Sunday, April 27, 2008

Blogger of the week: Parks Brothers' Blog

You can use a blog to communicate anything. Park Brothers Greenhouses of Van Buren, Arkansas, is using its blog to communicate availabilities to customers. Visit the site, at http://parksbros.wordpress.com and find photos of varieties.

Jason Parks tells me he started the blog last year but really started promoting it this spring. Retail customers, or anyone, can post comments on availabilities and variety selection. And we get to see how you can transport three pies during a flood.

Long time, no blog

Here's what's up at Greenhouse Grower lately. Our May Top 100 Growers list is just about to hit mailboxes, we just finished up work on our Mid-May structures issue and now we're onto our June issue.

We have a new number one grower on the list this year -- Color Spot Nursery. The operation added almost 5 million square feet of greenhouse area in the last year. Stay tuned to your mailbox and to www.greenhousegrower.com to read more details on the largest greenhouses in the U.S.

The mid-May issue of Greenhouse Grower follows Buckley Growers Illinois and Elzinga & Hoeksema's new greenhouse projects, and a really nice article by Danny Takao on tips for planning a new structure.

Looking ahead now, in our June issue, we're looking for your tags. Send me your custom-made labels and/or tags and we'll include them in the magazine. E-mail me at satambascio@meistermedia.com. Thanks!

And finally, I'll be attending the Southeast Greenhouse Conference this year. I've never been to this show before, so I hope to see and learn a lot. See you there.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Blog of the week: Wal-Mart's Check Out

Check Out is a blog written by Wal-Mart associates. Described as "dedicated to bringing you the latest in gadgets, green, gaming, and more," Check Out is divided by consumer category, including Lawn & Garden.

Blogger Marvin Deshommes is back for the spring, his latest post on hardgoods supply -- patio furniture and grills. We want to hear about what's up with live goods!
We'll stay tuned to see what's up at the mass merchandiser.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Floriculture glossary for beginners - and veterans

Came across this cool Web site today -- Plant Facts Glossary from Ohio State University. Looks like it contains entries across turf as well as floriculture.

The glossary is part of the broader Plant Facts site, a wiki knowledge bank that includes a Plant Growing Guide. Check out tips for growing in 13 genera.