P. Allen Smith Premieres First-Ever Product Lines with Seven Garden and Décor Offerings at IGC Show in Chicago

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garden designer and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith today launched his new product lines at the Independent Garden Centers Show at Chicago’s Navy Pier. This is the first time that Smith will offer his own products direct to retailers and consumers. Seven lines focusing on gardening and home décor products were unveiled to more than 1,000 attendees at the IGC show:

“We are listening to our audience, and they are telling us they want more of Allen’s advice and thoughts on everything from planting roses to cooking with items from the garden to entertaining”

P. Allen Smith’s Platinum Collection of annuals and perennials from Proven Winners
P. Allen Smith Edibles from the Berry Family of Nurseries, beginning with six varieties of blueberries available Spring 2011
P. Allen Smith Holiday Collection, holiday wreathes and greenery from the Berry Family of Nurseries
P. Allen Smith Garden Home Structures from Yardistry
P. Allen Smith Garden Home Collection of unique, eco-friendly hanging baskets from Good Earth Manufacturing
P. Allen Smith Garden Home Recipe Card Decks, including new versions for Bulbs, Roses, and Herbs & Veggies
P. Allen Smith’s Garden Favorites, expanded bulb collection from Van Bloem Gardens after the launch of successful test markets in 2010

“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching our new product lines. These are things for the garden and home that I use in my own projects at the Garden Home Retreat,” Smith said. “These lines are things that I know will bring much joy to gardeners all across the world.”

“We are listening to our audience, and they are telling us they want more of Allen’s advice and thoughts on everything from planting roses to cooking with items from the garden to entertaining,” said Mimi San Pedro, chief operating and marketing officer for Hortus Ltd., the multimedia marketing company that oversees the P. Allen Smith brand. “These new products are a way for us to extend Allen’s brand beyond solely the garden and help consumers create their own garden home lifestyle.”

Annuals and Perennials from Proven Winners

P. Allen Smith’s Platinum Collection from Proven Winners will feature new additions to the line in Spring 2011. This is the next phase of a successful five-year partnership with Proven Winners. Smith selects and uses his favorite varieties throughout his books, TV shows, magazines articles and social media content.

Garden Favorite Bulbs from Van Bloem Gardens

Smith’s Garden Favorites Bulb Collection from Van Bloem Gardens is comprised of Allen’s favorite “head turning” combos for Spring and Fall planting. The bulbs are offered in rustic “brown bag” packaging and a custom wooden shipper for an attractive garden center presentation.

Edibles from the Berry Family of Nurseries

Blueberries will be the first in the P. Allen Smith Edibles Collection, with other plants and seeds to soon follow. This collection will feature six varieties of blueberries grown in Oregon by the Berry Family of Nurseries. Whether planted in the landscape or in containers, the P. Allen Smith Edibles Collection of blueberries promises beautiful foliage and delicious fruit. Available in individual one-gallon pots and three-pack sets, the northern climate selection includes Duke, Bluecrop and Jersey varieties, and the southern climate trio includes O’Neil, Sunshine Blue and Misty Blue varieties.

Holiday Greenery from the Berry Family of Nurseries

The P. Allen Smith Holiday Collection greenery is harvested by the Berry Family of Nurseries from the Cascade Mountains of western Oregon. The collection features hand-selected Noble Fir boughs hand-tied into wreaths, mantelpieces, centerpieces and other decorative items. Available in five uniquely different looks designed by Smith, the collection is sure to fill the home with fragrance and beauty throughout the season.

Garden Structures from Yardistry

The new P. Allen Smith Structures collection features screens, structures and decorative elements for the garden. The collection is in partnership with Yardistry, a Canadian company that produces building component systems for do-it-yourselfers. This modular system allows for the creation of hundreds of designs with only 15 basic components. The Structures collection also includes two kits, one to create an arbor and the other to design a pergola.

Hanging Baskets from Good Earth Manufacturing

The new P. Allen Smith Garden Collection features unique hanging structures produced by Good Earth Manufacturing in Little Rock, Ark. The structures are made of 100 percent recycled aluminum and powder coated in designer colors and are designed to fit most 10-inch containers. The eye-catching designs are a unique way to showcase a favorite foliage plant, such as a fern or arrowhead, or seasonal perennial combinations, and will only be available through independent garden centers.

Garden Recipe Card Decks

P. Allen Smith fans can also look forward to a new round of card decks over the next few months, featuring recipes for beautiful gardening arrangements. New titles will include P. Allen Smith’s Bulb Garden, P. Allen Smith’s Herb & Veggie Garden and P. Allen Smith’s Rose Garden.

The P. Allen Smith branded products will be available through independent garden centers throughout the country beginning in early September. Consumers can also purchase the new P. Allen Smith Holiday Collection and Smith’s Garden Recipe Card Decks on the new www.pallensmithcollections.com beginning in early September.

To read more details and to view images and video, visit http://pitch.pe/82380.

About P. Allen Smith

P. Allen Smith is an award-winning garden and lifestyle designer and host of the public television program, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home and the syndicated 30-minute show P. Allen Smith Gardens. Smith is one of America's most recognized and respected garden design experts, providing ideas and inspiration through multiple media venues. He is the author of the best-selling Garden Home series of books published by Clarkson Potter/Random House, including Bringing the Garden Indoors: Container, Crafts and Bouquets for Every Room, published in 2009. His latest book, P. Allen Smith’s Seasonal Recipes from the Garden, will be released in late December.