KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The public is invited to a tour of the All-America Selections display garden in Kirksville 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Adair County, 503 E. Northtown Road, Kirksville.

All-America Selections (AAS) is the only national nonprofit plant-trialing organization in North America, testing new, never-before-sold varieties for the home gardener, says MU Extension horticulturist Jennifer Schutter, who serves as coordinator of the All-America Selections garden in Kirksville.

After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance, Schutter says.

All-America Selections display gardens give the public an opportunity to see the newest AAS Winners in an attractive, well-maintained setting, she says.

A typical AAS display garden is a public botanic garden or arboretum, a municipal garden, a garden retailer or a university garden, among others. Display gardens may provide educational programs about the AAS trialing and the award process during open houses or field days during peak growing seasons.

The MU Extension Center in Adair County is one of four MU Extension sites with an AAS display garden this summer.

“The plants in our garden look amazing,” Schutter says. “I encourage the public to attend this event to learn of the new, superior plants available to gardeners.”

For more information about the free garden tour and educational program, contact the Adair County MU Extension Center at 660-665-9866. The program is open to the public.

Photos

Snapdragon 1
DoubleShot yellow red heart snapdragon, 2025 AAS Ornamental Seed Winner, at the All-America Selections display garden in Kirksville.

Snapdragon 2
DoubleShot orange bicolor snapdragon, 2023 AAS Ornamental Seed Winner, at the All-America Selections display garden in Kirksville.

Yellow pepper
Pick-N-Pop yellow sweet pepper at the All-America Selections display garden in Kirksville.