GMG's Friday Find: It's Cicada Crunch Time!

The cicada hype is becoming as deafening as the noises we'll hear when the Brood II eruption occurs.  This year, the 17-year old insects will emerge along the East Coast from North Carolina to Connecticut.  For anyone who hasn't heard the facts, here's a quick recap:

* The cicada is not a locust; they are related to aphids and leafhoppers.
* Brood II cidadas live underground for 17 years, going through several stages of youth into adulthood.
* When the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, it's party time! That's the signal for the cicadas to emerge from their underground homes where they shed their skin and start feeding on grass and shrub roots.  And of course mating is the #1 priority.  They sing, they fly, they mate and then they die, leaving behind an enormous amount of skeletons.

The word from the experts is that suburbanites may see anywhere from a few hundred thousand to 1.5 million cicadas per square acre!  That's a lot of crunch people. How will that impact your yard or garden?  Here are a few suggestions for how to survive the cicada invasion.

Have fun!  Nothing excites people more than oddities, and a bug that lives underground for 17 years certainly qualifies.  This can be a good learning opportunity for kids.  They can capture, collect, observe, photograph, draw and write about cicadas.  There are books to read and websites to follow to help young scientists glean knowledge while having fun. Capturing the cicadas is easy as they are slow and easy to grab, or you can use a butterfly net to capture one in flight.  Arm your child with a flashlight and spot them coming out of the ground at night; you can even see them shedding their skin on small tree branches.  With a magnifying glass your children can get up close to these crunchy critters for a thorough examination.  Doesn't that sound like fun Mom and Dad?

Have a cicada cookout!  Apparently cicadas are high in protein, low in fat and are best enjoyed just as they emerge from the ground still soft from shedding their skin.  Although I am hard pressed to compare them to other arthropods like shrimp, lobster and crabs, there are people who say the flavor is similar. Some say they taste like asparagus as well....wow, shrimp and asparagus, a tasty combo all in one nugget!  Cicadas are enjoyed by many, including birds, dogs, fox, raccoons, possum,  and just about anything flying or stalking.  Word of caution, although harmless for your dogs and cats, too many can make your pet sick. I get sick thinking about eating one.

Cleanup the Cicada Crunch!  If you live in a rural area the aftermath of the cicada invasion may result in piles and piles of dead cicadas and shed skeletons.  Collect the remains as soon as possible and add them to your compost pile or discard in the trash as they may become a little 'stinky'.  Check your gutters for possible clean-up as well.  Cicada females lay their eggs on small tree branches so if you have young trees with small branches an arborist can help you determine the best line of defense.

Watch Out For Wasps! Wasps LOVE cicadas so you may see an influx during this Brood II eruption. Protect yourself from these stinging insects with a RESCUE® W-H-Y trap so you and your family can enjoy the spectacle without worrying about stinging wasps.

We'd love to see any photos you may capture of these amazingly creepy insects, so please feel free to share. And let us know how they really taste.  Happy cicada days!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Garden Media's new case study series is here!

Garden Media is set to release a series of six public relations e-books over the next six months.  Each e-book will feature a case study that illustrates a specific public relations strategy with tips and tricks to increase a company’s reputation and grow their business.

Public relations starts by building a brand’s reputation. Without a credible reputation and solid brand, your products will fall flat.

“Branding The Knock Out® Rose”, the first case study in the series, outlines the public relations strategies used to help launch The Knock Out Rose®, now one of the best-selling shrubs in America.

This case study shows how The Conard-Pyle Company benefited from our branding capabilities and built the brand with consumers for more 10 years with public relations alone.

We have 25 years of experience and hundreds of case studies, launching such brands as Endless Summer, BrazelBerries™ and O2 for You. We believe it's time to share our secrets to help home and garden industry businesses understand how PR can help manage their brands and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising!

Each case study will offer a range of information from goal setting to public relations tactics that benefit businesses new to PR as well as those with established marketing departments.

“Branding The Knock Out® Rose” is available for download today. A new eBook case study will be released each month, you can also now sign up to be part of Garden Media's E-Book of the Month Club and have them mailed automatically to you monthly and be part of a discussion group!

Boost Your Memory with these 6 Brain Foods

What did I need from this room?  Where did I put my keys? What is her name?

On any given day, we ask ourselves countless questions like these--all centered on mental lapses.
Forgetting things is often a part of our lives and as humans age, we remember tasks less and less. Luckily, we have a solution, and no, it does not involve cluttering your desk with multi-colored sticky notes. It's easy, simple, and delicious.

Joy Bauer, author of Food Cures, informs us that,  "A sharp memory depends on your total number of brain cells, the smooth flow of communication between the cells and the health of cells." So in order to have a sharp memory, you must spark brain cells!

To increase your memory and reduce forgetfulness, Bauer suggest snacking on these six, brain-enhancing foods below!

1. Beets regulate heartbeat.

It makes perfect sense that a vegetable, with the shape and color of a beet, would be beneficial to your heart. "Every cell in the body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to stay alive and work properly," says Bauer. Keep blood pressure levels in check (less than 120/80), exercise regularly, and stock up on foods such as beets that improve blood flow, ensuring a steady supply of nutrients to the brain. Beets help your heart which in turn allows your brain to function better. "A brain filled with well-nourished neurons enables you to think and remember more clearly," says Bauer.

Enjoy beets on a daily basis by growing your own delicious certified organic and heirloom beets by starting seeds from Sustainable Seed Company.

2. Fish maintains brain cell health.

"When it comes to food and memory, fish should be the star of the show," says Bauer. Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel contain generous amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which are important for maintaining the health of brain cells. Bauer recommends eating a four-ounce portion (slightly larger than the palm of your hand) of a fatty fish at least three times a week.

3. Lean protein improves cognitive skills.

Chicken, turkey breast, eggs and low-fat milk are excellent sources of vitamin B12 which is an important protein to maintain cognitive skills. A 2012 Tufts University study showed older adults who were mildly B12 deficient were at higher risk for cognitive decline. Lean meats also keep you feeling fuller longer and reduce the amount snack breaks, leaving more time for the task at hand.

4. Berries prevent brain cell breakdown.

Berries are busting with antioxidants called anthocyanins which help prevent the breakdown of brain cells. A 2012 Harvard study found women who eat at least one cup of blueberries and strawberries per week experienced a 2.5 year delay in mental decline compared to women who rarely ate berries. "Blueberries in particular have received a lot of attention because they can enhance spatial memory and learning," says Bauer. She recommends eating four cups of berries per week.

Try growing your own berries at home. BrazelBerries^® offers different berry shrubs that can easily grow in a garden or pot that you can pick fresh for yourself. Add some berries to your morning smoothie or bake them into your pancakes.

5. Walnuts improve memory.

Another connection can be made for food and a body part with this connection relating a walnut and the brain. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that walnut consumption was associated with better memory scores and cognitive function. Walnuts are also a great source of alpha-linolenic acid -- a plant-based form of omega-3 fatty acids. Sprinkle some walnuts on your salad or yogurt or enjoy a handful of them for a healthy snack.

6. Coffee provides focus.

Caffeine can sharpen your focus and memory in the short term. While Bauer says a couple cups of coffee are OK to drink during the day, she recommends avoiding caffeine at least eight hours before bedtime so it doesn't interfere with your sleep. "Quality sleep is a critical component to a sharp mind," she says. So don’t go overboard on the coffee, but drink it for an uplift in brain functionality.

Looking for more interesting facts such as these? Download our 2013 Garden trends Report today!

 

GMG's Friday Find: Garden Goodies for Mother's Day!

We know mom can be tough to shop for, so here are some ideas to make Mother's Day gift giving a breeze.

Easy Edible Pickins

Since moms everywhere love to feed their families healthy food, a gift of these brand new, low maintenance, small fruit shrubs will be most loved.  These compact berry shrubs provide ornamental beauty and delicious berries! RaspberryShortcake™ is a thornless dwarf raspberry shrub that reaches 2-3 feet and fruits the first season.  This compact, rounding plant requires no staking or trellising, no companion pollinators and very little space, and has sturdy upright canes. Raspberry Shortcake loads up with full-sized, super sweet raspberries and is ideally suited for large patio containers, balconies or any size yard.

Take Mom to the Tropics
Busy moms will love the Tropic Escape Patio Collection from Costa Farms®.  This collection pairs bold flowering hibiscus with trailing/climbing mandevilla - an unbeatable combo for mom's patio or garden!  And the best part is these plants bloom non-stop from spring until fall and are easy to care for. Look for the Tropic Escape collection at your local home improvement store or mass merchandiser and turn mom's outdoor space into a tropical paradise!

The Birds #1 Best Friend
Does your mom love to feed the birds? These new bird feeders from Perky-Pet® look like old-fashioned mason jars.  The Mason Jar Collection is reminiscent of the vintage blue glass canning jars used in the 1800s. They bring rustic, shabby chic elegance to any yard while attracting various types of birds. Perky-Pet® offers three types of Mason Jar feeders including Wild Bird Feeder, Hummingbird Feeder and Wild Bird Waterer.  Mom can have beautiful outdoor décor while enjoying watching the birds.

Eco-Friendly Containers 
Moms love to get handmade gifts from their kids, but if that's not happening this year give her the next best thing - handmade pottery containers from Native Cast. These eco-friendly concrete planters are individually hand-cast, lightweight and durable.  Easy to move and stunning in design, your mom will love this planter for indoor or outdoor, all year long. The heart-shaped cast- your-own kit is a fun project you and your mom can spend time doing together; after all, that's all she really wants!

 Twists on Tradition Cookbook
The next best thing from taking a break from cooking is cooking a meal together with family. James Farmer's newest book, A Time To Cook is a celebration of garden to table lifestyle recipes updated for today's conscientious cooks. Steeped in Southern tradition, A Time To Cook offers scrumptious recipes that are fresh from the land and garden and will be one of your mom's go-to cookbooks for years to come.

Celebrate this Mother's Day with a gift that says "I love you", a gift she'll use and enjoy for years, and a gift that will remind her of just how special she is.

Happy Mother's Day!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Eat Your Weeds, They're Good For You!

Everything is greening up here on the east coast, and yards and gardens are popping with, well, weeds!  Before you go mow or spray and snuff them out for good, maybe you'll consider harvesting some of those annoying, yet edible weeds for a tasty spring salad.  There are many weeds that are packed with vitamins and also taste good; however, before you pop something in your mouth check to see what you've picked is truly good for you. Wild Edibles is a great app to get you started identifying, and then munching nature's free produce.

Dandelions - These yellow yummies are sprinkling most lawns right now and they'll return with gusto in late summer.  Pick them while they're young in early spring for a nutritious treat.  With more beta-carotene than carrots, you can add the leaves and flowers to a salad or saute them lightly and add to pasta. You can even brew the roots for a coffee substitute.

 Purslane - Found almost everywhere, this weed is becoming very popular in the edible landscape community, and with good reason. Purslane has 5 times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acid than spinach has, and its stems are high in Vitamin C. This succulent weeds' stem is round and smooth and trails along the ground like a vine. It has small, oblong green juicy leaves and it's best harvested in early morning or early evening. You can use purslane raw in a salad or saute for an interesting peppery flavor -- and don't be surprised if you see it on the menu of an upscale restaurant!

Japanese Knotweed - Early spring is the best time to harvest this weed, which is sometimes confused with bamboo. Pull this weed when it's 6-8 inches tall, before it gets to woody, and steam or simmer it for a rhubarb-like flavor. And keep pulling, this weed is very invasive.

Lamb's Quarters - This weed is sometimes called wild spinach, and with good reason.  It starts emerging right after the spring spinach is on its way out.  Loaded with vitamin A, K and C, this weed can be delicious sauteed in olive oil with garlic, salt, pepper and a splash of lemon.  As with all the weeds mentioned, rinsing the leaves thoroughly is recommended.

Watercress - Spring beckons the opening of trout season in local streams, and also the emergence of watercress around these streams and riverbanks.  Demanding a high dollar at grocery stores, you can pick a bunch for free and enjoy it raw in your salad, maybe alongside that trout!

Kudzu - This crazy southern weed is referred to as the weed that ate the South covering over 7 million acres!  This means there is an over-abundant supply available to be eaten.  You can make jams and jellies but if you're a first-timer it's best to steam or boil the roots until tender.  Adding soy sauce or miso gives this weed a lovely Asian cuisine flair.  Kudzu has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries for treating allergies, colds, fevers and also as a digestive aid. Chop a cup of leaves and brew for 30 minutes for a healing tea.

Red Clover - You see this weed all over and it has been commonly known as a folk remedy for cancer, containing photoestrogen genistein. Sprinkle red clover flowers over rice or with soy sauce, adding a punch of protein along with beneficial health aids. You can eat white clover too, but it's not as flavorful.

You can find many of these weeds in your backyard or growing along sidewalks and crevices from suburbia to urban streets.  So don't be shy and grab a handful of weeds for a tasty, nutritious alternative to your salads and sauces.  Happy foraging!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Light up your space with a glowing plant

Like something out of a science fiction show, a group of researchers have successfully modified a Arabidopsis plant with luciferin genes, which are most commonly found in fireflies and deepsea creatures like the Anglerfish, in order to have it glow. A recent Kickstarter campaign started by Antony Evans, the head of a team of bio-engineers based in San Francisco, hopes to bring awareness to an alternative to the energy being used for electrical lighting by using bioluminescent lighting, Backers who pledge $40 or more will receive a packet of seeds for their own glowing plants. The original goal of $65,000 to create the plants has been well surpassed. An extra goal of $400,000 has been set in order to work on creating glowing roses, in which they are already at the halfway mark.

For more information including the more in depth scientifics of the project visit their Kickstarter page and check out the video below!

~ James
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Take the Guesswork Out and Put the Plants In!

Looking at your empty containers wondering what to plant this year?

Photo by Shawna Coronado

Rather than being discouraged or confused, think of your container as a blank canvas that by mid-summer can be filled to the brim with colorful flowers or delicious fruits and vegetables.

Not the artistic type? Then take advantage of a garden center workshop near you for inspiration and know-how and quickly learn the dos and don'ts for a successful garden and stunning containers.

Photo by Shawna Coronado

For example, Schaefer Greenhouses in Aurora, Illinois, is a hosting a workshop with garden and lifestyle writer, Shawna Coronado, TOMORROW, April 27th from 10:30-2:30.  Shawna can help you turn your flower/veggie vision into reality.

In Shawna's workshop, gardeners will learn:

• How to make a pizza container garden
• Techniques for creating drought tolerant organic vegetable gardens
• How to utilize the color wheel to create eye-popping color combinations of flowers and plants
• How to identify which vegetables are best to grow in containers
• About companion planting
• What growing mix is best to use that provides continual nourishment and a healthy environment, like PRO-MIX which has patented Myco-Active plant food and water-saving gel right in the mix.

Wait, a pizza container you say?  Shawna will teach gardeners which herbs are best for your individual pizza taste and how to grow them.  But the best thing about this container is that children love to participate and they can be the 'farmer' who plants and waters these plants.  Teaching them the joy and satisfaction of watching plants grow and then creating a delicious recipe from them is invaluable. 

And one of the best advantages in participating in a workshop is leaving with everything you need to get started on your way to a season of plenty, from beautiful flowers to the freshest herbs and veggies; and maybe, if you're lucky, you can walk away with a demonstration container!  Now that's a few hours well spent.  Look for workshops in your area and take the guesswork out and put the flowers and veggies in!

You'll soon learn that there's not much you can't grow in a container.  Happy Gardening!

~Peggy

Behind the Scenes: Pro-Mix Photoshoot at Garden Media

Check out this behind the scenes peek at our spring photo-shoot for PRO-MIX®’s fully redesigned line for spring 2013.

A quick 3 step trick on making the perfect container, 'The Perfect Fit' with PRO-MIX potting mix

Great day 4 @promixgardening photoshoot w/ @nativecast containers vine.co/v/bUqnE7PWX55
— Leah Haugh (@LeahGMG) April 18, 2013

A quick and easy pizza garden container with tomatoes, herbs and PRO-MIX organic vegetable and herb mix

Herb garden brought to you by @promixgardening @nativecast vine.co/v/bUq0B6V5MqF
— Katie (@KatieGMG) April 18, 2013

 

Katie and Leah setting up the shots

Photographer, Rick Urbanowski works his magic

For more information on the complete line of PRO-MIX® growing mixes, visit promixgardening.com and find the products at local garden centers and retail stores.

More #seed starting with @katemanchester & @promixgardening vine.co/v/bUb3rbmxK55
— Leah Haugh (@LeahGMG) April 18, 2013

Arbor Day Event at Awbury Aboretum TOMORROW

Tomorrow, April 24th, Davey Tree experts will be cleaning up debris, leaves and trees at a Philadelphia institution focused on connecting the urban community with nature, Awbury Arboretum.

To celebrate Arbor Day, April 26th, local certified arborists will clean around the Arboretum, carefully climb the trees for pruning and provide general care.

Visiting the Arboretum on April 24th will provide the perfect example for how to properly care for trees around your home and community.

For more information call the Arboretum at 215-849-2855.  To learn more about the benefits of trees, visit Davey Tree's blog, In the Shade.

Where:                        One Awbury Road, Philadelphia, PA
When:                         Wednesday, April 24, 2013, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Who to bring:             Everyone, Families
Contact:                      Katie@gardenmediagroup.com               

Perfecting the Social Media Balancing Act

Social media has been a big play for over five years. Whether you’re a public relations pro or a member of the garden industry, you know you have to be on social media.

It’s the absolute perfect blend of advertising and public relations. Plus, it’s FREE. Social media outlets of all kinds let you connect with your key demographic on a daily basis. Here, you get to interact with your clientele in a cool, friendly, funny manner.

Managing social media is without a doubt one of my favorite aspects of the job. But, realistically, it’s also one of the hardest. It seems like there’s always another social media site popping up, and to stay trendy, you and your garden business have just got to be on it.

How in the world can one business, especially a new, small, blooming business, manage all of these sites?

First, load up on social media tools. Next, take the advice of the pros at Garden Media Group to make sure the social media element in your public relations media plan is realistic and effective.

Balancing social media is an act you’ve got to learn to master quickly—before you burn out.

You Just Can’t Do It All.

This is one of the toughest lessons to learn, but the fact of the matter is that as a small business you can’t be on every social media outlet. If you’re dead set on having a presence on every social media platform, phone in a public relations team to help you manage.

Either way, attempt to cut the fat off of your public relations media plan. Not every social media site is going to be popular with your key audience, so try all of them for a bit. Then, look at the hard numbers, and decide which platforms are most popular with the people you want to connect with.

Invest your time in outlets where your impact will be fruitful.

Test the Soil

Whenever I try something new I have to acknowledge that no matter how much I research, there will be a learning curve.

Do the same on your desired social media outlets; research all the different ways you can utilize social media for your business. Look up different tactics and techniques, and try them all for a bit.

Then, see what your audience wants. They’ll let you know; trust me! An advantage of social media is that it’s social. Your key demographic for your business will vocally let you know how you’re doing via retweets, likes, pins, shares, etc.

Be the Brightest Flower

Surfing through Longfield Gardens website, I always am drawn to the flowers with the brightest hues or shapes I’ve never seen before. In a world of constant overload, we’re immediately drawn and enamored with the unique.

You really have to prove to your followers that you understand them! Show that you care about their interests—even if they’re outside of your business.

By this point, you should have enough data on your key demographic to go beyond the superficial. Tap into their interests, problems, loves, dislikes, and deliver to them what they’re craving!
Your content should be unique! Followers want to hear your voice, and know they can count on you for out of the box content. Don’t worry; you can still recycle content. Just recycle content wisely!

Before long, your business will be booming, and you should be feeling like you’re beginning to understand the intricacies of the social media balancing act. Reevaluate every month or so just make sure you’re on pace. And please, share your sanity tips with us!

Learn how to integrate Instagram into your garden business's media plan with our e-book below!

Special thanks to Panoramic Interactive for the image!

~Katie

GMG's Friday Find: Plant, Share and Care This Earth Day!

Back in the late 60's most people were not very concerned about our impact on planet Earth; those were the days of the hippie and flower-child power with protest the order of the day.  Americans were slurping leaded gas, air pollution was the smell of success and "environment" was a word you may get in a spelling bee.

Then along came Rachel Carson's New York Times bestseller, "Silent Spring," representing a watershed moment for the environmental movement, raising public awareness and concern for all living organisms and public health. Earth Day 1970 capitalized on a new emerging consciousness putting environmental concerns front and center, and that movement has continued uninterrupted with April 22nd marking the 43rd year of Earth Day.

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day.  Almost every city in the country organizes events and activities to mark the occasion, you won't have to look far to see what's happening in your neck of the woods. In Columbus, Ohio they are holding Earth Day 2013: Stand Together, the largest volunteer service effort across the country to make Columbus communities greener.  People volunteer their labor and companies, like PRO-MIX, donate growing mixes. In the past 7 years efforts have resulted in over 40,000 hours of labor and 19,000 trees planted throughout the regions.  

Here are a few more suggestions you may consider for you and your family:


Costa Farms

Plant a Tree/Have a Plant Party  - Recent studies have shown how trees and our health and happiness are co-dependent, and studies have proven that houseplants provide much needed fresh air for the massive amount of time we spend indoors. If you aren't in the market for a tree, you can certainly run to your nearest market or home improvement center for a variety of houseplants that can clean your indoor air for better health. Another fun activity for kids is an Earth Day Plant Party where they decorate a kid-friendly container with stickers and then pop in little green heroes like ferns and snake plants. Remember to look for the O2 for You label!

Build/Design a Birdhouse/Make Homemade Seed - A fun project you can enjoy with kids is making a birdhouse or designing a birdfeeder and then crafting homemade birdseed that you can put in pine cones and other 'natural' finds. Teaching our children the value of caring for wildlife is a lesson they are sure to pass on to future generations.

Perky-Pet

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle all day long - There are so many ways to accomplish these goals, even for just one day.  Use less water in your morning shower, walk or bike to work and save gas, turn off your lights until it's dark, avoid using disposable plates and cutlery, bring your own bags to the grocery store and avoid the plastic bags, find a way to reuse an old household or garage item, and recycle everything you can. If it's not already, this mindset for just one day can be the beginning of a lifelong habit.

Hold a garage sale/Donate -  Spring is the perfect time to thin out closets and garages of unused or unwanted clutter.  A garage sale, whether community or neighborhood, can benefit many who don't have certain necessities or you can donate items to charities to resell for cash.  Involve your children and see if there aren't some toys, games and sporting equipment they can include, helping them understand that giving is a rewarding endeavor. 

James Farmer

Cook an Earth Day Meal - Plan a menu that uses locally produced food and decorate your table with found and/or recycled objects.  Have your guests participate in a wreath-making activity using material from your garden and produce from the grocery store or farmer's market. It's not only fun, everyone gets to go home with a fabulous wreath for the summer season.

Whatever we do on Earth Day is certainly something we can do everyday.  We are all stewards of the Earth and as John Muir said, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." Happy Earth Day...everyday!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group