What I learned in the April 2008 issue of Greenhouse Grower -- About Urban Outfitters' Terrain!

- Carroll Brothers is serious about saving water. Richard Carroll is currently using Aquamats, and his ultimate goal is to build an underground reservoir for rainwater, but he hasn't figured out the finances yet. The method would save a huge chunk of water needed for his crops.

- Dr. George Elliott of the University of Connecticut attended the Leonardo Academy stakeholders meeting for a sustainability standard. He thought the most contentious subject in the talks was around genetically modified organisms, which the draft standard prohibits.

- Urban Outfitters new Terrain retail concept will target the female consumer in her 40s and 50s and will keep the best of Styer's, the garden center chain Terrain purchased as its first retail platform. Terrain is in talks with Styer's existing growers as suppliers.

- In our Variety Central section, check out my favorites argyranthmum 'Spring Bouquet' by Paul Ecke Ranch (pictured) and the great begonias 'Black Taffeta' and 'Madame Queen' by Terra Nova Nurseries.

- Keep up to date on the sustainable garden trials going on at the University of Georgia at www.uga.edu/ugatrial.

Spring has sprung at Lowe's

There's something big going on over at Lowe's Web site. A new section called Welcome Back Spring takes the visitor to a fictional town called Sunnyville, where we meet neighbors who are all about outdoor living.

The Web animation begins with a sweeping look at flowers blooming, koi swimming and burgers sizzling on the grill.

Moe is the neighborhood guy obsessed with his lawn. Mike is the party animal, a bear who knows everything about patio furniture. And Iris is the local gardener. Each character shares tips about their area of expertise. Iris shares when and what to plant based on a planting Zone chart, as well as suggestions on gardening tools.

Even though this is the same information packaged in a slightly different way, I think this is so much more effective marketing than ad circulars. It's a story...and it's online. I can relate to these people and I feel like I'm hearing something from a friend. And a bear! A bear who knows everything about outdoor entertaining. If you make me laugh, I'm probably a customer for life.

Homewood does battle with drought

On much of our trip to Raleigh, the one question we had for the growers and retailers we visited was “How is the drought affecting your business?” Homewood Nursery and Garden Center is helping out its retail customers by offering rain barrels and water by the jug to whoever wants it. A sign posted in the store says the grower/retailer is offering fewer plants this year, so it can share water from its wells with customers.

At retail, Homewood is pushing containers, baskets and window boxes to fight the drought. The business buys in much of the bedding plant flats it sells, while focusing on growing the cutting-edge plant material that would be hard to find from other growers.

The business sells 30,000 poinsettias a year and propagates poinsettias from stock plants. All the work pays off when those stock plants are sold in season for $50 a piece. It’s a size Homewood’s customers can’t get anywhere else.

Other new and exciting things going on at Homewood include an outdoor living furniture gallery and a Monrovia nursery boutique.