NGB promotes container pollinator gardens to 200 million consumers
With the help of their members, NGB created an article titled “Top 10 plants for pollinator-friendly containers” which has earned well over 1,000 placements in a variety of national news outlets.
National Garden Bureau (NGB), as part of their continuing mission to promote gardening, published and distributed a consumer press release on creating container pollinator gardens.
With the help of their members, NGB created an article titled “Top 10 plants for pollinator-friendly containers” which has earned well over 1,000 placements in news outlets such as the LA Times, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Gate, Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, to name a few. Those online placements have, thus far, reached 209 million consumers with print placements reaching another 652,000 readers.
“The timing of this couldn’t have been better,” says Diane Blazek, executive director of NGB. “We wanted to get this release out now because June 20-26, 2022, is Pollinator Week.”
For 2022, NGB continues to create educational and inspirational content and interactive ways for members to reach their target consumer. To learn more about becoming a National Garden Bureau member, contact NGB Executive Director Diane Blazek at info@ngb.org or 630-963-0770 or at https://ngb.org/become-a-member. Go to http://eepurl.com/c4vDpP to sign up to receive NGB updates.
Nationally renowned transformation consultant and trainer Greg Bell will be the keynote speaker at the 2022 Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon, producers of the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) have announced.
“Greg is an electrifying speaker who connects with people and inspires them,” said Heather Cyrus, events and education manager for the OAN. “He will provide unique ideas and lasting perspective that nursery industry professionals can take back to their companies to drive personal, professional and organizational improvement.”
The three-day trade show and conference takes place Wednesday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 26 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. It will welcome and unify a broad swath of green industry professionals, including nursery and greenhouse growers, lawn and garden center retailers, landscaping professionals and designers, suppliers, service providers, students, researchers and many others.
Bell’s keynote presentation will open the show at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. He will discuss how individuals and organizations can unleash their potential by adopting a high-performance mindset, and focusing their attention on their core values and the things that matter most.
Bell is a Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association and the International Federation of Professional Speakers. Only 10% of speakers have earned this designation. He holds degrees in political science and law from the University of Oregon, and has served as a consultant and trainer for nearly 500 organizations around the country.
Following Bell’s keynote presentation, the trade show floor will open from noon–5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. It will be open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26. Conference seminars will run all three days starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the famous Farwest nursery tours will happen Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Registration for the show and conference is live at www.farwestshow.com/register. Discounted early bird prices for expo admission, nursery tours and educational seminar passes are available until July 31.
Attendees and exhibitors come from around the world to see Farwest and its host state of Oregon, which sold $1.19 billion in nursery material in the most recent year tabulated. The show floor will be packed with nearly 400 exhibiting companies, including wholesale growers, re-wholesalers, garden centers, landscape designers and service providers, allied service providers and suppliers, and more.
Complete details on events, daily schedules, speakers, and education for Farwest are posted at www.FarwestShow.com. For further questions, contact: Allan Niemi, Director of Events, at 503-582-2005 and aniemi@oan.org.
Details on lodging options can be found online at https://farwestshow.com/hotel-travel/. Participants are advised that the Farwest Show has not partnered with any travel agency for the 2022 show. Do not give credit card information to anyone claiming to be a Farwest travel agent, as show organizers have not arranged for any business or individual to be directly contacted for lodging reservations.
For more information about the 2022 Farwest Show, visit www.FarwestShow.com or call 503-682-5089.
Hillermann Nursery & Florist President Scott Hillermann, left, and CEO Sandi Hillermann McDonald
Photo courtesy of Hillermann Nursery & Florist
Hillermann Nursery & Florist acquired by Hoffmann Family of Companies
The St. Louis-area garden center is Hoffmann's third nursery acquisition this year.
The Hoffmann Family of Companies has acquired Hillermann Nursery & Florist in an expansion of the Florida-based company’s agricultural business holdings.
According to the company's newsletter, the Hillermann family does not have a third generation succession plan, and so the family all agreed to the sale when the opportunity to sell arose. Scott Hillermann will remain president, there are no plans for changes and all employees will remain on staff.
"The Hillermann Family and Staff are grateful to the community and customers that have supported the business over all the years. We are excited to continue to offer the high quality products and services that have always been a priority to the family. We hope to continue to see familiar faces and grow the business with the community," Hillermann wrote.
"It is bittersweet yet very exciting as Hoffmanns are doing wonderful things here in wine country!" said CEO Sandi Hillermann McDonald in an email to Garden Center magazine.
Hillermann Nursery & Florist follows Hoffmann’s acquisition of Town and County Nursery and Ferguson Valley Nurseries over the past year.
Bayer's Garden Shop is permanently closing its doors at the end of the month, citing "dramatic increases in operating costs, combined with a staffing shortage." With two locations in the St. Louis area, the garden center spanned three generations of family ownership over 81 years.
In a June 6 press release, the IGC announced it will close permanently on June 30.
The company thanked its customers, adding, "So stop on by with those unused gift certificates, say goodbye, and own a piece of Bayer's Garden Shop history."
Loyal customers and former employees also took to the company's Facebook page to share their favorite memories of the garden center.
"A little piece of my heart will be closing down with you guys. Thank you for 81 years of helping customers like me fall in love gardening. You will be sorely missed," said one customer.
"Oh, man. Bayer’s is like home away from home for me. So much nostalgia at the Hampton location. Thanks for all of the years, plants, bulbs, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and birdseed, and for such a fantastic team of employees. Frank and Dale (and Herb, rest in peace), you guys have been the best part of every shopping experience. Thank you," said another.
And, "So sorry to hear this. Worked there for a few years Ron Bayer was the best person I’ve worked for. Everyone I worked with where like family. The whole family are such great people," said one former employee.
Pennsylvania IGC celebrates 60th anniversary
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has adapted to the changing market and demands of the consumer while maintaining its family atmosphere.
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, a long-standing establishment in the heart of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is currently celebrating its 60th spring in business. This independent garden center is a local favorite with loyal customers and dedicated employees.
Glenn and Mary Ellen Gross founded Ashcombe in 1962 as a roadside vegetable stand. The business thrived as a small farm market manned by one or two employees. Between 1970 and 1978, the business underwent a major expansion into a garden center. As the business continued to expand, more departments were added, including garden supplies, a gift shop, a café, and a bakery. Unfortunately, along with its flourishing, Ashcombe faced many hardships, including two fires. The most devastating occurred on May 22, 1989, destroying the retail store. However, the employees of Ashcombe rallied and continued to operate out of tents in the parking lot. Following the fire, the Ashcombe you see today was born.
Each spring, Ashcombe is home to local gardeners looking to fill their gardens with colorful annuals, perennials, garden supplies, and more. In the production department, Ashcombe grows annuals, vegetables, herbs, and hanging baskets. Springtime fills the greenhouses with thousands of flowers, including dozens of varieties of spring favorites like petunias and dahlias. In the past 60 years, the business has adapted to the changing market and demands of the consumer while maintaining its personable, family atmosphere.
Ashcombe is a local favorite for Mechanicsburg gardeners and families. The business offers classes and events every week to help teach the wonders of gardening to its customers. In its 60th year, Ashcombe is bringing back its garden-themed summer camp, Ready, Set, Grow, which is designed to immerse children into the wonderful world of gardening.
Other classes include floral arrangements, potting classes, and informative demonstrations by Ashcombe’s knowledgeable managers and local gardening experts. Ashcombe is also home to Fern, the mobile plant bus bringing plants to those who can’t always make it the brick-and-mortar store. Fern is a renovated mini school bus that visits local nursing homes and retirement communities as a pop-up shop. During its 2021 tour, Fern visited seven living centers in the Mechanicsburg area.
Kate Spirgen
