the Left toward Detroit - go 15.9 mi 7. Merge onto I-275 S toward M-5 N/Detroit/Toledo - go 29.3 mi 8. Take the Will Carleton Rd. exit, EXIT 8, toward Flat Rock - go 0.5 mi 9. Turn Right onto Will Carleton Rd. - go 0.1 mi 10. Turn Left onto Grafton Rd. - go 3.0 mi 11. Turn Left onto Ready Rd. - go 1.0 mi 12. Turn Right onto Calkins Rd. - go 0.7 mi 13. Turn Left onto Indian Trails Rd. (Portions unpaved). 14. End at 1015 Indian Trails Rd Carleton, MI 48117-9316

From chicago 1. Starting by merging onto I-90 E/I-94 E/Dan Ryan Expy E. - go 2.7 mi 2. Keep Left to take I-90 Express Ln E/I-94 Express Ln E/ Dan Ryan Express Ln E toward Garfield Blvd - go 3.9 mi 3. Merge onto I-90 E/I-94 E/Dan Ryan Expy E toward Skyway Indiana Toll Rd. - go 0.9 mi 4. Keep Left to take I-90 E via Exit 59A toward Indiana Toll Rd. (Portions toll) (Crossing into Indiana) - go 28.1 mi 5. Merge onto I-94 E via Exit 21 toward Detroit (Crossing into Michigan) - go 224.6 mi 6. Merge onto I-275 S via Exit 194A toward Toledo - go 9.3 mi 7. Take the Will Carleton Rd exit, Exit 8, toward Flat Rock - go 0.5 mi 8. Turn Right onto Will Carleton Rd. - go 0.1 mi 9. Turn Left onto Grafton Rd. - go 3.0 mi 10. Turn Left onto Ready Rd. – go 1.0 mi 11. Turn Right onto Calkins Rd. - go 0.7 mi 12. Turn Left onto Indian Trails Rd. (Portions unpaved). 13. End at 1015 Indian Trails Rd Carleton, MI 48117-9316

From Toledo 1. Start by merging onto I-75 N toward Deroit (Crossing into Michigan) - go 27.6 mi 2. Merge onto I-275 N via Exit 20 toward Flint - go 2.6 mi 3. Merge onto Telegraph Rd/US-24 N via Exit 2 - go 0.6 mi 4. Turn Left onto E Labo Rd. - go 0.8 mi 5. Turn Right onto Calkins Rd. - go 1.3 mi 6. Turn Right onto Indian Trails Rd. (Portions unpaved). 7. End at 1015 Indian Trails Rd Carleton, MI 48117-9316

HOTeLThere are a variety of hotels located in nearby Monroe and

romulus, Mi. reservations should be made by calling the property of choice directly.

Holiday inn express Hotel & Suites monroe1225 north dixie HighwayMonroe, MI 48162(877) 863-4780(734) 242-6000www.hiexpress.comFour star guest rate: $79 per night/traditional King or traditional double $89 per night/suite

Hampton inn monroe1565 N Dixie HwyMonroe, MI 48162(734) 289-5700www.hilton.com

comfort inn monroe6500 East Albain RoadMonroe, MI 48161(734) 384-1500www.comfortinn.com

Baymont inn & Suites monroe14774 Laplaisance rdMonroe, MI 48161(734) 384-1600www.baymontinns.com

detroit metro Airport marriott30559 Flynn roadromulus, Mi 48174Phone: (734) 729-8634www.marriott.com

ReGiSTRATiOn FORm

Firm: ______________________________________________ Contact name: _______________________________________________

address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City, state, Zip: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________ Fax: _______________________________________________

Print names as you wish them to appear on your badge(s). Registration packets, which include name badges and lunch tickets, will be available for pickup on site the day of the Field Day. If you’re an exhibitor, please indicate so by marking the EXH box.

name exH mnLA member non-member Subtotal

total ___________

cOST

earlybird Rate: applicable on registrations received on or before August 7. MNLA Member - $10.00 Non-Member - $12.50

On-site Registration Rate: applicable on registrations received after August 7 and for on-site registrations. MNLA Member - $12.50 Non-Member - $15.00

exhibitors: Complimentary registrations are based on size of booth(s) purchase:

10'x10' (2 reg.)2 - 10'x10' (3 reg.)

20'x20' (4 reg.)

children 13 and under: Complimentary

PAymenT(Payable in U.S. Funds only) Make checks payable to MNLA.

Total Amount: $ ________________ Check # ________________

❍ VISA ❍ MasterCard ❍ amex ❍ discover

CC# ________________________________________________________

signature: ____________________________________ exp. _________

IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED, CONTACT MNLA AT (800) 879-6652 By AUGUST 7.

RETURN COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM WITH PAyMENT TO:

michigan nursery and Landscape Association 2149 Commons Parkway • Okemos, Michigan 48864 (517) 381-0437 • (800) 879-6652Fax (517) 381-0638 • www.mnla.org