The New Perennial Movement and Why It Matters

While much of the industry is focused on the latest and greatest, compact, spring blooming whatever, there’s a counter movement afoot. A movement that embraces a more natural look, a different pallet of plants (and scads of them on tight centers) all while creating beneficial habitat and food for pollinators. It seems like a no-brainer, but how do we capitalize on it?

Paul is a professional plant geek who has run the annual and perennial program for Saunders Brothers since 2004, where he grows over 800 varieties across 13 different programs. His work is plants, his hobbies are plants, his vacations are plants, his dreams are plants – he’s living the plant geek dream.

Paul grew up in Winchester, VA across from a multi-acre Oehme, van Sweden garden. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech (2001 and 2003 respectively). In 2009 he was awarded the "Young Professional of the Year" by the Perennial Plant Association. He was recognized the 2013 Class of 40 Under 40 for Greenhouse Product News. Each year, GPN recognizes 40 industry professionals under the age of 40 who are helping to determine the future of the horticulture industry. These individuals are today’s movers and shakers who are already setting the pace for tomorrow. Paul is a quarterly columnist for Grower Talks Magazine.

Paul lives and gardens with his wife and two children (propagules) on their farm in central VA. Free time not spent gardening is spent visiting gardens and landscapes around the country and abroad.

MORE ABOUT PAUL:
www.saundersbrothers.com
www.gpnmag.com/class-year/2013
www.gpnmag.com/40-under-40/paul-westervelt
www.greenhousegrower.com/management/state-of-the-industry/perennial-plant-association-honors-young-professional/