The Weekly Dirt - 01-08-08

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	JANUARY 8, 2008 Red palm mite causes concern in Florida Red palm mite, a pest that feeds on gingers, heliconias and 32 palm species, is causing a stir in Florida. Officials fear the mite could have a devastating effect on the state's nurseries. • S. Florida threatened. South Florida Sun-Sentinel • Pest found on more trees. Palm Beach Post • Mighty big problem. Naples Daily News Retailers adopt husband lounges More retailers are setting aside space for tired and bored husbands, Forbes.com reported. Bloomingdales and other stores are installing comfy seating areas and coffee bars to keep men content while their wives shop. Experts are keen on the idea. Studies show the longer customers stay in a store, the more money they are likely to spend. Holiday shopping rally didn't materialize Last-minute shoppers didn't salvage a lackluster holiday sales season, Washington Post reported. High gas prices and rising food costs kept consumers frugal this year. Target, the second-biggest U.S. discounter, said sales at stores open more than a year may decline in December after customer visits slowed in the weeks after Thanksgiving. Gift cards could be season's salvation Retail watchers are carefully monitoring the rush to redeem gift cards. Some believe the cards will provide a much-needed boost for stores across the country. • Cards salvage season. Fox Business • Beyond bargain hunters. The Sacramento Bee • Crowds with cards. The Arizona Republic 'Green' gardening tops 2008 trends Which trends will shape the gardening world this year? Check out these predictions. • Think green. The Seattle Times • Smart and sustainable. San Diego Union-Tribune • Garden living. HeraldTribune.com Fiskars to award gardening grants Fiskars Garden & Outdoor Living has launched Project Orange Thumb, a grant program designed to encourage community gardening. Ten grants will be awarded to community organizations, schools, gardening clubs and other groups. Recipients will receive up to $1,500 in garden tools and $800 for plants. Application deadline is Feb. 15. Winners will be announced March 15. Complete details are available here. AeroGarden makes big-screen debut AeroGarden, the high-tech contraption that lets consumer grow plants in their kitchen sans soil, is featured in the new movie "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith. Scenes in this post-apocalypse drama show the main character growing vegetables in his dilapidated New York City digs. View from a blog • Inspired by an article titled "Shoppers behaving badly," Garden Center assistant editor Sarah Martinez recalls some nightmares from her florist days. Open Register • Increasing divorce rates have created more households with fewer people, taken up more space and gobbled up more energy and water. Project: Green Industry Worth a visit For an industry focused on sustainability, there aren't a lot of suppliers of plants grown in sustainable ways. In short, green plants in the green industry are in their infancy. Only on GreenBeam.com.

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Looking for new or alternative sources for what you use or sell? Search our online listings for full company contact information.	Open the register to see what is shaping your business. Carol, Sarah, Yale, Jennifer and Kevin add new material on a regular basis.	What? When? Where? Use our events calendar to plan out your travels for trade shows and conferences.

Info Now! Use our Directory of Suppliers to easily research supplies or contact suppliers directly.
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