Gardening has always been known to be good for our mental health. It gives us a sense of responsibility, allows us to be nurturers, connects us with other living things, and to no surprise, helps us to relax. But a recent study conducted around the globe by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has…
Read MoreIt is often said that the spending habits of millennials are deteriorating many industries across the United States. From beer, soda and cereal companies, to department stores, chain restaurants and even the game of golf. But it seems their influence might just be reviving an industry which has long been ignored – houseplants. According to…
Read MoreThe garden was probably the last place most of us would expect to see an infiltration of technology, but it’s becoming a reality with mowers, weed-pickers and sprinkler systems to name a few. Techopedia defines artificial intelligence (AI) as, “an area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react…
Read MoreNot everyone is a touchy-feely kind of person. From warm embraces to holding hands to a congratulatory pats-on-the-back – for some it triggers an immediate, internal defense. A new study recently published in The Plant Journal has discovered that many plants aren’t very touchy-feely either. “The lightest touch from a human, animal, insect or even plants touching…
Read More“In the cold dark days of the winter, dream about the flowers to get warmed up!” Mehmet Murat ildan, Turkish Writer It’s hard to believe we’re in the last month of 2018. The first day of winter, also known as the winter solstice, is Friday, December 21, and it’s known as the shortest day of the…
Read MoreJoni Mitchell’s 1970s song Big Yellow Taxi is a catchy tune but listen to the lyrics and you’ll discover something more. Few fully understand the environmental meaning behind the song – especially regarding the beautiful view tree canopies create all across the nation. In an interview she did with the Los Angeles Times, Mitchell says, “I wrote Big Yellow…
Read More“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” – Munia Khan Greenhouses and nurseries play an essential role in the development of plants, trees and shrubs for homeowners, businesses and communities across the nation.…
Read MoreThe week of June 18-24 is National Pollinator Week. The week is proudly sponsored by the Pollinator Partnership, whose mission is to promote the health of pollinators critical to food and ecosystems across the globe. Many don’t realize that pollinators provide pollination to over 180,000 plant species and more that 1,200 crops. That translates to one…
Read MoreIn February 2018, retail giant Amazon surprised many industries – most notably the horticulture industry – when it officially launched the Amazon Plant Store – also called your new “online greenhouse”. There you can purchase plants in a multitude of categories and in various pot sizes to suit your needs from flowering plants, to shrubs, to succulents.…
Read MoreIn last month’s edition of The HC Companies e-newsletter, we discussed visual merchandising and how garden centers should leverage this tried-and-true retail technique to deliberately present their inventory to increase sales. One of the core principles of visual merchandising is recognizing that many consumers are undecided about what they’ll purchase when entering your store. That provides you with an…
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