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After spending two days helping set up Cultivate’26, it was finally time for the show to begin.

Sunday morning started early – even before the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. We gathered for an 8:30 a.m. walkthrough of the Ball Horticultural booths with company leadership. It was incredible to see everything we had spent days preparing finally come together. Every display was polished, every plant looked its best, and the excitement was built as opening time approached.

The moment the show commenced, the energy changed. The aisles quickly filled with growers, brokers, retailers, and horticulture professionals from around the world. There was always someone to greet, a display to tidy, a question to answer or redirect to our brand experts Sean Valk, Sarah Makiejus or Steven Engel. It was busy from start to finish – and I loved every minute of it.

I spent most of my time at the PanAmerican Seed booth with fellow intern Josh, making sure everything stayed show ready. One of our biggest priorities was keeping the plants looking fresh, especially the stunning Always Sunny Gold Sunflower display. Steven was quick to remind us to keep those sunflowers well “iced,” so they didn’t wilt under the tradeshow lighting, and we happily took the assignment. Throughout the day, we made sure the booth looked just as beautiful in the afternoon as it did when the doors first opened.

Our booth featured some incredible introductions that naturally drew people in. The new E3 Easy Wave® Midnight Marble Petunia caught the attention of countless visitors with its dramatic coloration, while the Always Sunny Sunflower display quickly became one of the most photographed spots in the booth. A bright gold velvet chair nestled among the cheerful blooms invited visitors to stop, sit down, and capture a memorable photo. I couldn’t resist taking multiple photos myself!

Another standout was the life-sized Beacon® Impatiens 6-pack display. The oversized flower container pack immediately caught people’s attention and perfectly showcased the new Pink variety in a fun, larger-than-life way.

However, my personal favorite was our new perennial introduction, Spectacular Sedum spectabile. Maybe it was the signage, maybe it was the plant itself, or maybe a combination of both, but it completely drew me in. The variety has so many important technicalities that make it stand out, and the creative branding elevated the entire booth.

Designed with retro 1950s motel-inspired signage, it instantly caught visitors’ attention and gave the booth a fun, memorable personality. As Sarah often said during planning, she wanted lights – lights that would stop people in their tracks – and that’s exactly what she got. The illuminated signage made the display impossible to miss and perfectly complemented one of my favorite new introductions at the show.

Whenever I had a chance to step away from the booth, I explored the rest of the trade show floor. One of my favorite conversations was with a Beekenkamp Canadian sales representative. We discussed their plans to market more compact flowering varieties into the U.S. market. I found the conversation interesting because compact flowers aren’t prominently desired in the U.S. market.

Imagination and Interactive Displays Stood Out at Cultivate

As someone studying marketing, I couldn’t help but notice the level of interactivity of our booths. Visitors weren’t just looking at displays; they were engaging with them. Let me explain.

PanAmerican Seed encouraged guests to stop for photos with the bright yellow retro telephone and golden chair surrounded by sunflowers. Darwin created an immersive golf-themed display that helped visitors imagine their products in a landscape setting. Ball FloraPlant’s claw machine constantly attracted crowds, and the seating area at the Ball Seed booth always seemed full of meaningful conversations between customers and sales representatives. Those spaces weren’t just displays; they created opportunities for connection.

A booth I kept finding myself return to was Star Roses and Plants. Their punching bag challenge for their KnockOut Rose brought out everyone’s competitive side, me included. I proudly worked my way onto the leaderboard, climbing to second place before eventually slipping to third…and then completely off the board. Safe to say I have some work to do in the gym!

One of the highlights of my experience was meeting the new President and CEO of AmericanHort. Despite his busy schedule, he took the time to chat with me and Josh, making the conversation feel genuine and relaxed. I boldly asked for a photo beside PanAmerican Seed’s Retailers’ Choice Award winner, Lanna Lace African Marigold. As a marketing intern, moments like that are incredibly valuable and must be maximized.

Speaking of winners, seeing Lanna Lace African Marigold recognized with a Retailers’ Choice Award was an exciting moment for everyone at PanAmerican Seed. Its soft, creamy tones fit beautifully with the growing trend towards lighter, more natural color palettes, and it’s easy to see why it captured so much attention throughout the show.

Of course, no recap of Cultivate’26 would be complete without mentioning one visitor I just missed, Martha Stewart. She stopped by the Star Roses and Plants booth as part of their collaboration on the Martha Stewart Rose introduction, and while I wasn’t quite fast enough to meet her myself, my Aunt Anna and Martha had a wonderful conversation. When I asked my Aunt how it went, her first comment wasn’t about gardening at all, it was about how incredible Martha Stewart’s skin looked. I’m still searching for her skincare routine!

By the end of Cultivate’26, all of us interns were exhausted. My feet hurt, my voice was nearly raspy, and I had probably walked more miles than I realized. But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Between the conversations, the incredible plant introductions, the creativity of the displays, and the opportunity to meet so many passionate people, Cultivate reminded me of the value of pursuing a career in horticulture.