Trends: Well, er, trends
This just in... Industry pulse-taker Suzi McCoy, founder and president of the Garden Media Group noted 11 garden trends for 2009 during a presentation at the recent Perennial Plant Association’s symposium. Our own Kevin Neal, Content Director at the mother ship, was taking notes. He — and I — suggest that you arm yourself accordingly.

• Bubbling — This is different from the cocooning trend that emerged after 9/11. Consumers will be protecting and enhancing their own spaces with their own unique style and flair.
• Worldly — For every trend, there is an opposite trend, McCoy notes. This one is the opposite of buying local (see locavore, listed below). Expect influences from Marrakesh, Asia and Beijing (thanks to the Summer Olympics).
• Global colors — Driven by shoppers’ global awareness, colors will represent exuberant palettes. Expect consumers to choose bright, layered hues.
• Quick and simple — Out are over-the-top gardens; in are sustainable ones. Winners will be easy-care roses like the Knock Outs and multi-tasking shrubs with at least three seasons of interest. Containers, once complementary, are now a garden staple.
• Info lust — Lack of knowledge, according to McCoy, is a primary reason that people don’t garden. Look at your tags, your signage, your educational classes, every aspect of your garden center and decide if they are adequately informative.
• Bringing the outside in — Houseplants are on the rebound, on window sills, in offices, on greenwalls, practically everywhere.
• Water in/water out – In a nutshell, wasting it is out, while conserving it and using it wisely are in. Look for more "plug and play" fountains that allow consumers to have a water feature without feeling guilty about wasting too much precious H₂O.
• Locavore — Given that it entered the dictionary last year, we have to call this a real word, and it refers to people who go to great lengths to source locally grown and manufactured food and other materials. Ornamentals are an obvious next step. "Clearly, the right plant from the right spot is on the consumer’s mind," says McCoy.
• Blended gardens — Consumers will marry edible plants with ornamental ones. We’ll see small fruit trees sharing a container with perennials, and Swiss chard at the front of a flower bed.
• Grow it yourself — This trend is not just about vegetables and herbs, though they’re driving it. McCoy sees 6-packs making a comeback because of the better value they provide. The Grow-It-Yourself trend will evolve into the Slow Gardening trend (a takeoff on the anti-fast-food Slow Food movement) that encourages people to take time to enjoy life in the garden.
• Eco-boosting — Think the sustainability craze on steroids. Driven by what McCoy calls the Greater Good Generation, these consumers eagerly telegraph their green credentials to anyone who’ll listen. They feel a personal responsibility for the Earth’s future.

Puzzling pictures
Pieces piecing in a pieceful manner... Among the three images you see here, one is a puzzle that will provide... oh, at least a minute of riveting entertainment. Select the correct one, put the product together again, and... oh, nothing happens, really. I mean, it’s not like you win the lottery or get a visit from Ed McMahon. It’s just a puzzle.

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Pick 'n Click
Instant gratification... Use the links below to connect with suppliers who advertise in GCPS. Simply point and click to reference a product or to find lines of goods and services offered by the respective companies in our most recent issue.

Achla Designs:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18034

ATLAS Glove Consumer Products, a Div. of LFS, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18036

Carruth Studio, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18043

Charlie Cook Associates, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18011

Chicagoland Grows:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18002

Clean Air Gardening:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18032

Danove Corporation:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18042

Deer Run Greenery:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18054

DeWitt Co., Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18038

Discount Pond Supplies, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18010

DP Foods, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18015

Dramm Corporation:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18035

DuneCraft, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18045

Echo Valley:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18040

Everlast Mulch:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18003

Fabriscape:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18017

Gardenware:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18018

Georgetown Pottery:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18044

Holmes Farms:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18022

Novelty Manufacturing Co.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18051

Novelty Manufacturing Co.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18020

Olds Garden Seed:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18016

P&M Creations:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18027

Pallina, The:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18039

Parker Davis Company, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18021

Plant Revolution, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18029

Pottery Express:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18001

Principle Plastics:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18041

QuickBooks:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18007

Radius Garden LLC:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18031

Rake-N-Grab:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18024

Red Carpet Studios:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18037

Retail Service Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18023

Riverside Enterprises:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18013

Rubber Resources, Ltd.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18003

SATO Labeling Solutions:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18006

SeedBallz:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18052

SeedBallz:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18012

Sherman Nursery Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18055

Stoney Creek:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18014

Structural Plastics:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18053

Structural Plastics:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18008

Tepraco:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18033

Tierra-Derco International:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18028

T-Mate-O:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18030

TOWA USA Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18005

Veldsma & Sons, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18050

Vitamin Institute:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18025

Walter E. Clark & Son:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18019

West County Gardener:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18004

Western Nursery & Landscape Association:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18026

With Garden:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 18005

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