Are You Going to IGC?

The IGC Show (Independent Garden Center Show) is the world's largest educational resource for independent garden centers. Held at Chicago's Navy Pier Tuesday August 21-23, IGC is the best place to learn from our industry's thought-leaders, trend-setters and rising stars.  Before you arrive, we'd like to introduce you to a few of our all stars!

Introducing BrazelBerries™ the first ever consumer ready blueberry, grown by Fall Creek Farm and Nursery.  These varieties are like nothing you've seen before. With exquisite ornamental qualities and amazing fruit, these deliciously beautiful shrubs are not to be missed. 
~ Booth #2017


Come check out a brand new product by RESCUE!® Never before seen, to be unveiled at IGC. From stink bugs to Japanese beetles, RESCUE!® provides safe solutions for your home and family.  
~ Booth #733


If you're looking for new plant varieties with color and ease of growing, Hines Growers are your best bet. Their new and unique Bloomtastic! plants are easy to grow, with fantastic color all season long.  
~ Booth #2715

With the recent rise of the lawn reform movement, American Beauties Native Plants specializes in meadows and attracting wildlife. This ground breaking program offers proven solutions for your landscape while creating beautiful garden habitats for desirable wildlife.  
~ Booth #516


 ~ James
Garden Media Group
 

Showy colors throughout the summer!

Summer's here in all its glory. The days are long, hot and steamy, and celebrations like the Fourth of July are upon us.

Whether you're planning a backyard barbeque or a summer bash, it's easy to add a blast of vibrant color to your outdoors with new Bloomtastic! tropical plants from Hines Growers.

Their new varieties of bougainvillea are bred for easy color, abundant flowers and create an instant "party in a pot."

It's a snap to get your red, white and blue on by placing ready made containers of  new Bambino and Babybino bougainvillea throughout your landscape and on your deck, patio, balcony or poolside. They're easy to grow and more compact than typical bougainvillea.

Best of all, the eight new varieties will keep on giving splashes of intense tropical color throughout the summer and into fall!

For a touch of the exotic, add containers of Hines' new carefree Desert Roses, Adenium Kissable Pink, Blush and Red to your outdoor spaces.

The striking flowers rest atop an unusual caudex that has a bonsai-like appearance. Plus, they can be over-wintered indoors, ready to bloom again next spring.

Let us know if you're trying the new bougainvillea and Desert Roses for the first time. Share your photos and let us see your creative flair in your backyard!

Enjoy the holiday!
~Lynne
Garden Media Group

Trendspotting: Water Watchers & Seedlings: Part III

Here at the Garden Media Group spotting green living trends that include hot new plants and products for your lawn and garden and green lifestyle is our passion.

In the last of our 3-part series of GMG's Garden Trends for 2012 Report: Cultivate the New Good Life with the Power of Plants, we've identified Water-Watchers and Seedlings as important trends that are coming on strong.

Water-Watchers. According to Dr. Charlie Hall, professor of horticulture at Texas A&M University, "There is no single issue greater than water."

Drought and regional water restrictions are causing us to grow plants, flowers and vegetables that require less water.

Beneficial soil amendments like the new Soil Reef Biochar are considered by many scientists to be like a "coral reef" for soil. Its high carbon content and porous nature help retain water and nutrients, saving gardeners time and money.

New Bloomtastic! plants from Hines Growers use EcoCover mulch discs to help save water and reduce weeds. Look for their new bougainvillea and Bougainvillea Patio Trees that are drought tolerant and give vibrant multi-colored flowers for your patio, deck and porch all summer long.

Seedlings. From the White House to the neighborhood schools, kids are learning how to grow their own food and take care of the planet. Suzi McCoy, our chief trendspotter and garden expert says the popularity of miniature gardens is "ideal for kids and the young at heart to share the whimsical world of plants and appreciate the joy of gardening."

Share what you see trending on the horizon. We'd love to hear from you!

~Lynne, Garden Media Group

Photos: Soil Reef Biochar and Bougainvillea, GMG

What’s Trending NOW

American Beauties Native Plants

Here we unveil four more green living trends to cultivate the good life, with the power of plants.     

Conscious Consumption. According to the 2010 Cone Survey, 83% of consumers still want to see more brands, products, and companies that support worthy causes. 

We finally moved from “me” to “we” and consider our earth and each other when we purchase 

Why use native plants? You can save your backyard with American Beauties Native Plants^®. This partnership with the National Wildlife Federation is an example of this mind shift. Buy an American Beauties’ native plant and a donation is made to NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

Occupy Local. People are “occupying” local farmers markets and joining CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) for fresh produce, plants and products

Farmers markets are our new backyard veggie gardens and are becoming our local grocery store.

According to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, sales of “locally produced food” reached $4.8 billion in 2008.They project that locally grown foods will generate $7 billion in sales dominated by fruit and veggies this year  


In Living Color. From Tangerine Tango, the new Pantone color of the year, to deep purples and soothing greens, colors are all over the landscape.

Create a technicolor summer with new Bloomtastic! Bambino Bougainvillea and multi-colored bougainvillea Patio Trees that add intense tropical color to patios, balconies and poolside.

Hines Growers Bloomtastic! bougainvillea

Costa Farms Tropic Escape Hibiscus

With rich, gem like colors you can create your own personal paradise. Tropic Escape Hibiscus from Costa Farms produces huge flowers that last twice as long as regular hibiscus and are perfect for decorating patios and landscapes.

Techno-Gardening. With the rise of smart phone technology, QR-codes, apps and Groupon, social living is bringing power to the people and consumers into the buying experience. Gardening is going digital with free e-zines. Costa Farms’ GrowingStyle digital magazine brings designer tips and the latest plant info from growers and designers in this free app.

The Havahart Motion Activated Sprinkler

Garden products are going high-tech, too. Now there’s a cutting edge way to rid your yard of unwanted critters. The new motion activated sprinkler repellents from Havahart® provide caring control solutions that safely rid unwanted animals from your yard. No toxic chemicals that can harm people, pets or the environment.

For more inspiration for garden and outdoor living from the 2012 Garden Trends visit our website www.gardenmediagroup.com. 



-Katie
Garden Media Group

Spring Ushers in New, Easy to Grow Plants to Color Your Garden

It’s the first day of spring and time to take a lesson from Mother Nature’s palette to create a garden masterpiece with new easy to grow, low maintenance plants.

Susan McCoy, gardening expert for the Garden Media Group, a Philadelphia area firm specializing in green living and garden trend spotting says, break the rules when choosing colors. “You learned to color with crayons and experimented with mixing paints, so take that sense of play and extend it to the garden.”

Design and Photo by Margie Grace Associates, APLD

McCoy says to take cues from Mother Nature’s color wheel. “Mother Nature is daring,” explains McCoy. “She mixes amazing color combinations, from bright hues to soft pastels.”



Gardening experts say it’s easy to have a show stopping garden with continuous color spring through fall by picking the right plants for the right spot. New plants out this spring prove to be just what the gardener wants: easy to grow, full of blooms, and low maintenance. 

“The first thing you want to do when planning this year’s garden is to determine the “feel” of the garden, where you want your plants and the overall color scheme,” says Margie Grace, Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) member. “Then select plants that will create balance and draw the eye.”

Tropic Escape Hibiscus from Costa Farms

“Those looking for a backyard oasis can bring it home with the new Tropic Escape Hibiscus Collection from Costa Farms,” says McCoy. The over-sized flowers almost the size of dinner plates come in a dozen tropical colors like Caribbean Cocktail yellow and Tiki Temptation orange, and bloom twice as long as traditional hibiscus. These easy care hibiscus take the heat in sunny locations and add punch to any outdoor décor and quickly turn a deck, patio or balcony into a party.

 

Bambino Bougainvillea
from Hines Growers



“Bold colors are dominating this spring,” says McCoy. Purple, red and orange are showing up in many new plants, like the new dwarf Bambino Bougainvillea from Hines Growers. These new plants are more compact than traditional bougainvillea and produce abundant flowers. Plus, they’re drought tolerant once established. “They give spectacular color in the landscape, are ideal for containers and create a colorful spot in small outdoor spaces.” 



American Beauties Native Plans

Another planning idea is attracting birds and butterflies to the garden. McCoy loves native plants from American Beauties Native Plants for beautiful flowers and plants that are ideally suited for regional conditions. Plus a portion of each sale supports the National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat program.



Herbs in the landscape, in pots or in the kitchen garden are also hot this spring. Grace uses herbs to add color and texture in borders and mixes them in containers with veggies or perennials. 

Using herbs. like this wall of rosemary,
in the landscape gives gardeners beauty and function

McCoy agrees. “It’s so easy to pot up herbs indoors and out for fresh ingredients year round.” She loves the rare and traditional new herbs like stevia, lemon grass and bee balm, the herb of the year, she’s found at The Growers Exchange. “Perennial herbs like rosemary look stunning cascading over walls or out of containers,” says McCoy.

If planning a garden is challenging, it may be time to call in a professional. She says that professional landscape designers like Margie Grace, a recent International Landscape Designer of the Year, can help bring life to a garden with beautiful native and low-maintenance plants and natural materials. To find a local, professional landscape designer, check out APLD’s website.

 -Karen

Garden Media Group

Garden Superstars for Spring 2012

Low maintenance plants and sustainable garden products ensure garden success this spring. 

It's that time of year again, the top Garden Superstars for Spring have been released and the list includes new plants, products and the professionals to put it all together for gardening success. 

Here is the first in our line of superstars, BOLD colors from Hines Growers. Look in any fashion magazines and you will see that bold color palettes dominate.  

“Colors like purple and orange are showing up in many home gardens,” says Suzi. 

She likes the new Bloomtastic! dwarf butterfly bushes, Buddleia Lavender Veil and Purple Splendor, from Hines Growers. 

These compact, easy to grow, low maintenance plants are perfect in containers and hanging baskets or mass planted in the landscape. “The butterflies and hummingbirds love the profuse, richly-colored and very fragrant blooms.”

This Spring, choose plants that have lots of color, are low-maintenance and attract wildlife!

This ain't American Idol- it's Garden Idol

We're heading out to Louisville, KY next week (1/25-1/28) to attend ANLA Clinic (American Nursery and Landscape Association) that promises to be informative and FUN!

ANLA knows how to put on a show with top speakers and presenters (like our own Suzi McCoy) on subjects that range from practical solutions to real-world problems, to current and upcoming Garden and Horticulture Trends to watch.

We always enjoy meeting the happy mix of retailers, growers, scientists, media and a few errant minstrels thrown in. And the dinners and hospitality suites are always a great time to let your hair down while we meet and greet old friends and new.

For me, the highlight is Garden Idol. This year, Season Three is setting up to really be a rockin' evening. Our client, Hines Growers, is one of the Garden Idol 'contestants' and wow...all I can say is... hot new Bloomtastic! plants and a smokin' performance!

Not trying to sway you (too much) but their new Bloomtastic! Buddleia Lavender Veil and Bahama Bay Hibiscus 'Amazon Queen' are amazing plants that really are star performers. Want to know more?

Growers are entering new plants to win "best in show" with clever performances and some over-the-top costumes and They'll be strutting their stuff in front of a panel of judges and the audience. Last year was cool; this year promises to be even better!

Check out last year's Garden Idol  that gives you a chance to see what plants (and performances) won over the judges- and audience!

And when all's said and done... cast your vote for who should hold the exalted title of Garden Idol Winner. Vote early AND Vote often!

~Lynne

GMG

GMG Creates Buzz for Clients at IGC 2011

The 2011 IGC Show was a huge success. Here are some reflections:

The Garden Media Group dinner at the Park Grill. Kathleen chats with Stephanie Cates from RESCUE! and our friend Eric Liskey from Better Homes & Gardens. And Marta Maria Garcia chats with #Garden Chat's Bren Haas and Jim and Michael from The Organic Mechanic Co.

The Folks from Campania chatted with the team from The Philadelphia Flower Show.

Of course, we went gaga for Jamie Durie. He is so nice, genuine and approachable.
A huge hit at the show was the launch of RESCUE! Stink Bug trap with the indoor light attachment. Move over stink bugs. We've got a trap for that.

Loved the new and old natives from American Beauties, particularly Black-Eyed Susan, one of my perennial favorites!

Hines launched its new line of colorful plants for the garden, Bloomtastics. The collection features new plants and tried and true under-used show stoppers.

Love the new brand from Costa Farms, Berneckers, a premium line of indoor plants for interior-scapers and IGCs. Did you see the flyer for National Indoor Plant Week?

And did you feel the new Organic Mechanic Seed Starting mix - perfect for starting seeds in pots or in the ground.

Suzi

Garden Media Group

Walking the IGC Show

Psst! Suzi and Kathleen are floor walkers (communicators) at the 5th annual Independent Garden Center Show being held this week in the windy city.











From Stephanie Cates showcasing the new RESCUE! Stink Bug Traps to Suzi cozying up to Jamie Durie (Aussie landscaper and TV star of HGTV: Green Home) the GMG gals are on the prowl for hot plants and products to share with you.

Here's a beauty shot of the new Bloomtastic! Bambino Bougainvillea PPAF 'Sophia' from Hines Growers, showing it's stuff at IGC. She and the other Babies: 'Lauren' , 'Victoria' and 'Mia' are new additions to Bloomtastic! that are causing a stir and wowing the crowds.

Be sure to follow their tweets from the floor @SuziMcCoyGMG and @KatGMG. We'll keep you posted!

~Lynne GMG