The buying team spots a great plant to feature in next year’s spring Insider’s Report!

Over the summer, while the rest of us are tending our gardens, relaxing at the cottage or taking a family road trip, the buying team at Loblaw companies is on the look-out for tempting new plants to feature in next spring’s Insider’s Report.

“We’re looking for the next big thing,” Peter Cantley explained to me while on the flight to Columbus, Ohio where he and five members of his buying group were heading to explore the exhibition halls of one of the largest trade shows in North America.

With a bag full of plant catalogues, Assistant Category Manager Perennials and Nursery Colleen Tataryn checks out a new plant.

More than 500 companies from 20 countries around the world had been preparing for months to present their latest and greatest plants and products at the Ohio Floriculture Association trade show – and the Loblaw buying team had gladly given up a sunny summer Sunday to discover the best new introductions to offer Canadian gardeners next season.

And boy, did they find some great plants and gardening supplies, from a chic watering can to – well, I’d tell you all about the fabulous perennials, shrubs and annuals that caught their eyes, but you wouldn’t want me to spoil the surprise, would you?

Over the summer and fall, I hope to report on more developments as the buying team selects the best items for the Spring 2011 edition of the Insider’s Report, so watch this blog!