Find the Perfect Planter
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill In searching for a corporate charity, The HC Companies wanted to partner with a local organization where we’d have the opportunity to see the impacts of our efforts. An organization that understands giving your time…
Read MoreAvid gardeners are well aware of what a “hardiness zone map” is, and most novices are probably at least familiar with the terminology based on the plant tag information found at their local garden center or big box store. Hardiness zone maps were first developed back in 1938 – representing “the average annual extreme minimum…
Read MoreThe week of June 17-23, 2019 is National Pollinator Week. The week is proudly sponsored by the Pollinator Partnership, whose mission is to promote the health and sustainability of pollinators critical to our food supply and ecosystems across the globe. From the Pollinator Partnership, “Pollinators are essential to our daily life. Imagine a cup without coffee,…
Read MoreFor thousands of years, the Judean Date Tree was an invaluable food source in the desert of the Kingdom of Judah – as well as providing shelter and shade for much of that community. Vast forests of date palms covered an area some seven miles wide, with trees stretching up to the sky some 80…
Read MoreGardening 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 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 MoreSome believe that technological advancements are taking over the world. Changing tried and true methods of how we’re used to doing things and replacing them with machines and robots that think almost like we do. Even the horticultural industry is not immune to such technological progress. Enter the world of smart greenhouses. This revolutionary idea…
Read MoreIt’s often difficult to find a manufacturer who produces large pots (in the 30-40-inch diameter range) for planting flowers and shrubs in backyards, front yards or throughout communities. Oftentimes, the designs are far too simplistic, and many times dated, while offering a limited selection of colors for customers to choose from. But beyond the size…
Read MoreThe Millennial generation is perhaps one of the most stereotyped in history. They’ve been branded lazy and entitled by marketers, journalists, statisticians and researchers for years. In fact, Time Magazine once ran a cover story entitled, The Me, Me, Me Generation in which columnist Joel Stein said, “A generation’s greatness isn’t determined by data; it’s determined by how they…
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…
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