Maumee Valley Growers

TOLEDO , Ohio , May 14, 2007 -Whether it's a "traditional" holiday like a birthday, Thanksgiving or Memorial Day, or something completely unexpected - like a Friday - flowers or plants can lift the spirits of almost everyone.

Today flowers are being used more and more for "non-traditional" purposes, mostly as a spontaneous way to brighten someone's day - or their own - according to Joe Perlaky of the Maumee Valley Growers. "Our growers continue to receive unusual requests for flowers and plants, as well as for uses that will be quite unusual," he said.

The Maumee Valley Growers are equipped to produce a very wide range of flowers and plants in their Northwest Ohio facilities. "The local growers, through their expertise and greenhouse technology, can produce a much greater variety of specimens that typically imaginable," explained Michael C. Carroll, Ph.D., director of research at Bowling Green State University's Center for Regional Development and manager of the economic cluster grant that funds the Maumee Valley Growers. "You are much more likely to be able to purchase tropical or sub-tropical varieties of flowers right here from local growers. It gives you so many alternatives in expressing your feelings."

Tropical flowers, as a gift, can recall a past vacation, honeymoon or upcoming trip. But flowers of all kinds typically evoke strong memories of people or events. "My mother's favorite flowers were yellow roses," said Jackie Rowlinson. "She's been gone now for nine years, but every time I see yellow roses, I think of her and smile. They've become my favorite flower too."

"People will often see photos in catalogs and then come in to ask us to replicate it," said Lynette Oberhouse of North Branch Nursery, Pemberville , Ohio . "While we're thrilled to help them recreate their favorite flowers and plants, we don't want them to be disappointed. So we ask them a lot of questions about how they're going to use their flowers and plants, and whether they're planning to use their new plants in their landscapes. Then we can get a better idea of how it will perform for them, and can guarantee that they'll be happy with their purchase.

"We won't let our customers just pick the first pretty plant they see," Oberhouse said. "We want them to be successful - and happy - with their purchases."

The Maumee Valley Growers is an economic cluster of 70 retail and wholesale greenhouses committed to sustaining and growing the Northwest Ohio greenhouse industry. The MVG is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant for the MVG is managed by Dr. Carroll of Bowling Green State University and Neil Reid, Ph.D., director of the Urban Affairs Center at the University of Toledo . Northwest Ohio is in the top five percent of the nation's greenhouse producing regions.

For more information about the MVG, and a list of participating members, visit www.maumeevalleygrowers.com.