Connecticut reaches compromise on invasives
Connecticut towns would be prevented from passing plant bans for the next 5 years under a compromise plan unanimously agreed to by Conn. Invasive Plants Council, according to a report in CFA Today. The agreement would have to be approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor.

Deadline nears for America In Bloom
America in Bloom, a national beautification campaign, will accept entries until Feb. 28. Participating communities will be evaluated by a panel of judges this summer. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony this fall. Registration form and fee information are available online.

Plant Select names 2007 selections
Plant Select is spotlighting 7 plants suited for the Rocky Mountain and Plains states. The 2007 plants of the year are Acer tataricum 'Garann,' a sturdy tree with showy fall color; Salvia darcyi 'Pscarl,' a Mexican sage with cardinal-red spires; Satureja montana ssp. illyrica, a prostrate from of purple winter savory; Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum 'Psdowns,' a vigorous and adaptable western native; Delosperma dyeri 'Psdold,' a trim, succulent ice plant; Penstemon x mexicali 'Psmyers,' an adaptable lavender-blue penstemon; and Xanthoceras sorbifolium 'Psgan,' a large shrub with vase-shaped habit and ferny leaves. Plant Select is administered by Colo. State Univ. and Denver Botanic Gardens.

Show for independents launches this summer
The first Independent Garden Center Show will be Aug. 21-23 at Navy Pier in Chicago. The show is billed as the only one exclusively for independent garden retailers. "I'm thrilled to say our show has everything -- green goods, decorative, hard goods and packaged goods," said Jeff Morey, show organizer and publisher of Nursery Retailer. "Everything that's under the roof of a garden center." The show will have almost 500 booths for its inaugural year and will host 29 seminars and 41 speakers, all retail-focused. No big-box buyers will be admitted. "We're going to have security at the door," Morey said. "And no big-box retailers will be allowed in. We will make an effort to keep them away."

Rose design competition in 2nd year
All-America Rose Selections is accepting entries for its 2nd annual Designing with Roses Competition. Professional and student landscape architects and designers must submit entries by July 2. This year, public gardens are also encouraged to submit entries in a special category. Winners will be announced in September at the Garden Writers Assoc. Symposium in Oklahoma City.

X-Factor contest winner selected
Congratulations to the 3 winners of the December X-Factor contest: 1st place, Kate Nelson, Wallaces Garden Center, Bettendorf, Iowa; 2nd place, Anne Price, A Country Garden, Wilmington, N.C.; and 3rd place, Marilyn Branstetter, Mathies Landscaping, Shelbyville, Ind. All the winners received landscape lights from H&H Manufacturing.

Worth a visit
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View from a blog
Have you heard about Mike Dirr's proposal to create a system to evaluate new plants for the green industry? Open Register