Confidence in Bloom Gardening™ Series

Join us for our Confidence in Bloom Gardening™ Series, a Saturday morning seminar experience designed to inspire, educate, and empower gardeners of every level. Each week features a new topic focused on practical techniques, plant knowledge, design inspiration, and insider growing tips to help you succeed all season long.

 

Explore a new topic every Saturday starting at 10:00AM

 

Each session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for these free seminars – seating is limitedwith your content

 

The series kicks off with Heidi Grasman, co-owner and familiar face of Garden Crossings, who will launch the season with an exciting look at the newest plant varieties for 2026.

All subsequent sessions will be led by Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show — a radio, podcast, and YouTube program sponsored by Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs. Rick brings decades of horticultural expertise, an engaging presentation style, and a passion for making gardening approachable and successful for everyone.

 

Whether you're refreshing your landscape, expanding your plant knowledge, or simply enjoying a morning with fellow garden enthusiasts, this series is designed to help you bloom with confidence.

 

Reserve your seat early — we can’t wait to grow with you! 

Series Sessions

Collage of various flowers with text about 2026's hottest new plant varieties.

04/18/26 - Fresh Picks & Future Blooms

$0.00

This season, we’ve added 120 brand-new annuals, perennials, and shrubs to our lineup — and we can’t wait to share them with you! Be among the first to discover vibrant new colors, improved performance varieties, pollinator-friendly introductions, and standout selections that will elevate your garden from ordinary to extraordinary.

Leading the presentation is Heidi Grasman, co-owner and the familiar face of Garden Crossings. Heidi will share her expert insights, personal favorites, and insider growing tips to help you choose the best new additions for your garden and containers.

During this inspiring session, you’ll:

  • Get an insider’s preview of the most exciting new plant introductions

  • Learn what makes these varieties stronger, brighter, and better than ever

  • Discover creative ways to combine new selections in your landscape and containers

  • Gain expert tips to help you garden with confidence all season long

Whether you’re refreshing a favorite garden bed or planning something brand new, this seminar will spark fresh ideas and help you grow boldly in 2026.

Come curious. Leave inspired. Grow with confidence. 

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
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Woman sitting in a garden with a thought bubble showing gardening activities, surrounded by plants and a sunset.

04/25/26 - Now the Fun Begins...

$0.00

Spring is here — and now the fun really begins! It’s time to rediscover the joy of gardening and lay the groundwork for a season full of beauty, growth, and success.

Speaker- Rick Vuyst - Gardening Simplified Show - Comedian

Led by Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show –a radio, podcast, and YouTube show sponsored by Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs, this session will help you embrace the excitement of the season while creating a thoughtful foundation for the months ahead.

Rick reminds us that the growing season is not a sprint — it’s a marathon. You don’t have to get everything done in one weekend. Instead, celebrate what he calls “Procrastiplanting” — those joyful moments when you set aside your to-do list and spend time tending your garden simply because you love it.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • Where do we start? Simple ways to rediscover the joy of gardening

  • Why the growing season is a marathon, not a race

  • Setting the spring foundation for a long and enjoyable growing year

  • The art of “Procrastiplanting” — and why it might be good for your garden (and your soul!)

  • Dreaming and scheming with purpose to create a season you’ll love

Rick will include information from several episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch those episodes after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration. Spring is the season of possibility. Let’s set the foundation together and start dreaming, scheming, and growing with confidence.

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
Collage of four potted plant arrangements with text about gardening series.

05/02/26 - I Can't Contain Myself...

$0.00

In this lively and idea-packed session, Rick Vuyst will share creative inspiration and practical techniques for designing stunning plant combinations in containers and beyond. 

Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- Comedian

As host of the Gardening Simplified Show, Rick brings decades of horticultural experience and a knack for making design approachable and fun. Whether you’re planting one statement container or refreshing your porch, patio, or landscape beds, this session will help you mix with confidence.

There’s a reason container gardening has been — and continues to be — so popular. It simply makes sense. Containers give you flexibility, instant impact, and the perfect opportunity to let your creative juices flow. And many of these container concepts are just as effective when applied to island beds, giving you even more ways to use these design techniques throughout your landscape.

Today’s plant cultivars for containers are abundant and prolific — and we’re not just talking about annuals! From perennials to shrubs and beyond, the possibilities are bigger and bolder than ever.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • How to combine thrillers, fillers, and spillers with confidence

  • Pairing colors and textures for season-long interest

  • Adapting container design concepts to island beds

  • Matching plant choices to sun and shade conditions

  • Tips for watering, feeding, and keeping your creations thriving

If you’ve ever stood in the garden center wondering what goes together, this session will give you the inspiration and know-how to plant boldly and beautifully.  Rick will include information from several episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch those episodes after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration.

Let’s mix it up and grow with confidence! 

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
Collage of garden scenes with text about planting ideas

05/09/26 - Planting Ideas in Your Head...

$0.00

Join Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show, as he brings perennial gardening and cottage-style charm to life in an approachable, practical way.  

Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- Comedian

Perennials are the backbone of many great gardens — dependable, resilient, and returning year after year with even more impact. In this session, we’ll explore easy-to-grow perennials, share simple care tips, highlight long-blooming favorites, and introduce the timeless charm of cottage-style gardening.

Whether you’re starting fresh or enhancing existing beds, you’ll leave inspired with planting ideas that blend structure, softness, and season-long interest.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • Easy-to-grow and maintain perennials that thrive in a variety of garden settings

  • Long-blooming perennials that deliver extended color and performance

  • Simple care tips to keep perennials healthy and flourishing

  • Learning the Cottage Garden Style — layering, mixing, and embracing natural abundance

  • Creating a relaxed, romantic look while maintaining garden structure
  • Building perennial beds that improve and expand beautifully year after year

Let your imagination wander, gather new ideas, and discover how perennials and cottage garden design can bring lasting beauty to your landscape — all while helping you grow with confidence. Rick will include information from several episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch those episodes after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration.

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
Collage of various shrubs with text about gardening confidence and the importance of great plants.

05/16/26 - There's No Shrubstitute for Great Plants!

$0.00

There’s no shrub-stitute for what we call woody landscape plants! Today’s cultivars are better than ever — bred to meet specific size needs, improved for heat tolerance and disease resistance, and selected for exceptional performance.

Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- Comedian

Join Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show, as he showcases the incredible range of shrubs available today — including modern roses that are definitely not what your grandma grew!

This session isn’t just about shrubs — you’ll also learn how to add height and dimension to your garden with vines and twiners, giving your landscape vertical interest and extra layers of beauty.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • Low-maintenance shrubs that deliver high impact with minimal effort

  • Shrubs with season-long interest — from flowers to foliage to fall color

  • Modern shrub roses with improved performance and resilience

  • How to use shrubs in the garden for structure, layering, and flow

  • Adding height with vines and twiners for vertical impact and dimension
  • Selecting the right plant for the right space — no constant pruning required

Discover the versatility of woody plants and climbing beauties to anchor your landscape, create drama, and bring multi-season interest. With the right choices, your garden can grow taller, bolder, and more beautiful — all while helping you grow with confidence! Rick will include information from several episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch those episodes after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration.

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
Gardening-themed collage with tools, plants, and text about gardening advice.

05/23/26 - Ready to Give Up? Don't Throw in the Trowel!

$0.00
Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- ComedianJoin Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show as he discusses how to turn mistakes into learning opportunities, troubleshoot tricky situations, and implement smart, labor-saving strategies so your garden thrives — even in the most challenging spots.

In this session, we’ll explore:

  • Learning from mistakes — turning garden regrets into opportunities for improvement
  • Rejuvenation and pruning pointers for healthier, more productive plants
  • Watering questions answered — too much or too little?
  • Troubleshooting insects, diseases, and other common problems
  • Shade gardening tips — why it’s tricky and how to make it work
  • Understanding why some plants may not bloom and how to fix it

Bring your questions, share your challenges, and leave with practical solutions, renewed confidence, and inspiration to keep growing — no trowel throwing allowed! Rick will include information from several episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch those episodes after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration.

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
collage of plants and deer

05/30/26 - Stop By Because the Buck Stops Here

$0.00
Tired of deer treating your garden like a buffet? As deer populations and pressures grow, so does the challenge of maintaining beautiful, undisturbed gardens.

Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- ComedianIn this seminar, Rick Vuyst, host of the Gardening Simplified Show, will guide you through proven strategies, including deer-resistant plants, smart design principles, and practical deterrents that actually work. Learn how to reduce damage and enjoy a more beautiful, worry-free landscape.
In this session, we’ll explore:
  • Deer Pressure Strategies — understanding deer behavior and how it affects your garden
  • What to look for in a deer-resistant plant — choosing species that thrive despite wildlife
  • Plant for success — design techniques that minimize deer damage
  • Practical deterrents and protective measures to keep plants safe
  • Combining beauty and resilience — how to maintain an attractive landscape even under deer pressure

Take control of your garden and learn to coexist with wildlife without sacrificing color, texture, or style. Your plants can thrive, and your landscape can stay beautiful — all while keeping the bucks at bay! Rick will include information from one of the episodes of the Gardening Simplified show.  We encourage you to listen to or watch that episode after the seminar for more in-depth inspiration.

Plan for a 30-minute presentation followed by 15-minutes of time for Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice tailored to your garden.

Reservations are required for this free seminar – seating is limited
Quantity
Garden Crossings garden center in the background with a white box containing signature garden showcase text
Speaker- Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show- Comedian
Speaker- Natalie Carmolli-Spring Meadow Nursery
group of people with backbacks walking in a parkinglot
blue container with pink and yelow flowers and green leafed plants with purple flower stems in front of a building
Colorful flower garden with a stone wall and a sign in the background.
beautiful garden with magenta and white flowers with a yellow sign in the background
garden scene with a stream with a rock boarder and a wooden gazebo
row of pink supertunia and dark leafed plants with a greenhouse in the background
freshly planted garden of red, yellow, and pink flowers in a mulch bed with greenhouse in the background
front entrance of the garden center with hanging baskets on either side of the entrance
garden of pink blooming flowers, green bushes, and yellow-green seedum in a mulch bed with a stone boarder

06/13/26 - Signature Garden Showcase

$225.00

Garden Crossings Signature Garden Showcase

Zeeland, Michigan

Join us for our fourth annual Garden Crossings Signature Garden event on Saturday, June 13 from 9-4.  We have a great day planned for everyone this year and have many exciting activities to explore!  Spend the day with Heidi and our team and get inspired as they share their knowledge and expertise with you. You will get to see the display gardens in their peak color and have access to the growers and those who designed them.

As a Proven Winners Destination Garden Center, we are one of the country's only retailers offering all of the Proven Winners shrub and perennial lines as well as 90% of the Proven Winners annuals. The showcase starts at 9am, with registration beginning at 8, and will conclude by 4pm with additional time afterward to shop your favorite plants.

Cultivating Knowledge and Beauty

The itinerary for the day will include:

  •  Guided tours of the beautiful display gardens. Walk our ‘living catalog’ and learn about plant combinations, get landscaping ideas, and see the new annuals for 2027.
  •  Informative speakers- Bios Below
    • Rick Vuyst- Gardening Simplified Show 
    • Natalie Carmolli- Spring Meadow Color Choice Shrubs
  •  Facility Tours.  Get a behind the scenes look at our production greenhouses and shipping area.
  •  Boxed Lunch along with morning and afternoon snacks.
  •  Planting fun!  You will create a combination container with the help of our Garden Center team.
  •  Swag bag of goodies and door prizes!
  •  Special deals and sales in the garden center.

This showcase is limited to the first 100 guests who register, so register early.  The fee is $225 per person.  Due to the preparation and planning of this event, all sales are final and refunds are unavailable. Dress for the weather, rain or shine, hot and humid!

Please note that there will be lots of walking so we recommend that you wear comfortable close-toe shoes and note most areas of the gardens may not be wheelchair accessible.

We look forward to spending the day with you!

After your signup has been confirmed we will be reaching out to you to enhance your showcase experience.

Speaker Bios

  • Rick Vuyst

    Rick is a lifelong gardener and a recognizable voice in horticulture. He is the co-host of  The Gardening Simplified Show—a popular radio, podcast, and YouTube series sponsored by Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs—where he and fellow lifelong gardener Stacey Hirvela break down gardening in a way that’s approachable, practical, and inspiring. Together, they share real-world advice, plant discoveries, and decades of hands-on experience, all rooted in a genuine love for getting people excited about gardening.

    Rick previously hosted the award-winning Flowerland Show on NewsRadio WOOD 1300 and 106.9 FM for 30 years, earning seven Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards for broadcasting excellence. For 25 years, he also appeared as “Mr. Green Thumb” on WZZM TV 13, the West Michigan ABC affiliate, helping viewers grow healthier, more beautiful gardens.

    Rick’s roots in the garden center industry go back 50 years, when he started working with plants as a teenager. That lifetime of experience—combined with an unshakable curiosity and enthusiasm—shows in everything he does, from educating home gardeners to speaking at events and industry gatherings. A fanatical plant lover at heart, Rick is also a stand-up comedian, and fitness enthusiast, bringing energy, humor, and storytelling to every stage he steps on. He can even be found behind a camera capturing the natural beauty of the Lake Michigan shoreline near his home in West Michigan.

  • Natalie Carmolli

    Natalie’s roots run deep in horticulture. Her love of plants started early in life, growing up on a mid-Michigan farm where dirt under her fingernails was just part of daily life. From helping in her mother’s seasonal flower business to working in the family florist shop, she learned the art and science of horticulture from the ground up: planting, nurturing, designing, and presenting plants in ways that tell a story.

    While Natalie went on to earn a degree in theatre and fine art, she never left the garden behind. Instead, she found ways to blend creativity with hands-on horticultural experience, deepening her expertise with a Certificate of Mastery in tree and shrub identification from Longwood Gardens. Today, she brings all of that together as a public speaker—part artist, part educator, and lifelong avid gardener. With enthusiasm and a genuine passion for growing things, Natalie delights in sharing the art of gardening and helping audiences see just how expressive and joyful Proven Winners® ColorChoice® flowering shrubs can be.

Beautiful Bed & Breakfast 45 minutes from us

  • Castle In The Country- 340 M-40 South, Allegan, MI 49010 Phone# 269-673-8054

Hotels in The Area

  • Courtyard by Marriott Holland Downtown- 121 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
  • Hampton Inn Holland- 12427 Felch St, Holland, MI 49424
  • Holiday Inn Express Holland, an IHG Hotel- 12381 Felch St, Holland, MI 49424
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Holland- 3140 W Shore Dr, Holland, MI 49424
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott Holland- 3084 W Shore Dr, Holland, MI 49424
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