July is National Blueberry Month!

July is National Blueberry Month and we are so thrilled that Better Homes and Gardens featured all of the amazing BrazelBerries edible blueberry plants among some yummy recipes in their July issue. Pick up your copy today! For more tips on who to grow berries in containers, visit bhg.com!

For more information about Pink Icing, Peach Sorbet, Jellybean and Perpetua, visit brazelberries.com. 

New Vibrant Garden Plants & Products for Spring 2015

Warm weather and blooming foliage are on the horizon. In anticipation, Garden Media Group has released its much awaited 2015 Garden Superstars for Spring. Making an appearance on this year’s list are breathtaking patio plantings, chemical-free lawn care products and a new spin on a traditional garden flower.

Much of the winter is spent wishing for warmth and color. Now, it’s time to grow! These low maintenance and durable plants and products leave a lasting impression with their easy outdoor style and vibrant appeal.

Garden Superstars will inspire and influence gardening and “green-living” amongst new demographics such as Hispanics and Millennials, as well as seasoned gardeners.

Celebrate a Special Mother-in-Law this October

Sunday, Oct. 26 marks Mother-in-Law Day, a special day to honor the woman who gave birth to your spouse and the grandmother of your children. This unofficial holiday offers a chance to get to know “mom” and show her the appreciation she deserves.

“Whether you’ve known her for years or you’re new to the family, every mother-in-law deserves recognition and thanks,” says Katie Dubow of Garden Media Group, a public relations firm specializing in the gardening and outdoor lifestyle industry.

Before choosing a gift, think about her interests and hobbies. Everyone loves a present that shows some thoughtfulness.

Not sure what her interests are? Surprise her with one of these sure-to-please gardening and houseplant ideas:

                                                         

Costa Farms® Sansevieria Houseplant ($9.99-$24.99)

If “mom” doesn’t have much of a green thumb, look no further than this durable houseplant. Coined Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this Plant of Steel from Costa Farms has stiff, upright leaves rimmed in yellow or gold. Its striking appearance makes it perfect for both modern and contemporary styles – and anyone can keep it alive.

As an added bonus, it keeps “mom” healthy by naturally filtering the air and adding much needed moisture to a room. Visit www.costafarms.com to learn more.

Amaryllis bulb kit, Longfield Gardens ($16.95-$64.95)
These easy-to-grow flowers are a great surprise for any mother-in-law. No bulbs bloom with greater color or beauty throughout the dark winter months than amaryllis and paperwhites.

Longfield Gardens’ customizable gift sets, from vintage wooden wine crates filled with amaryllis to birch wrapped containers overflowing with paper whites, can be mixed and matched to suit “mom’s” style.

Amaryllis bloom six to eight weeks after planting.  Flowers will open wide to show off their striking coloration. Visit www.longfield-gardens.com to learn more.

NEW NativeCast’s DIY Container Kit ($20)
Mothers-in-law will love this DIY planter kit, especially since it’s a project she can do with grandkids.

And with NativeCasts’ NEW Hypertufa DIY kit, DIYers can mimic the texture, drainage and color of rock without any of the weight or fragility. All NativeCast DIY kits come with everything needed to cast a container that will be cherished for years to come. Everything needed to create a tabletop hypertufa planter is included.

Visit www.nativecast.com for more DIY shapes, décor accents or planters.

BrazelBerries® Raspberry Shortcake™ Shrub ($29.95)
The health conscious mother-in-law will love this thornless dwarf raspberry plant with full-size berries. The compact shape means a big garden space isn’t required. It grows great in containers so “mom” can harvest delicious sweet berries right from her patio. Plus, there are no thorns to get in the way.

For more details on locating an online retailer, visit www.Brazelberries.com.

Remembering “mom” on Mother-in-Law Day this October 26 is a sure way to keep her happy and help you grow in her love.

Tips for Growing Berry Shrubs in Small Spaces from Fall Creek Farm & Nursery

Fresh blueberries and raspberries have never been easier to grow. With new BrazelBerries, all that is needed is a sunny spot big enough for a container. Patios, decks, front steps and urban balconies are perfect choices.

These revolutionary berry shrubs are changing where fruit is grown. They’re as decorative as they are tasty, offering compact, gorgeous foliage for any small outdoor space. And, all BrazelBerries are self-pollinating, so only one bush is needed to produce fruit.

Why are BrazelBerries different? “They’ve been selected to be simple to grow, beautiful in landscapes, and delicious to eat,” says berry expert Amelie Brazelton Aust, a second-generation owner at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, whose family’s breeding program has been focused on finding berry plants for the home gardener for more than two decades.

Friday Find: Four Simple Tips for Growing Perfect Blueberries

There’s nothing like fresh-picked berries to add to a morning smoothie, fruit salad or evening dessert. For foodies and families wanting to grow their own blueberries, picking which variety and growing them doesn’t have to be hard.

We asked Amelie Brazelton Aust, a berry expert and second generation owner at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, about the secrets to blueberry success. “While I know a lot about the blueberry business, I do not have a green thumb like the rest of my family. However, blueberries are relatively simple and even I have great success with my blueberry plants at my home,” says Aust. “Simply follow these four simple tips to help your bushes flourish with berries season after season.”

Fall Creek® Farm & Nursery Featured in Country Gardens

We are thrilled to see a gorgeous 7- page feature on Fall Creek® Farm & Nursery in the Spring 2013 issue of Country Gardens Magazine! It’s truly an amazing article on their new collection of BrazelBerries®: a dwarf, thornless raspberry and two ornamental blueberries. All three are the result of decades of research by the Brazelton family. Don’t forget to pick up your copy today!

For the complete article click here or visit our results page!

-James

Garden Writers Symposium "Round-up"- AZ style

As our plane flew into Tucson, AZ, the startling landscape opened up like parchment unfurled, its tawny hues of dappled sand and green-grey plants revealing a soothing palette of desert colors that bid us welcome.

Team GMG (Suzi, Stacey, Katie and I) had arrived for the 2012 Garden Writers (GWA) Symposium, to participate in the most highly anticipated event of the year for professional communicators in the lawn and garden industry.This year's 64th symposium was attended by some 600 print and broadcast garden communicators and bloggers from around the world and top growers and vendors showing off new plants and products.

Our car meandered and climbed up the winding drive that crested in front of a stunning pink-toned adobe and stucco hotel and conference center, with towering cactus, swollen succulents and scarlet desert flowers dotting the landscape like silent sentinels against a cobalt blue western sky.

Between the hectic pace of greeting old friends and new, we prepared for our dinner party at Maynard's Market and Kitchen, an historic converted train station turned upscale restaurant. Cool jazz and smooth voices entertained as we mingled with our media guests and clients: Fall Creek® Farm & Nursery, Hines Growers, RESCUE!® all natural pest control, Premier Tech Horticulture and American Beauties Native Plants/North Creek Nursery.

 

Friday and Saturday saw the exhibitors hall packed with colorful booths brimming with new plants and products, like an open-air market filled with heady earthy scents wafting throughout the aisles.

Crowds gathered around the new flowering Bloomtastic!™and Patio Tropics!™ plants from Hines Growers, ground-breaking new BrazelBerries™ small ornamental fruit collection from Fall Creek® Farm & Nursery, all natural pest control traps from RESCUE!®, stunning native plants from American Beauties Native Plants® and new sustainable PRO-MIX® planting and potting mixes from Premier Tech Horticulture.

"That couldn't be a crinum," exclaims a writer peering intensely at the new Bloomtastic! Crinum Purple   Dream. The leaves look almost purply black!" 

"You mean we can now grow thornless raspberries in containers right in our backyards?" gasps another as she points to the new thornless dwarf raspberry shrub, Raspberry Shortcake™, part of the BrazelBerries collection.

People studied and handled the new fly tape and eco-friendly stink bug traps at the RESCUE! booth and enjoyed a festive atmosphere at the Premier booth.

Workshops like "Let's Talk Plants" romanced the attendees with alluring plant images and  meaty phrases in a lightning speed dating style. Joe Gray , senior vice president of Hines Growers casually chatted about their new plant introductions with the attentive audience and moderators, charming the crowd with asides.

Along with the exhibits, there were scores of workshops and garden tours that included a special visit to a unique seed listing organization that I'll dig into deeper next time.

Ciao, AZ... we loved our visit.

Next year...hint, hint...

Oh, Canada!

~Lynne

Garden Media Group

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
 

My Visit to Fall Creek Nursery

Here's Dave Brazelton from Fall Creek

Last week I was fortunate enough to head out to Oregon with Suzi to visit with the folks at Fall Creek Nursery, the world's leading wholesale blueberry nursery stock producer located just outside of Eugene. Their state-of-art growing facilities specializes in propagating, producing and distributing blueberries to commercial fruit growers and nurseries all over the world. Pretty exciting stuff!

I was impressed right off the bat when we pulled up to their offices. We started our tour by meeting all the wonderful folks who work there and then we headed to the testing field to do some taste tasting with Dave Brazelton, the founder and blueberry aficionado of Fall Creek. I knew I was going to get my fill of antioxidants for the week with this part of the tour.

Dave gave us a quick overview of the testing area and then we were off to the fields to eat some delicious berries right off the bushes. It's amazing how each variety had its own unique taste, color and texture. I was in blueberry heaven!

I was impressed to learn that Fall Creek currently grows 50 varieties of blueberries. I had no idea that many existed! Besides trying old and current varieties that you would find in your local grocery store, we also had the opportunity to try out a few new varieties as well. Sorry, can't give you any info on these berries just yet!



Suzi in the fields. What an amazing view!

Next year you'll be able to grow some of Fall Creek's amazing berries right in your own backyard. They'll be introducing Raspberry Shortcake (TM), a dwarf thornless raspberry that works great in containers. And in 2014, you'll be able to grow two new exciting berries called Jelly Bean (TM) and Peach Sorbet(TM), which all part of their new BrazelBerries Collection!

I must say that I'm looking forward to my next trip out to this beautiful farm. Hope it's sooner rather than later!

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

The Next Big Thing: Raspberry Shortcake from Fall Creek Nursery

My Raspberry Shortcake (TM) planted up

 One of the many perks of working for the Garden Media Group is that we get the chance to test out new products and plants before they're available to consumers. This summer I'm so excited to be trialing Fall Creek Farm & Nursery's new Raspberry Shortcake (TM) from their new BrazelBerries(R) Collection.

Birds eye view of my Raspberry Shortcake (TM)

This little compact beauty is the first thornless raspberry to hit the market. It grows to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and really thrives in containers. And since it doesn't have thorns, it's a perfect plant for allowing kids to harvest fruit right in their own backyard.

Raspberry Shortcake (TM) from Fall Creek Nursery

I planted mine up in full-sun a few weeks ago in one of my containers.  If all goes well, I'll have full-size, super sweet raspberries next summer just like this photo to the right.  I'll be sure to post more pictures at the end of the summer, so you can see it how it's progressing.

If you want to be the first of your friends to try out this incredible new raspberry, you can order it online through White Flower here.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: What does YOUR business do?

I recently saw a post on the Facebook group for garden centers asking, "How do I write a mission statement?" WOW! This is a tough question and a hard task.

It seems like a simple questions. What does my business do? This is the stuff of which mission statements are made. So why is this simple question so insurmountable? Why do so many people get tongue tied when asked this question?

I think because we aren't really clear on what it is supposed to say. We get it confused with our vision - which is what we want our business "to be". We get hung up on using just the right words or words that are way too fancy. And we think it is supposed to sound like something someone who has an MBA has written.

So just how do you get this illusive mission statement written?

First of all, you will – and should - struggle with this. Getting your mission statement right is important and that doesn’t happen overnight. While you are in the struggle, make a “mission statement” folder and write down your thoughts, examples of other mission statements you like and other resource materials to help you "think." Just Google “mission statement” and you will get lots of ideas.

And involve your staff. Ask them what they think your business does. What it does better than anyone else? What it does differently that makes it stand out and differentiates it from the competition?

But don't struggle to find the proper words. Just jot down a few ideas and put it in the file.

Put this list in (order of) priority. Then cross off those ideas that don't seem important. Then rewrite the list.

Remember, all mission statements include:

• What you do. The type of business you are in.
• The needs your company fills.
• Clients you serve now or want to serve.
• How you serve these clients?

You want your statement to be broad, not specific, and positive and forceful. It should be free of jargon. Everyone must be able to understand it, especially your customers. And, most importantly, it is easy for you and your staff to live with. That's a pretty big billing.

Our mission at Garden Media Group used to be some marketing gobbly goop like "we help mid-sized companies achieve their goals through focused, responsible public relations evaluations and efforts" that, when I "recited" it to people, I could just see the shades of their eyes close. They didn't get it.

Now we say, "Garden Media Group helps make lawn and garden companies popular with their customers through focused public relations and social media efforts." People get it immediately. Everyone understands popular.

It is clean, easily understood and general. It's positive and forceful, and not at all vague.

Here are a few other examples of some lawn and garden companies:

America Beauties mission is to bring life to the garden and protect the balance of nature by offering great performing native plants that attract wildlife and solve a variety of gardening challenges.

Bloomstatics! Plants mission is to help gardeners be successful by offering both new and redeeming under-utilized plants and shrubs that provide fantastic color, are easy to grow and low maintenance.

BrazelBerries wants to bring beauty, purpose and joy to the berry lifestyle by offering superior ornamental berry shrubs perfect for the landscape, simple to grow and bursting with great tasting berries.

Now, in my opinion, you should try to make this as personal as possible, because it is YOUR statement of business. So it better be YOUR mission statement in 30 words or less. Then get it down to seven clear words.

Just for fun, very quickly, write down what it is you do. Now turn that paper over and write three or four sentences that explain the purpose of your business. Now narrow this down to 25 words.

Pause.

Look away.

Read your sentence aloud. You didn't do it! Okay. Start again from the very beginning in 30 words or less.

You need to know what you do - or no one else will either.

Suzi
Garden Media Group