GMG's Friday Find - It's going to the dogs!

As some of you may know I am a huge fan of dogs! I own two (Godiva, a Chocolate Lab & Nigel, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.) Since the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was this past week I thought it was a perfect time to highlight a cool garden product with a dog theme. These garden “sculptures” instantly perks up a yard or patio! (They are also great if you are allergic to the real thing!)

Labrador Retriever Topiary

From the Solutions.com description: No trimming needed...this already-formed animal topiary adds a distinctive touch in any garden. Comes pre-packed with planting moss...display it as-is or plant your favorite flowers in it.

You can enjoy the ancient art of shaped bushes or shrubs in your garden. This sturdy topiary adds elegance to your yard without the maintenance!

Mossy Labrador Topiary (picture shown above from Solutions.com, $299.00)

The before & after pictures below were found on Gardeners.com.
Their description: Standing guard on the porch or tiptoeing through the tulips, this life-size Labrador retriever topiary frame is just plain fun! Fill with sphagnum moss and cover with ivy or other vining plants (moss and plants are not included).  It is made of heavy gauge wire with a double-layer epoxy coatin. (Life-Size Labrador Retriever Topiary Frame $189.95)

I know I only showed labs...but they also have other breeds and they are soooo cute!

-Karen

GMG

From Dog Shows to Trade Shows, GMG is Buzzing

It's been a buzzy February. I started out the month speaking about Social Media at the ANLA Management Clinic in Louisville. If you are on the fence about having a Facebook Fan page or Tweeting, take a look at the presentation "Social Media: Do I do or do I don't?".

After ANLA, I flew to Boston to present the Garden Media Group's 2010 Trends Report at New England Grows. It's a huge show. The night I arrived, I went to a Tweetup of garden writers and landscape designers. It was fun to put names to faces.

And last week was another whirlwind. I spent a fabulous three days in New York visiting media with Margie Grace, APLD 2009 International Landscape Designer of the Year. We're pictured here with the publishing group from Tauton Press, going up to visit editors at the Hearst Building and at dinner with the folks from Martha Stewart Living.

Margie's partner, Dawn Close, took us all to the finals of the Westminster Dog Show! It was fabulous. That's Fred and Katie with me looking out on the show ring.

I got home, change suit cases and flew to Berkely CA for the Association of Professional Landscaper's strategic planning meeting and annual APLD Chapter Leadership Symposium. About 70 landscape designers from around the country gathered to share and learn how to grow a stronger organization. The new APLD tag line: We define landscape design. I presented something on branding and Susan Cohan talked about social media as we all tweeted. That's Kathy Rudnyk from Monrovia, one of the sponsors of the event.

This week is The Philadelphia Flower Show and two TV gardening segments on NBC 10, so look for more on that later.

Happy Gardening,

Suzi

Garden Media Group