GMG's Friday Find: A Blooming Alternative for Impatiens Lovers!

For years, gardeners have enjoyed impatiens in their gardens and containers, so much so it had become the nation's top selling annual.  Then along came impatiens downy mildew, a disease that can carry airborne spores over 100 miles and attacks the underside of standard garden impatiens leaves killing the plant. And worse, the mildew can remain in the infected soil for several years.

Many garden centers are keeping impatiens off their shelves this year, but don't panic! There are several alternatives to impatiens, and a terrific plant that has real flower power is the Summer Wave® Torenia.

This beautiful torenia from The Suntory® Collection is not just a pretty face. The gorgeous blooms that continue from spring until fall are also self-cleaning -- no dead-heading needed.  This is a wonderfully durable plant that loves the heat.  When other plants begin wilting under the summer sun, Summer Wave® Torenia thrives. She loves the shade but it can't get too hot for this beauty!

Coming in 11 different colors, you can choose from two different varieties.  The trailing, creeping variety grows 6"-10" high and spreads to 30".  The branches spread wide and abundantly and it's perfect for landscapes, hanging baskets and containers.  The Summer Wave® Bouquet Torenia is more compact with a mounding style that grows 10"-15" high, yet can also spread 25"-30" making it terrific for window boxes and containers. These plants look great in combinations, or as standout stand-alone for a dramatic pop of monochromatic color.

Another interesting feature of  Summer Wave is a unique 'fishbone' inside each flower that gives the bloom an added dimension. And best of all, these torenia plants resist disease.

Nature works in mysterious ways, as we've all heard and know first hand, and although the dear impatiens may have to step aside, a new garden star is waiting to flower up your landscape, containers and baskets with staying power you won't be disappointed with. 

Give The Summer Wave® a try this year.  We'd love to hear about your success with this hardy, beautiful alternative to impatiens.

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Celebrate National Garden Month!

For the past several years April has been crowned the National Garden Month.  That seems to make sense, doesn't it? Spring is finally here and the 'itch' to get out and dig and plant can be almost overwhelming if you've overwintered in a cooler climate.  Spring is the time to focus on the essential connection between people, plants and the environment and is an opportunity to discover simple ways to tap into the rhythm of nature.

There are so many ways to participate and celebrate National Garden Month, and here a just a few:

Organize or take part in a town beautification day.  Here at GMG we helped in the 'Garden Way', a local beautification effort to enhance one of the main entrances into town with over 70 other volunteers.  The result was a dazzling island of flowers that won first place in the Keep America Beautiful campaign!

Another idea is to get together with your neighbors and order mulch and compost in bulk quantities.  To find out how much may be needed, click here.

Take an inventory of all your gardening gear and donate the excess to a community gardening program or school garden.

Host a plant swap and share cuttings and seeds with family and friends adding sentimental value to the new plants you add to your garden.

Green up your street or local park by picking up trash.  Volunteer at your local school's garden or start a neighborhood garden club, sharing ideas, seeds and labor, and then share the bounty with friends and neighbors.  Deliver houseplants or flowers to a local nursing home or children's hospital.  And speaking of children, have fun doing a gardening project with them.  Gardening with children teaches many valuable

lessons, from ingenuity to cooperation and the value of fun labor that translates into productivity. Children that learned gardening from their parent or other adults take these lessons with them and pass them along.

There are many ways to be creative and helpful when it comes to celebrating National Garden Month. By participating in small or big ways, we reinforce our symbiotic relationship with nature by giving, growing and greening our places and spaces.  What will you do to celebrate National Garden Month?  We'd love to hear your ideas. 


~Peggy
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Lucky Bamboo for St. Patty's Day!

Costa Farms

What's a cool, lucky plant to give on St. Patty's Day besides the shamrock?...the Lucky Bamboo! 

Interestingly, Lucky Bamboo is actually not a bamboo at all, but rather a Dracaena! It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and is the primary plant recommended for improving Feng Shui and for creating spaces where you feel safe and more energized to meet the demands of today's high-pressured world. They are very eye-catching and come with an ancient Chinese tradition-- the number of stalks represent distinct meanings and bring specific fortune. 

Costa Farms

• Two Stalks – This commonly represents love, good luck or both.

• Three Stalks – This is meant to bring happiness, wealth, and a long life.

• Five Stalks – This helps with five areas in life; Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Physical, Intuitive.

• Six Stalks – This is a good gift for prosperity and good luck financially.

• Seven Stalks – This is commonly given to help with good health physically and mentally.

• Eight Stalks – This lucky bamboo plant is meant to give a gift of fertility.
• Nine Stalks – This is a general good luck – and a very beautiful plant!
• Ten Stalks – This is given to symbolize peace and contentment for a person.
• Twenty One Stalks – This is the ultimate expression of good luck and fortune that you can give someone. In addition, it is quite beautiful while still being an easy to maintain houseplant.

So, definitely heed these meanings and give your recipient the gift most appropriate.You can find these Lucky Bamboo at home improvement retailers nationwide. For more information and care instructions, head to Costa Farms.com.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 
~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Tips for Bringing Your Houseplants Inside for the Winter

Now that cold weather is setting in here in the Northeast, it's that time to start thinking about bringing your houseplants inside for the winter.

Our friends at Costa Farms offer these great tips for bringing these beauties inside and keeping them alive until it's safe to bring them outside again in the spring.

Bring houseplants in well before the first frost. Some tropical plants, especially, don't even like temperatures in the 40's. Plus, the cooler temperatures often are the signal for the plants to start going dormant. September is not too soon to bring plants indoors.

Repot the plants if you can. Fall is not the best time to replant houseplants; spring is better for that. But you don't want to bring in the pots that have been outside all summer with all the critters that live in them now... like pill bugs, millipedes, and spiders, just to name a few. So consider repotting the plants with fresh potting soil before bringing them indoors.

Check plants thoroughly for pests. Pests can hide in many places on the plants, especially on the undersides of the leaves. If a plant seems to have a pest problem, such as mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, etc. don’t bring it inside with other plants until you are sure it is pest-free. You may need to use an organic spray to kill the pests or wash all leaves thoroughly to remove them.

Consider not bringing plants back indoors if they are diseased or otherwise unhealthy. Plant diseases and pests can spread quickly to other plants indoors so it's safer to toss out a diseased or pest infested plant than to end up infecting all your houseplants.

Give the plants a little bit of fertilizer for a boost going into winter. Then just water the houseplants when needed through the winter until it is time to set them out again in the spring.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Tickle your Mimosa Pudica

We all have a tickle spot (except my dog who seems be missing her's).  Sometimes we can even anticipate the tickle laughter before it even happens!  Now did you know that there is a tickle plant?  This plant, Mimosa Pudica, has other common names like sensitive plant, humble plant, shameful plant and touch-me-not.  The species is native to South America and Central America but is now a pantropical weed grown for its curiosity value.

Like other plant species, the foliage closes during darkenss and reopens in light. Unlike other plant species, the tickle plant also closes and droops under other stimuli such as touching, warming, blowing, or shaking.  It is known how this occurs (cells lose turgor pressure) but not why it occurs. Scientists think it could be the plant's defense mechanism to scare away predators, or to shake off insects. Watch this musical video to see the effects of movement on the plant, and how quickly it recovers to it's normal shape.

A fun gift idea for kids is a complete kit to grow and 'tickle' this unusual plant. Complete with seeds, pods, and even it's own greenhouse, the TickleMe Plant can provide education and fun for kids and adults...I'm ordering one myself for the kid in me. 

So if you don't have somenoe to tickle you, or a dog or cat or hampster to tickle, maybe you'd like a plant to tickle.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on this interesting plant.

~Peggy, Garden Media Group

Houseplants 101 from Costa Farms

It isn't necessary to turn your house into a tropical jungle to get the most from houseplants. In fact, just a few well-placed, well-grown houseplants can contribute to a lived-in coziness to any room, whether it's filled with Victorian clutter or spare streamlined furnishings. The trick is to give the plants what they want in terms of light, water, humidity, fertilizer, and a good soil mix, and they'll perform like they were back in their native environment.

Check out this video from Costa Farms to learn the ins and outs of houseplants!

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

Roof Top Gardens flourish from Hong Kong to Philly

Green roofs are springing up from Hong Kong to Philadelphia as more and more cities and communities realize the benefits green roofs provide for people and the environment.

From growing edibles to planting colorful perennials and natives that attract beneficial wildlife, green roofs provide a relaxing escape from the noise and pollution of city life. As an added benefit, roof top gardens reduce rainwater runoff that contributes to flooding and pollution, and help cool buildings by absorbing heat.

With so much to offer, even big corporations like Philadelphia based PECO Energy have jumped on the green roof bandwagon.

They partnered with  PHS (Pennsylvania Horticulture Society), known for the prestigious Philadelphia International Flower Show, to design and maintain PECO's 45,000 square foot green roof  perched eight stories high above the crowded streets.

PHS provides plans, plants and maintenance, and conducts walking tours where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the city along with areas that feature large planters filled with a variety of native grasses and perennials.

This fits nicely with PHS's green initiatives to educate and grow stronger communities by supporting urban farming and community gardens, restoring vacant land, planting trees and more.

Around the world, rooftop farms are springing up on top of skyscrapers like in Hong Kong, where urban dwellers of the modern asphalt jungle grow fresh fruit, veggies and herbs for better health and wellness and the incomparable fresh taste of homegrown food.

From walking tours to a peaceful escape from a harried day, nothing beats the simple pleasure of enjoying Mother Nature where green meets blue.

Let us know if your city is planning to add rooftop gardens and if not, why not? Cost to build and maintain? Or not enough interest?

Lynne
Garden Media Group
photos credits: NYC Rockefeller Center rooftop gardens by David Shankbone, Wikipedia Commons

Get Ready for National Planting Day on September 8th

Let's hear it for the first ever National Planting Day!  Hosted by Keep America Beautiful and its affiliates, National Planting Day celebrates the value and power of native species in our environment.

Do your part and plan to plant natives at home or join in a volunteer effort with your friends and family to beautify your community. It's that easy!

Why natives you ask? According the National Planting Day website, they're actually losing ground to suburbanization, fragmented habitats, ornamental plants and

invasive species. These plants are really critical to attracting pollinators and insects, which in turn provide food for birds and ultimately many more animals up the food chain. What's great about natives is that they're hardy, low maintenance plants that require less water than other ornaments. If you want to learn more about natives, check the American Beauties website at www.abnativeplants.com.

And to get involved in your area on National Planting Day, visit  http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Get_involved.

Happy Planting!

-Stacey

Garden Media Group

Must see cool parks & hot gardens!

For those of you planning a trip to the east coast, be sure to visit Valley Forge National Park and Gettysburg National Military Park.

They're part of the National Park Service, US Dept of the Interior and are must-sees for the beauty and  historical preservation of our American heritage.

It's amazing to walk trails and fields over acres of land and woodlands, tour 18th and 19th century buildings and linger over artifacts from our past. And enjoy the beauty of nature.

If you love visiting spectacular gardens, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square PA is worth the visit.

Beside world-class gardens, ponds, fountains and fireworks, be sure to view the amazing light installations by Bruce Munro that are mingled throughout the acres of woodlands, fields, and in the conservatory. 

But hurry- the light installation runs until September 29th. Well worth the visit!

Share your favorite gardens and parks! And enjoy your summer!

Lynne

Garden Media Group

photo credits: National Parks: WikiCommons

Longwood images: GMG

GMG's Friday Find: Tulipomania - The Musical about Flower Power!

Today's Friday Find is definitely for those in or visiting the Philadelphia area. It is a show that I would love to see and have been hearing great things about. Who doesn't want to see a musical about real Flower Power...

Tulipomania - The Musical

Before we had the subprime mortgage crisis, Holland had the Tulip bulb bubble. Six strangers in an Amsterdam hash bar recall this seedy story of love, money, and power. From the writer and composer of Café Puttanesca and Baby Case comes a new musical that gets high off our financial lows.

The Critical Acclaim...

The show explores the - very - dark side of obsession and greed, including the pain it causes not just to family fortunes but to families. On the light side, it sure was fun to hear the cast singing lines like "Never underestimate the power of a flower!" Amen!
–Philadelphia Inquirer [Read More]

"Tulipomania has a wonderful cast that sings Michael Ogborn’s innovative score so beautifully. Make the trip to see this bloomingly good new musical.”
–DC Metro Theater Arts [Read More]

"A damned entertaining new musical…glorious and memorable”
–CultureMob [Read More]

"“Very smart and savvy theater people have put this production together. It boasts great music, a knowledgeable and experienced director, first-rate singers, and an A-list design team.”
–CurtainUp

"On the day of the musical’s first preview, Facebook shares sold for $32, and they were just below $29 by the time the orchestra began the overture on opening night. You’ll pay more for a ticket to Tulipomania, and you’ll get your money’s worth.”
–Broad Street Review [Read More]


Book, Music and Lyrics by MICHAEL OGBORN
Directed by TERRENCE J. NOLEN
On the F. Otto Haas Stage
May 24 - July 1, 2012

Run Time
95 minutes (no intermission)

For tickets, call 215.922.1122
Single Tickets 
$29-$45
Groups of 10+
$15-$30

Arden Theatre Company
40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Recommended for 9th grade and older.

Enjoy!
-Karen
Garden Media

Whimsy in the Garden

Whether you have a small balcony garden or a spacious front and backyard, adding your creative touches with practical and pretty collectibles and found "pieces"  that you turn into garden art add interest and whimsy to any space.

If you're like me, hunting down a few unusual pieces that can be re-purposed and upcycled into a functional and unique work of art, is fun and adventurous.

Perhaps that old discarded wrought iron frame that's lying curbside will take your garden from  "meh" to marvelous.

Don't trash that old metal container- turn it into a fabulous storage bin for a porch or garden. My neighbor added a few coats of blue paint, glass and  ceramic accessories, and transformed an old oil drum bin into a conversation piece that continues to garner compliments and comments like- "Great idea! Why didn't I think of that?"

Or create your own wind chime with old cutlery, a tea kettle and a shepherd's hook. Pretty simple and cool.

Go online for interesting ideas, check out rummage and garage sales, and websites that encourage sharing free stuff and bartering.

And share your artistic creations with us. We'd love to see how you marry your garden art with plants to enhance a wall, a porch, as a utilitarian focal point, or simply, for pure whimsy.

~Lynne, Garden Media Group
Photo credit: Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Plant up!

Today's Friday Find is perfect for anyone lacking the space they want to display all their plants. When you have no more horizontal space...go up! There is now The Flower Chain!

The flower chain is a 5 foot tall hanger for 6 commonly sized plant pots. Using the included s-hooks, a screw eye and swivel (allowing for 360˙ rotation), or some other type of hook, it hangs in a variety of locations, including the porch, balcony, patio, large window, kitchen, lobby, restaurant, or anywhere else. It is sewn together out of thick polypropylene strapping, and is very strong and durable.

It holds the pots in loops which are sized so pots will securely sit in, but not fall through them. There are 2 sizes with either 12 inch loops (accommodates 4.5 in round or 3.5 in square pots) or 14 inch loops (accommodates 5 in round or 4 in square pots). These are very standard sizes, and are readily available with a wide variety of plants growing in them at most nurseries and garden centers. 

Cost: $16


Here's how you use The Flower Chain!


You could really create some very unique visuals with unique plants! Have you used this product? Let me know! Post a picture.

-Karen
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: To Label or not to Label?

Today's Friday Find is from a 'find' I discovered in my very own landscape. A very old plant label...probably been there about 25 years revealed itself while my husband was trimming the bushes in our front yard. I was shocked to see that it had held up pretty well and turned out to be very helpful in educating us about the plant he was feverishly cutting back.

Well, it got me thinking about different ways that we can identify our plants not only for our own lack of recall but for anyone who might inquire. So I searched and these are the few I thought were cute and worthy of mentioning...

I though this was brilliant. You can use a 'natural' stone and write the names of your plants on them or stencil it on. The stones can be of any size and I bet you can find some great stones already in your yard or on a good nature walk! Definitely a fun project...great for all you creative people out there! Buy these Stone Plant Labels here...

I thought these were just cute enough without being intrusive in the landscape. Simple but charming. Buy these Herb & Vegetable Hanging Labels here...

And I couldn't resist these spoons. I found them on Etsy and I could sure see myself using these! Buy these Antique Spoon Herb Markers here...

How do you mark your plants in the garden and landscape?

-Karen
Garden Media Group

A visit to world-class gardens in our backyard

Last Friday, as the Memorial Day holiday approached, Stacey, Suzi and I toured two spectacular gardens along with members of our regional Garden Writers Association. Simply amazing.

First up, a tour of A.I. Du Pont's famous Nemours Mansion and Gardens, that included a fascinating glimpse into the private world of Albert I. Du Pont, the inventor, businessman, philanthropist and visionary.

We toured the grounds leading up to the "manse" that looked more like the palace Versailles than your typical LA celebrity "mega- mansion." Inside was a potpourri of collectibles, antiques and rooms meticulously decorated, a theatre and bowling alley, and even an ice cream making machine decades ahead of the times.

The gardens included a massive Reflecting Pool, Maze Gardens, a Colonnade, Sunken Gardens, a Rock Garden and so much more that words don't do it justice.

I took a few images of the magnificent statue adorning a fountain and garden vistas made for a king.

Note to self: MUST return-- soon!

Before noon, we headed for Longwood Gardens and enjoyed a scrumptious feast, listened to speakers and headed outdoors. There were three separate tours, we chose the gardens expertly unveiled.

I lingered over the students' gardens. Students come throughout the U.S. and the world to learn from the best. Here's a snippet of a few of their gardens I truly loved!


Can't wait to go back to both. Gardens are the world's unifiers; they soothe the soul and bring us joy.
Share your favorite garden - we'd love to hear from you!

Lynne
Garden Media Group
photos: Nemours Mansion and Gardens and Longwood Gardens

GMG's Friday Find: One potato, Two potato...

Today I found a VERY simple way to grow potatoes! In something we all already own...a trash bag. Check out this very easy 5-step process (which includes harvesting) to great home grown goodness.

Step 1: Prepare the Seed Potatoes

About a week before planting, place seed potatoes in a warm spot. When the sprouts that form are about 1/4" to 1/2" long, the potatoes are almost ready to plant. Cut large seed potatoes into chunks about 2" wide. Each piece should have at least two sprouts. After cutting the seed potatoes, let them sit at room temperature for two or three days.

Step 2: Prepare the Bag

Use a pair of scissors to cut several drainage holes in the bottom of a 30-gallon black plastic trash bag. Roll down the sides of the bag and fill about one-third of the way up with potting soil. Place the bag in an area of the garden that receives full sun.

Step 3: Plant the Potatoes

Dust the seed potatoes with agricultural sulfur to protect against fungal diseases. Plant the seed potatoes by burying them, eyes pointed up, about 2" deep in the soil. Water well.

Step 4: Add More Soil

When the potato plants get about 6" to 8" tall, it is time to add more soil and straw to the bag. Add enough soil so that just the top few leaves poke through the dirt. As the potato plants grow, continue to unroll the bag and add more soil. Keep the potatoes well watered but not soggy.

Step 5: Harvest the Potatoes

One clue that the potatoes are almost ready to harvest is that the leaves will yellow and the foliage will die back. At this point stop watering and leave the potatoes alone for two or three weeks so that their skins toughen up. To harvest, slit open the side of the bag to release the potatoes.
How easy is that? I'm definitely trying this DIY project! Have any of you ever done this? How did it work out for you? Let me know.

-Karen
Garden Media Group

Mother's Day gifts that keep on giving!

Here at the Garden Media Group we’re sharing great last minute Mother’s Day gifts that are practical, long-lasting and stylish. Live plants for Mother’s Day are gifts that keep on giving and will add beauty to her home and garden.

1) Orchids. Orchids are exotic plants with stunning flowers that are surprisingly affordable and simple to grow. These gorgeous flowering plants keep blooming for months with little to no effort long after her special day is past. Look for Phalaenopsis orchids, which are the most popular and come in a variety of colors in decorative containers, for under $20 at your local retailer. For more tips on caring for your orchid, visit  http://www.orchidsareeasy.com/

2) Tropical plants. Surprise mom with an instant backyard make-over. New tropical plant varieties are ready to place in any sunny spot for immediate color. Carefree desert roses from Hines Growers like Adenium Kissable Pink, Red and Blush have bright, colorful flowers and a unique bonsai-like appearance. Sun-loving, Bahama Bay hibiscus ‘Amazon Queen’ has ruffled swirls of orangey blooms that look great in the landscape or on decks, patios and porches.
For more information on the many varieties of tropical plants and plant care, visit http://www.hinesgrowers.com/

3) Herbs. Mom will love a living herb plant that’s a meaningful, sustainable gift, no matter what variety you choose. Herbs are ideal choices for their low maintenance, beauty and versatility as both a functional flavor in the kitchen or aromatic scent to enjoy. Pamper mom with an easy to prepare homemade herbal facial scrub that’s great for her skin and smells citrusy.

For great herb choices visit The Growers Exchange http://www.thegrowers-exchange.com/.

Here's our own gardening expert and garden/ green living trendspotter, Suzi McCoy's favorite homemade facial scrub made from wonderful herbs and citrus fruit:

Juice from 1/2 ruby red grapefruit

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary (chopped)

2 cups of white sugar

1 Tablespoon of olive oil

(add pulp of grapefruit for color)

Mix all the ingredients until blended well and add enough sugar to form a thick paste. Put into a pretty jar, tie with a pretty ribbon and voila! Let us know how this works for you!

And to all you moms and your special mom, this Sunday, May 12th, have a wonderful Mothers Day from all of us at the Garden Media Group.

~Lynne, GMG

GMG's Friday Find: Pillow Talk

Today's Friday Find takes the look of green grass and creates a whole new use for it...pillows! Now you can bring some of that natural beauty indoors...or keep it outside and dress up your deck furniture!

From their website...
Firmly Planted was created from an awareness that when you surround yourself with beauty, nature, style, and flow, it creates a balanced vibe within your body and soul. Or as we like to say, “It’s all about a feeling.”

With our unique turf-covered indoor/outdoor products, we are bringing the outside in and the inside out by connecting people with Mother Nature with all the comfort of the modern age. Whether it’s with a plush pillow or grassy styled numbers for your home or garden, Firmly Planted believes that you can create a bridge between the need to be in tune with the elements on a spiritual level and the need to be comfortable on the physical. Creating a balance between mind and body, Firmly Planted aims to close that gap and help people feel alive and whole, without having to sacrifice one need for another.

 

Firmly Planted believes there is no need to waste our precious resources and pollute our earth to achieve our goals. In fact, synthetic turf spares billions of gallons of water and millions of pounds of fertilizer and pesticide from being applied to the soil of natural grass fields every single year, while preventing hundreds of thousands of pounds of carbon from lawn equipment being spewed into the atmosphere. The crumb rubber on the back of the artificial turf will prevent loads upon loads of car tires from being rolled into a landfill. If we can protect our earth and bring people closer to it at the same time with style and finesse, then we can say we have achieved our own harmony and that our company lives up to it’s name and is as firmly planted as our customers.

And they do beautiful custom work...just ask for what you want!

I love this idea. Finally I can enjoy the look of grass without the maintenance!
-Karen
Garden Media Group

TODAY Show Celebrates Earth Day with American Beauties

Yesterday American Beauties Native Plants was highlighted on the weekend edition of NBC's TODAY Show! The Earth Day segment featured David Mizejewski from the National Wildlife Federation and how to Garden for Wildlife! Watch it below or click here!



-Karen
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Fabulous Floral Furniture

This week is all about bringing the flowers indoors and never having to worry about them wilting. We all have an appreciation of the beauty they provide us outdoors but their life is limited once we put them in a vase.

The Floral Art Home Collection by Jennifer McGarigle is aiming to change the way we use flowers in our furnishings. Her line ranges from furniture, vases, art & accessories. There is a product for every taste.

 

About their Home Collection from their website...

At Floral Art we're surrounded everyday by the allure and beauty of fresh flowers. It's an experience that's inspired our signature aesthetic, clean, modern lines infused with imagination and elegance. Now, Floral Art Home brings this compelling sensibility to a new line of home furnishings -- the Floral Art Home Collection by Jennifer McGarigle. With the essence of nature reflected in each piece, we hope the Floral Art Home Collection enhances your everyday life with the radiance and enchantment that surrounds us in ours.

Check out the short video below about Jennifer and her inspiration!

How gorgeous are those chairs! You can get one in almost every flower!

-Karen
Garden Media Group

The Rise of Conscious Consumption

Earth Day is just around the corner. You don't have to pick bugs by hand off your plants or wash your car in rainwater to be a good steward of our planet.

Decades after Earth Day launched in 1970, support for a cleaner earth, air and water for us and future generations has adherents from boardrooms to bedrooms throughout the world.

The message of sustainability and our roles as Mother Earth's caretakers is quietly shaping how we grow gardens in our own backyards or within communities.

Suzi McCoy, the Garden Media Group's chief garden trendspotter and green living expert, has long proclaimed, "Just plant something." And this message is catching on as statistics bear out.

According to the Garden Writers Association's 2011 Fall/Winter Lawn & Garden Survey of nearly one-thousand people across America, close to 70% of American consumers have a lawn or garden and three of five believe the issue of sustainability in gardening is important. (TechnoMetrica)

We're calling this trend: Conscious Consumption.

GWA's survey indicates that nearly 58% of respondents have reduced the use of chemicals and 53% have reduced or eliminated watering their lawns. Plus, 48% have used compost or other natural nutrients instead of chemical fertilizers, 66% have grown edible plants, veggies, fruit or herbs and more than 52% have created habitats for insects, birds and wildlife.

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 the earth and each other when we purchase," says McCoy.

You can preserve the earth's delicate eco-system and enjoy the wonder of nature in your little piece of heaven with American Beauties Native Plants. Their partnership with the National Wildlife Federation is an example of the mindshift. When you buy an American Beauties native plant, a donation is made to NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

And the birds, butterflies and bees will thank you.

~Lynne Garden Media Group