garden merit

On 26-Nov-10, at 10:04 AM, gardenersfriend@sasktel.net wrote:

> “I believe it is possible to judge all plants for garden Merit from  
> Chrysanthemums to Pansies to Iris.”  Now, that certainly sounds  
> encouraging, but in what respect or should I ask just how would this  
> be done?  Would they be judged by gardeners or polls taken or...?


There are a couple of precedents for judging and awarding plants for  
garden merit.  In all cases that I know about, the new plants are  
grown with older ones so an honest comparison can be made.

One is done by the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain.  It  
is the AGM, or Award of Garden Merit, given after a several years  
trial at one of the RHS gardens.  I have added more about it below.

Great Britain does not have nearly the range of conditions that North  
America does, but there are some "All-American" trials where plants  
are grown at trial gardens and are judged while they are growing.

All-America Selections tests seed-grown plants in trial gardens and  
also has display gardens which the public can visit.
http://www.all-americaselections.org/Trial_Locations.asp

The All-America Rose Selections chooses for the whole continent, but  
also has regional selections.

El mentioned that she has an iris display garden.  Are there display  
gardens in all parts of the continent, and could they be incorporated  
into a series of test gardens?


Diane Whitehead
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

==========================================
The AGM is intended to be of practical value to the home gardener. It  
is awarded therefore only to a plant that meets the following criteria:

        • It must be of outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration 
 
or use
        • It must be available
        • It must be of good constitution
        • It must not require highly specialist growing conditions or care
        • It must not be particularly susceptible to any pest or disease
        • It must not be subject to an unreasonable degree of reversion in  
its vegetative or floral characteristics
Plants of all kinds can be considered for the AGM, including fruit and  
vegetables. An AGM plant may be cultivated for use or decoration. It  
can be hardy throughout the British Isles, or suitable only for  
cultivation under heated glass. It can range in size  
fromSequoiadendron giganteum to Cornus canadensis. Though growing  
conditions and plant types may vary, the purpose of the award is  
always the same: to highlight the best plants available to the home  
gardener.




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